Debates of the Senate (Hansard)
Debates of the Senate (Hansard)
3rd Session, 40th Parliament,
Volume 147, Issue 51
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker
- SENATORS' STATEMENTS
- ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
- QUESTION PERIOD
- QUESTION PERIOD
- ORDERS OF THE DAY
THE SENATE
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the chair.
Prayers.
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
New Brunswick
Congratulations on Election of Progressive Conservative Government
Hon. John D. Wallace: Honourable senators, I would like to discuss a significant event that occurred yesterday in my home province of New Brunswick. In deciding what I would say to honourable senators today, I was reminded of the memorable words spoken by the Honourable John Bryden on September 26, 2006, in similar but not identical circumstances. Honourable senators, I must confess, in putting my comments together, I have drawn liberally upon his words of wisdom.
Honourable senators, normally in the province of New Brunswick, the birds wake people up in the morning. To be clear, I am not referring to CBC radio. However, this morning people were awakened by the sound of happy voices singing, "Happy days are here again. The skies are bright and clear again." Yes, honourable senators, it was the people of New Brunswick rejoicing and celebrating last evening's tremendous victory by the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Premier-elect David Alward and thank, as well, Premier Graham and his team. Their campaigns were energetic and hard-fought battles.
Honourable senators, we have established a blue beachhead in the Maritime provinces. We have done this before, and I know that the blue wave will expand to red P.E.I. and orange Nova Scotia.
It has certainly been a pleasure for me and all of my Conservative colleagues to be associated with Premier-elect Alward and his terrific team on their historic victory.
I also wish Premier Graham and his family every success in the future, whether he decides to stay in the legislature of New Brunswick or consider other new challenges.
Thank you for your attention, honourable senators.
The Late Mario Laguë
Hon. Jim Munson: Honourable senators, there are likely several among you who had the pleasure of knowing Mario Laguë, Communications Director for the Leader of the Opposition, Michael Ignatieff. Mario, as most of you know — and everyone should know — was killed in a tragic accident one morning this summer as he was driving to work on Parliament Hill. In an instant, a genuinely kind and wonderful human being was taken from us.
I first met Mario in the days when I was Director of Communications for Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and he was Director of Communications at the Privy Council Office. From our first encounter, it was clear to me that I was dealing with a straight-up professional and an all-around decent person.
Mario began his career as a political adviser to former Quebec Premier Bourassa and went on to assume prominent diplomatic roles abroad. He then made his way to Ottawa, where he became a public servant. Wherever his career took him, he maintained a steadfast devotion to the values and strengths of this country. He was a great defender of Canada. When the 1995 referendum presented him with a choice between Quebec independence and national unity, he chose Canada.
Mario was a man of exceptional integrity, which characterized his work and how he dealt with his colleagues. He believed in the messages and strategies he crafted and in the advice he offered. He inspired trust and motivated others to work in the same way.
Honourable senators, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Mario. His enthusiasm for what could be accomplished through hard work and positive collaboration was limitless. Mario was just a good guy, and I will miss him.
There will be a celebration of Mario's life tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 200 in the West Block where family and friends will gather to share stories and memories. Everyone in this room is most welcome to come and join in this celebration of his life.
Status of Women
Hon. Nancy Ruth: Honourable senators, 40 years ago today in 1970, the Royal Commission on the Status of Women released its groundbreaking report. Its 135 recommendations were a blueprint for government action and they continue to be milestones for assessing progress made toward women's equality.
Many of the report's recommendations have been implemented, and there have been positive changes for women in Canada. Today, unprecedented numbers of women are college and university graduates and are in the trades; women's control over reproduction has improved because of changes to federal criminal laws; the grounds for divorce have been expanded; and there has been a more equitable distribution of marital assets.
Honourable senators, there have been some important changes but some things have not changed, and violence against women is one of them.
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Forty years ago, women earned 54 cents on the male dollar. As a result of this inequity, the report called for equal pay for equal work — not even equal pay for work of equal value. The law now requires that people performing the same job be paid the same rate of pay. Nonetheless, women still earn less than men, earning 75 cents on the male dollar.
This month, The Globe and Mail reported that women are still 6 per cent less likely than their male counterparts to be promoted into senior-level jobs. This is because women are not accessing mid-level jobs at the same rate as men. Only those in the mid-level pool are considered for senior-level jobs.
Forty years ago, the report called for a national child care policy. Recommendation 118 called for a national daycare program, and this has been tinkered with over the years. This government's Universal Child Care Plan has made strides towards ensuring universal child care coverage, but $1,200 is not enough. Thousands of parents are forced to spend more money than they can afford on care for their children, and tens of thousands of children are left in inadequate and unregulated care.
There is work to be done. For instance, the insurance industry needs to look at its rates for insuring infants in care, which increases the cost of providing daycare. This insurance has huge implications for implementing a national daycare strategy, and I would be happy to have the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce look into this problem in the insurance industry.
Forty years ago, women represented a disproportionate number of the poor, and poverty continues to have a female face in 2010, with one in seven women living in poverty. Women who are single parents, as well as older women, are especially vulnerable.
Changes made in the last 10 years to the Canada pension system have helped reduce poverty rates among seniors. Our government has introduced pension income splitting that has assisted older married women, and more work is required to address the 14 per cent of unattached senior women living in poverty who are unaffected by these measures.
Following commitments made in the 2008 budget, the government is investing $60 million a year to ensure that low-income seniors who work can realize greater benefits from their earnings through an increase in the Guaranteed Income Supplement exemption. The 2008 budget increased the exemption from $2,500 to $3,500. Would it not be great, though, if we could increase the amount for —
The Hon. the Speaker: Order
Proposal for National Pharmacare Program
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck: Honourable senators, a recent report commissioned by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Institute for Socio-economic Research and Information in Quebec proposed and costed a national pharmacare program to cover each and every Canadian.
The executive summary states:
The sound economic analysis included in this report shows that the rational implementation of universal Pharmacare, with first-dollar coverage for all prescription drugs, would not only make access to medicines more equitable in Canada and improve health outcomes, but also generate savings for all Canadians of up to $10.7 billion in prescription drugs.
Inequitable access to prescription drugs is indeed a serious problem. According to a recent survey by Statistics Canada, almost a quarter of Canadians have no drug coverage through private insurance. In the same survey, 8 per cent of Canadians admit they did not fill a prescription in the last 12 months due to the cost of drugs.
Studies show that those who are most likely to be underinsured or have no drug plan at all are people who work at part-time or low-wage jobs and are trying to get by on modest incomes, the very people who are least likely to have extra money for prescriptions.
The report notes that $25.1 billion was spent on prescription drugs in Canada in 2008. In fact, the cost of drugs has risen at more than 10 per cent per year since 1985, a large part of the increase of total health expenditures.
The National Pharmaceuticals Strategy, which was implemented in 2004, had a number of goals, including a national catastrophic drug program and a consistent formulary across the country. Unfortunately, progress on this strategy appears to have stalled. Canadians are still without assistance if they are stricken with a disease that requires expensive drugs.
Provincial and territorial ministers agreed at a meeting on September 13 of this year to explore ways of working together to increase their purchasing power on prescription drugs. I applaud the willingness of the provinces to collaborate for the benefit of all Canadians. I urge the federal government to become involved in these discussions and offer any support necessary to explore all alternatives so that every Canadian has access to the prescriptions they need.
Senate Committees
Hon. David Tkachuk: Honourable senators, on September 16, 2010, the Public Policy Forum in partnership with the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians hosted a conference to discuss ways of improving the tenor and tone of debate in Parliament. One of the themes was how to improve the work of parliamentary committees. The panelists were Monte Solberg, John Godfrey, Francine Lalonde and Professor Emeritus Ned Franks.
I am pleased to report that in the course of the session, complimentary statements were made about the work of Senate committees. Mr. Godfrey noted the effectiveness of Senate committees and highlighted that they tend to be less partisan than their house counterparts, while also having members who are more experienced and longer serving.
Professor Franks described Senate committees as a model of effective committees and the best working committees in Parliament.
In response to a question from the floor, Mr. Solberg stated that house committees can learn a huge amount from Senate committees, and they should not be afraid to adopt some of our practices and procedures.
As senators, we spend an enormous amount of time in committee with the work that we do, work that is at the core of this institution. It is satisfying to see that the results are recognized and valued, not only by witnesses, stakeholders and governments, but also by members of the other place, past and present, and those who take a keen interest in the workings of Parliament.
All senators are to be congratulated for their work as members of Senate committees, and we must also congratulate our director of committees, our committee clerks, our research analysts and many other staff who support our good work.
La Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
Thirty-fifth Anniversary
Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool: Honourable senators, today I would like to highlight the 35th anniversary of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada. This anniversary was celebrated by francophones across the country last Wednesday.
The FCFA is a national organization that brings together the provincial and territorial organizations that defend the rights of francophones, in majority or minority communities, as well as about a dozen alliances or representative organizations in specific francophone sectors, including community radio stations, media representatives, jurists, seniors, and others.
Since its creation in 1975, the FCFA has worked on a number of issues that have enabled francophones in our great country to live better in French. For example, this year, the FCFA studied the French broadcast of the Vancouver Paralympic Games, television broadcast fees, Senator Chaput's Bill S-220, and the elimination of the long-form census.
The FCFA is essential to defending francophones in Canada. I thank it for everything it has done in the past 35 years. Happy anniversary, and I wish the FCFA at least 35 more years of success.
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[English]
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association
Sub-Committee on Democratic Governance and Georgia-NATO Interparliamentary Council, April 5-8, 2010—Report Tabled
Hon. A. Raynell Andreychuk: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation respecting its participation at the Sub-Committee on Democratic Governance and the Georgia-NATO Interparliamentary Council, held in Tbilisi, Georgia, from April 5 to 8, 2010.
Sub-Committee on East-West Economic Co-Operation and Convergence, April 27-29, 2010—Report Tabled
Hon. A. Raynell Andreychuk: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation respecting its participation at the Sub-Committee on East-West Economic Co-operation and Convergence, held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from April 27 to 29, 2010.
Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group, June 27-28, 2010—Report Tabled
Hon. A. Raynell Andreychuk: Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation respecting its participation at the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group, held in Rome, Italy, from June 27 to 28, 2010.
QUESTION PERIOD
Internal Economy Committee
Committee Agenda
Hon. Gerald J. Comeau (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, given that the leader is not in the chamber at this moment, and I presume she will arrive very shortly, I wonder if I might take the opportunity to ask a question of my colleague, the chair of the Internal Economy Committee. Senator Tkachuk, do we have an agenda for this week?
Hon. David Tkachuk: I am not as prepared as I normally am, honourable senators, but it would be a pleasure to answer that question, and I will try to take as long as is necessary.
We are having a meeting this Thursday, and we will be discussing the upcoming attendance of the Auditor General, who will come before our committee a week from this Thursday. During the meeting this Thursday, we will discuss the types of questions that we would like to ask the Auditor General.
The committee has other decisions to make and I believe committee members received those agenda items in the mail. Unfortunately, I do not have the items with me today.
Senator Comeau: Honourable senators, rather than doing it this way, I think the senator could provide us with the precise hour and the date of the meeting and, as well, whether he might entertain senators making recommendations to him as to what could be on the agenda for the meeting.
Senator Tkachuk: Honourable senators, I received one recommendation from the chair of security and accommodation, our whip Senator Di Nino, who will be making a presentation at our meeting on Thursday morning, if that is okay with the deputy chair, because it was originally scheduled for the steering committee meeting.
I am happy that the leader of the Senate has arrived. I hope the honourable senator is satisfied with my response. Thank you very much.
Visitors in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, without detracting from the 30 minutes that the Rules of the Senate provide for Question Period, I would like to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Sükhbaatar Batbold, Prime Minister of Mongolia; his wife, Mrs. Khorloo Otgontuya; and his distinguished ambassador to Canada.
On behalf of all senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[Translation]
QUESTION PERIOD
Treasury Board
Access to Information Requests
Hon. Francis Fox: Honourable senators, I would like to draw the attention of the Senate to the fact that, beginning today, Canada is celebrating Right to Know Week for the fifth consecutive year.
My question for the Leader of the Government in the Senate has to do with this sector, which plays a key role in Canadian democracy.
In April 2010, the Information Commissioner of Canada released a special report to Parliament entitled Out of Time, which addresses the systemic issues affecting access to information in Canada.
In that report, the Commissioner stated, and I quote:
. . delays continue to be the Achilles' heel of the access to information system. . . Chronic delays are generating an increasing number of complaints, which compound the pressure on institutions, particularly those that are under-resourced.
She added:
. . . delays threaten to render the entire access regime irrelevant in our current information economy.
Can the Leader of the Government in the Senate tell us about the action her government has taken following the publication of that report in order to solve the systemic problems with delays and the constant increase in the delays which are undermining the access to information system in Canada?
[English]
Hon. Marjory LeBreton (Leader of the Government): I thank the honourable senator for the question, and my apologies to all honourable senators for my late arrival.
As honourable senators know, in 2007 we expanded coverage to 70 more institutions accountable to the Access to Information Act. As honourable senators are aware, there have been some reports of a backlog. I think the honourable senator will find that the primary reason for the huge backlog is the number of requests that have been directed specifically at the CBC, and of course there are now matters before the courts as the CBC is resisting — according to the newspapers — the release of some of those access requests.
Honourable senators, the fact is the departments have processed over 40,000 requests under the Access to Information Act for 2009-10. The Treasury Board Secretariat responded to 70 per cent of requests for information within 30 days; 20 per cent were responded to within 31 days and 60 days; and 10 per cent between 60 days and 120 days. Decisions regarding access to information are made by officials with delegated authority and training in all such matters.
As I have said before, the requests through access to information are handled directly by public officials, and the backlog is primarily because of the excessive number of access requests regarding the CBC. Many of those requests have remained unanswered.
[Translation]
Senator Fox: Honourable senators, as you know, criticism is coming from all directions and access to information commissioners at all levels of government — who met in Whitehorse in early September — condemned the policy of secrecy practised by various levels of government, and called for a change in culture that would improve access to public documents.
In my humble opinion, something that could generate immediate results would be an act of clear leadership on this issue. You will remember that Mr. Obama, in his first address to the American administration after he was elected president — it was his first day as the leader of the United States — gave instructions to the entire American administration.
[English]
He said:
. . . democracy requires accountability.
[Translation]
We have an accountability act in Canada, but we must go further.
[English]
He added:
. . . accountability requires transparency.
[Translation]
Transparency is the problem. Could the Leader of the Government in the Senate perhaps encourage the Prime Minister to show some conviction in this area and have him issue clear directives calling on departments to respect the spirit of the Access to Information Act and provide the information within a reasonable period of time?
[English]
Senator LeBreton: Honourable senators, I agree with Senator Fox's observation. We brought in the Federal Accountability Act. We have proven our willingness and commitment to accountability and transparency.
I will give honourable senators an example that happened just the other day in response to a question on the G8 and G20 placed on the Order Paper in the other place by a member of the honourable senator's party.
The government provided all of the information available. That is what accountability and transparency is all about, something that has never happened in the past. We said we would be honest and transparent about these matters, and that is exactly what we were.
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With regard to the Information Commissioner, the government accepted the most recent report and recommendations. The government also agreed that in areas where work is to be done we will make every effort to comply. The budget of the Information Commissioner has been increased from $8.5 million to $10.7 million, which is a significant increase. That budget increase would hardly be the action of a government not fully committed to openness and transparency with regard to the Access to Information Act.
Senator Fox: What the minister does not seem to want to deal with is that the report indicated a scorecard for various departments of government, including the Privy Council Office, which had barely a passing grade at that time.
Everyone in the country except the government recognizes that there are unreasonable delays. Will the government not realize that there are indeed unreasonable delays and stop saying they will simply give more resources to the Information Commissioner, although that increase is fine? On the other hand, what we need is a statement by the Prime Minister of this country — the chief executive officer of this country — that he expects his government departments to act in a proactive way, not in a reactive way, in disclosing information.
Senator LeBreton: Honourable senators, that is exactly what we expect of our public servants. The addition of some 70 institutions that are accessible under the Access to Information Act has obviously increased the workload, although improvement is always advisable and necessary. The department processed over 40,000 requests in 2009-10. I repeat that Treasury Board responded to 72 per cent of their requests within 30 days; 20 per cent were responded to between 31 and 60 days; and 10 per cent were responded to between 60 and 120 days.
I agree with the honourable senator that it is important for the Prime Minister and all ministers in the government to impress upon our public service that these questions should be taken seriously, but I have to report to him that the members of the public service do take these questions seriously. The public service is working diligently. There are, of course, increased numbers, but as I pointed out, a significant number are because of access requests received by the Information Commissioner with regard to the CBC.
International Cooperation
Administration of the Canadian Contribution to the Global Fund
Hon. Mobina S.B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, my question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate with regard to malaria. It has long been known that the burden of malaria on the developing world is crushing. This entirely preventable disease affects 50 million to 500 million people every year, kills upwards of 1 million, and claims the life of an African child every 30 seconds.
Last week, Prime Minister Harper attended the UN summit, where he made a pledge to the Global Fund, an organization designed to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. I congratulate him for fostering our country's commitment to providing aid to countries that are in dire need of assistance.
How much of the funds that the Prime Minister has promised will be dedicated specifically to malaria?
Hon. Marjory LeBreton (Leader of the Government): As the honourable senator rightly pointed out, the Prime Minister announced our new commitment of $540 million over three years to the Global Fund. The Global Fund directs approximately 61 per cent of its resources towards HIV and AIDS, 24 per cent towards the prevention and treatment of malaria, and 15 per cent towards tuberculosis.
Senator Jaffer: Have we specified to the Global Fund to which region, for example, to provide more nets, medicine or community health care? What specifically do we want the monies that will be used for malaria to be earmarked for?
Senator LeBreton: Honourable senators, as with all organizations within the United Nations, with the commitment that the government has made to the Global Fund, we obviously partner with the Global Fund. This amount of money is significant. I have provided the percentages that the Global Fund disburses for the various diseases. I dare say that the Global Fund is well equipped and well experienced in making decisions with regard to resources they are given by the various governments.
Speaking specifically for Canada, I dare say that when money is disbursed by the Global Fund, we must have some confidence that the Global Fund knows better than we do where the most serious needs are and where to direct the funding. I do not think any government of any stripe would want to go to an agency after giving them a large amount of funds, such as we have done, and tell them how to run their own operations.
[Translation]
Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool: Honourable senators, the Prime Minister has announced that a $540 million contribution would be made over three years to the Global Fund. We are aware of the confusion that existed when we provided aid to Haiti.
Can the Leader of the Government tell us what federal agency will administer these funds? How will the actual use of this $540 million be accounted for to parliamentarians?
[English]
Senator LeBreton: Honourable senators, of course we know about the dire circumstances in Haiti, and we know many agencies of government are working there. As we all know, this country is not an easy set of circumstances to deal with. Haiti was a country with literally no infrastructure or programs to begin with, and it was completely devastated. I will be happy to provide the honourable senator with a list of the various agencies of government working in Haiti and what has been done to this point. Of course, as of Friday, we will have the added advantage of having our then former Governor General Michaëlle Jean as a UNESCO Special Envoy to Haiti.
Public Safety
Federal Funding for Program Implementation
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck: Honourable senators, my question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
The recent legislative changes to the Criminal Code will have a big impact on the costs in our correctional system. The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that the implementation of the Truth in Sentencing Act alone will cost the federal government about $5 billion over five years, plus an additional $5 billion to $8 billion to the provinces and territories.
This implementation will cost my home province of Prince Edward Island $65 million to build new facilities. Will the federal government pay the provinces to carry out the federal changes to the Criminal Code?
Hon. Marjory LeBreton (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, as I previously reported, the protection and safety of Canadians is the first priority of the government. The honourable senator knows that these changes have been fully supported by the Attorneys General of the various provinces. I can only say to the honourable senator that the Attorneys General of the various provinces are most supportive of the programs put in place by this government. We see increasing evidence, day by day, that people who have been victimized by crime want the government's first priority to be the safety of themselves and their families.
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Senator Callbeck: With all due respect, minister, you have not answered my question, that is, will the federal government help the provinces with these federal changes that it has brought into the Criminal Code?
My additional question about the correctional system deals with rehabilitation. Our prison population will be increasing substantially. However, we have already seen a scaling back of programs, such as the prison farms being closed. These programs taught inmates important life skills like hard work, responsibility and cooperation. Does this government intend to do more to help these individuals adjust into society, or will it continue to do less?
Senator LeBreton: If the honourable senator must know, when the minister announced these changes, the Minister of Justice also announced significant resources being spent on mental health issues, rehabilitation and retraining. There was a complete breakdown of this given, and the figures are significant. These funds are not all for building prisons. Significant resources are being put into rehabilitation, retraining and treating prisoners with mental health issues. I will be happy to provide that information to the honourable senator.
[Translation]
Industry
2011 Census
Hon. Maria Chaput: Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. On August 11, 2010, the Minister of Industry reintroduced into the 2011 census — in other words, the mandatory short-form census — two other questions on official languages. We now have three questions on Canada's official languages that will be asked in the next census.
I want to thank the Leader of the Government in the Senate because these three questions included in the census now add and respond to the objectives of the Official Languages Act and respect that act.
I nonetheless have a question for the leader: How will the government proceed to analyze the information collected? We have both a mandatory short-form census and a longer voluntary survey. How will the required information be analyzed and how will it be distributed? Will we only distribute the information collected in the census or the survey or both? How will the data be analyzed and distributed?
[English]
Hon. Marjory LeBreton (Leader of the Government): I thank the honourable senator for the question.
Honourable senators, the data that is collected by Statistics Canada will be analyzed and released, as has been the case in all the various surveys that Statistics Canada does. As I pointed out yesterday, most surveys are conducted voluntarily.
The honourable senator is correct in that an adjustment was made to add the language questions to the mandatory short census form. However, the actual gathering and analysis of the data will be conducted in a professional and proper way, as has always been the case, by Statistics Canada, which has a great reputation as a gatherer of data.
[Translation]
Senator Chaput: I understand the Leader of the Government in the Senate perfectly well. However, does this mean that the information collected during the census and that collected as part of the survey, which are two totally different activities, will now be compiled and released together so that we will not have a clear idea of what information came from the census and what came from the survey? Will everything be bundled together when the 2011 information is released? Will the information be processed differently depending on how it was collected?
[English]
Senator LeBreton: Honourable senators, the census gathering and the information gathering responsibilities of Statistics Canada will not change, in my view. It has the mandatory short census form, which includes the three additional language questions to satisfy the Official Languages Act. All of the information that is gathered on the long form, the same questions, will be included but it will be more widely distributed. I am quite sure that when the professionals at Statistics Canada gather and dispense this information, they will make that clear. We all know the questions on the short form, so when they release the data it will be clear that the short form mandatory census produced that data.
I believe that the data on the long form will also be released as data gathered by the long census form. However, I stand to be corrected. I will be happy to make inquiries as to how the analysis of the data gathered by using the mandatory short form and the voluntary long form would be much different than what has occurred in the past. I will find out if there are any particular concerns about reporting on the data.
[Translation]
Senator Chaput: I would appreciate the Leader of the Government in the Senate finding out more so that she can answer my questions.
[English]
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Study on National Security and Defence Policies
Fourth Report National Security and Defence Committee Adopted
The Senate proceeded to consideration of the fourth report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, entitled: Where we go from here: Canada's Mission in Afghanistan, tabled in the Senate on June 22, 2010
Hon. Pamela Wallin moved adoption of the report.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: It has been moved that the fourth report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence entitled: Where we go from here: Canada's Mission In Afghanistan be adopted.
Are honourable senators ready for the question?
Some Hon. Senators: Question.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to and report adopted.)
[Translation]
Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament
Second Report of Committee—Motion in Amendment—Debate Continued
On the Order:
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Smith, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, for the adoption of the second report of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament (study on questions of privilege), presented in the Senate on April 27, 2010;
And on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, that the report be not now adopted, but that it be referred back to the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament for further study and debate.
Hon. Gerald J. Comeau (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, this is day 15 of debate on this report. On behalf of Senator Cools, I move adjournment of the debate so that we can continue debate on this item.
(On motion of Senator Comeau, for Senator Cools, debate adjourned.)
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[English]
Impact of Dementia on Society
Inquiry—Debate Continued
On the Order:
Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., calling the attention of the Senate to the Impact of Dementia on the Canadian Society.
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck: Honourable senators, this item stands adjourned in Senator Mercer's name. He has agreed that I speak on it to today and that it be adjourned in his name.
Honourable senators, I am pleased to take part in the debate on this inquiry, which calls the attention of the Senate to the impact of dementia on Canadian society. I commend Senator Carstairs for initiating debate and discussion on this growing issue. We all know the important work she has contributed on palliative care. We know by the comprehensive report by the Special Senate Committee on Aging the in-depth examination that she, as chair, and the other members of the committee made. She is a tremendous advocate for seniors here in this chamber and across the country.
Last week, on World Alzheimer's Day, Alzheimer's Disease International released its most recent statistics and projections. By 2050, the worldwide costs of dementia will reach a staggering US $604 billion for this year alone. The ADI predicts that as people live longer, the number of individuals with dementia will double every 20 years, growing to 66 million by 2030, and to 115 million by 2050.
Here at home, it is estimated that half a million Canadians have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia today. That number is expected to increase substantially. Dementia is largely age-related, and people are living longer and the aging population is growing. As Senator Carstairs noted in her speech, the Alzheimer's Society estimates that the number of Canadians suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related dementias will increase from 500,000 to 1.1 million within a generation.
Honourable senators, many of us have had the experience of a family member or friend affected by dementia. My mother had Alzheimer's, so I know from first-hand experience the various stages that one goes through. It is a sad and tragic experience for everyone involved.
Dementia is especially sad and tragic because there is no cure. We do not fully understand the cause. We need to know more about the cause, and we need to continue to search for a cure and develop new ways to provide care.
The recent report by the Alzheimer Society of Canada entitled Rising Tide: the Impact of Dementia in Canada, paints a bleak picture of the future. As I said, the number of people affected by dementia will double to more than a million people within a generation. The economic costs — direct health costs, foregone wages of unpaid caregivers, and other indirect costs — of dealing with the disease are forecast to increase from $15 billion now to $153 billion by 2038. The time that people will provide informal care is expected to increase to 756 million hours from 231 million hours at present. These are some of the staggering costs that we face as a society.
In my home province, the number of Islanders diagnosed with Alzheimer's and other dementias will also double by 2038. The total cost of dementia will be more than $3.4 billion over the next 30 years.
The Alzheimer's Society of P.E.I. has been doing what it can to help. The society offer a speakers' bureau, through which staff and volunteers raise awareness of this disease and the people it affects. Some of these speakers are individuals with Alzheimer's, and they offer a unique perspective on the challenges they face. The society also offers resources for families and caregivers, including publications, telephone support, support groups, and a day respite program.
This issue is indeed a serious one. As the report points out, there is an urgent need for immediate action by all Canadians. Maintaining the status quo is not an option, the report says. We must take action today. That is why I so strongly support and endorse this inquiry.
Behind these numbers, however, there is a much more significant cost. That is the human cost associated with those people who are affected by dementia. There are social costs over and above medical and treatment costs. The social costs are reflected in the stigma, isolation and loss of autonomy faced by those with dementia.
By calling attention to the impact of dementia, this inquiry helps to bring its impact to the attention of more and more Canadians. Hopefully, by talking about it, there will be a greater willingness to address the issues associated with it and to develop new ways to support individuals and the families affected by it. Far too many people, including professionals, family members and caregivers, do not know enough about dementia, what it means and how to deal with it. I hope this inquiry will help contribute to a greater awareness, knowledge and understanding of how we can safeguard and enhance the lives of those affected by dementia.
In my view, the goal should be to help people who are affected by dementia to live as normal a life as possible, for as long as possible, and to receive the appropriate supports that will enable them to do so.
To that end, the Rising Tide report makes a number of significant recommendations for a national dementia strategy.
First is the need for more research. We need a much more ambitious and aggressive effort in research programs that will lead to improved treatments and, hopefully, a cure. We need to focus our attention and resources to enable people with dementia to live as full a life as possible and to help minimize the impact of the disease.
The report recommends a clear recognition of the role played by informal caregivers. They need more information and education. As well, more financial support should be available for those who need it if the people they care for are to remain in their homes and communities.
The report recognizes the importance of prevention and early intervention. We know some of what it takes to help prevent the onset of the disease. More exercise, good diets and healthy living are things that all of us can do to help delay dementia. Although we have no control over genetics or aging, there are some things over which we do have control.
Early diagnosis and intervention can make a difference. It can slow the decline. It can help those affected and their families to plan ahead.
There also needs to be greater integration of care, increased use of best practices in disease prevention and management and community support. We need to invest more in home and community care, and develop a comprehensive strategy to provide caregivers with meaningful support. That support means as well an increased level and flexibility of respite care.
Finally, the report recommends that Canada's dementia human resources be strengthened by increasing the availability of specialists, the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of front-line professionals and greater supports to those with dementia and their families.
I hope this inquiry will stimulate not only debate and discussion but real action in addressing dementia and the many issues associated with it. We owe it to all those who want to live the rest of their lives with dignity and security. It is time for Canada to do the same as other countries — such as Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, France, Scotland and the United Kingdom — and develop a strategy to improve the lives of people living with dementia.
(On motion of Senator Callbeck, for Senator Mercer, debate adjourned.)
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[Translation]
The Senate
Motion to Encourage the Minister of National Defence to Change the Official Structural Name of the Canadian Navy—Debate Continued
On the Order:
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser:
That the Senate of Canada encourage the Minister of National Defence, in view of the long service, sacrifice and courage of Canadian Naval forces and personnel, to change the official structural name of the Canadian Navy from "Maritime Command" to "Canadian Navy" effective from this year, as part of the celebration of the Canadian Navy Centennial, with that title being used in all official and operational materials, in both official languages, as soon as possible.
Hon. Gerald J. Comeau (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, we have come to the 14th day for this important motion proposed by Senator Rompkey. Since I have not yet finished my notes on this topic, I would like to take the adjournment of the motion in my name.
(On motion of Senator Comeau, debate adjourned.)
[English]
Business of the Senate
Hon. Gerald J. Comeau (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, before we go to the Notice Paper, earlier on this afternoon we dealt with a report of the Defence Committee, at which point Senator Wallin did not have her notes in front of her so she did not really get a chance to provide a few comments that she had wished to make on the report of the Defence Committee. I ask if senators would be agreeable to Senator Wallin making those few comments on the report. It is a very important report on which the committee worked quite diligently. I know it requires unanimous consent, but I wonder if that could be given to Senator Wallin.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is leave granted, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Study on National Security and Defence Policies
Fourth Report National Security and Defence Committee—Statement
Leave having been given to revert to Reports of Committees, Item No. 5, tabled and adopted earlier this day:
Hon. Pamela Wallin: Honourable senators, I thank you for that and I apologize in advance for my voice. I truly have lost the ability to speak for great lengths of time, and I know there will be cheers on the other side from some. However, I do want to share a few words and I cannot say how thrilled I am, as Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, that this current report from our committee has been unanimously adopted by this chamber.
Our report is entitled Where we go from here: Canada's Mission in Afghanistan. This was truly a piece of bipartisan work and it was wonderful to see the Defence Committee come to a conclusion together.
We unanimously recommended, based on testimony and suggestions heard and our concern for Canada's standing amongst our allies, that our Canadian Forces continue to contribute in some way to the training and mentoring of Afghan national security forces perhaps even after 2011, and that Parliament, at its earliest opportunity, carefully consider the role of the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan after 2011.
Afghanistan's Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Jawed Ludin, came to the committee and he was most passionate. In speaking of Afghanistan, he urged the committee to remain involved in the security agenda by building up their troops — that it is their single most important and strategic priority — and they would like to get it right, with our help.
Honourable senators, Afghanistan will not be able to stand on its own and as a bulwark against terrorism directed at all of us unless it can defend itself. That truly was the nature of our intent and mission when we headed in.
As our committee heard from witness after witness, by means of so-called OMLTs, Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams, our troops have truly done a superb job of training and mentoring Afghan forces. They are doing a job that is admired and even emulated by our allies.
As I have said in this chamber on other occasions, we heard from senior American generals on the ground in Afghanistan who said that, because of our role and because of our activities in Afghanistan, if they could they would put all allied troops under Canadian command because we are the ones who know what we are doing. We have heart in our mission as both war fighters and humanitarians.
Our allies want Canadian troops to stay in a training role. We hear this from people around the world. It was voiced just the other day in a published report by NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Mark Sedwill. Training and mentoring Afghan forces is vital to the future of that country, and it is vital to our own security.
We were very encouraged by the remarks of the Liberal Party's foreign affairs critic, Mr. Rae, during a visit to Afghanistan at the beginning of the summer. We note that the Liberal Party itself advocates Canadian Forces remaining in Afghanistan, albeit in a purely training role and within the safety of fenced compounds.
We do believe it is time that we should continue this debate in Parliament, in this chamber, and perhaps re-examine the parliamentary resolution of 2008, which is what this report recommends that Parliament do.
I want to go back over a little bit of ground, because I find when I go out and speak publicly on this issue, which I do just as often as I can, people are amazed by what we have actually accomplished. I know after nine years of activity it is very difficult for a war-weary public to look out and see if there really is progress or improvement. I will just go through some figures. I am sure honourable senators get these reports entitled Canada's Engagement in Afghanistan. These reports come out quarterly and they are filled with some amazing information.
From 2004 to 2008, total enrolment in grades 1 through 12 increased from 3.9 million to 6.2 million. These are statistics from the World Bank.
From 2002 to 2009, total school enrolment, grades 1 through 12, grew from 900,000, the number when we first went to Afghanistan. Of course, they were mostly boys and it would be questionable as to whether or not we could call these schools as we understand them here in the West. The numbers have now grown to 7.3 million in 2009. Girls' enrolment has increased to 2.2 million. As of 2009 — these are now updated figures — 37 per cent of the student population, grades 1 through 12, were girls.
There are now nearly 12,000 schools across Afghanistan and nearly 5,000 of these schools have been built, established and made operable since the year 2002.
Nearly 3,500 school buildings have been constructed or fixed up, and 924 are still under construction. There are eight times as many teachers today as there were when we first arrived in Afghanistan.
Eight out of ten Afghans also now have access to health care and, in places like Bamyan Province, it is of a very high quality. I was there and I know. I can attest to that.
More than 20,000 village councils have been elected by peers, implementing more than 40,000 local development projects. These things are small. They do not capture the attention of the few reporters who are actually in the field and off the Kandahar Airfield base, but this is progress that is real.
ANA, the Afghan National Army, is now capable of operating with no external support; that is, 21 "kandaks" or battalions in our terms, 2 corps headquarters, 6 brigade headquarters, 6 garrison support units. The ANP, the Afghan National Police, is capable of operating with no external support in some 12 districts. It is not a lot, but we are talking about this police force starting from scratch. There was no such thing when we first arrived. With routine advisory capacity and assistance, they actually operate in about 39 areas and villages.
The projects and the upgrades continue. In addition to training, mentoring and the building of the structures, we are actually engaged. We are helping them with equipment purchases. One hundred per cent of corrections officers and managers have successfully completed initial and advanced training courses for Afghans on the ground. We have met that target 100 per cent. Three justice facilities are to be equipped to support the justice system. The purchases have been delivered and our target is met. There have been loans to 500 clients through micro-finance; that was our target. In fact, we have achieved more than 1,100 of these loans. The amazing statistic is that they are paid back 100 per cent. It is incredible.
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Canada has also been part of the training of some 500 health care workers. To date, we have exceeded that goal and are headed toward 1,200 that we have been involved in. As well, 200,000 kids and adults have been given mine awareness training so they can be safer out on the roads. I was going to say "highways" but that would be overstating it.
Your committee was quite taken by the extremely passionate testimony that we heard. General Serge Labbé, who is now retired, talked about this being the time that we could turn the tide with a view to ensuring that we could support this new government and make it real and that we should help them to assume responsibility for training, governance, and development. This has been our mission from the beginning, not to provide government or to provide all the services but to make the Afghans ready to provide their own governance and security. We have made some huge strides in that area. So many witnesses iterated the fact that Canada is so respected, despite our rather small numbers relatively speaking, because of the nature of the contribution that Canadian soldiers have made.
Although this is a little off topic, I am sure we will be talking about it in the next few days: The question of how we treat our soldiers not only on the ground in theatre to ensure that we provide them with adequate equipment but also when they return — the veterans of today and tomorrow, not just the veterans of yesteryear.
There was a great comment the other day from a medical doctor who said, "Those of us in uniform, we are your brothers and sisters. We are dying on your behalf and we are killing in your name. We are the ones who will bear the scars. Canadians just owe one thing to us: to be informed. They do not even have to agree with the mission, but they do have to know what we went through, and they do have to remember us."
That was such a powerful statement. It is what your committee has attempted to do, I believe, by taking on this topic and issuing this report, and by all of us speaking as often as we can about the importance of this mission, about those who are still fighting, and about those who are home.
Honourable senators, our veterans deserve the best, and our government is committed to ensuring that they get the best. I am sure that all honourable senators are aware of the announcements last week and again today that will improve the financial condition for veterans who have returned suffering from serious injuries. More announcements were made today and a promise from Minister MacKay that we will deal with the question of lump sum payments for veterans in the near future.
This government is listening, and I hope that we will continue to listen and to make their lot in life much better. They have done an incredible job for us. They have put us back at the international table of respected nations in terms of both war fighting and humanitarian efforts. They have restored the pride and the motivation of the Canadian Forces. Every single citizen, young and old, has reconnected with our military in a profound way through the course of this mission.
As the daughter of a veteran, I hope that we never lose that connection, and I thank all honourable senators on this committee for their hard work over long hours to ensure that this attempt to continue to inform and to educate the Canadian public about the work of our troops goes on. Thank you.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Will the Honourable Senator Wallin accept a question?
Hon. Roméo Antonius Dallaire: Honourable senators, I do not have a question. I move the adjournment of the debate on this report and request a special opportunity to speak to the report.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: The report has been adopted by this chamber and, therefore, debate cannot be adjourned. Does the honourable senator wish to speak now?
Senator Dallaire: Honourable senators, there has been a dispensation for the other side to speak to the report. The comments extended beyond the report with the mention of compensation for veterans.
As Deputy Chair of the Defence Committee, I wish to have an opportunity to speak to the report.
Hon. Gerald J. Comeau (Deputy Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, may I make a suggestion? The honourable senator is absolutely right. If Senator Dallaire would like to speak to this issue, this side would be more than pleased to provide an appropriate time. The honourable senator or I could table a Notice of Inquiry on the subject matter of the report and, with leave, speak to it tomorrow afternoon.
[Translation]
Senator Dallaire: I will be giving Notice of Inquiry in order to continue debate on this report which was adopted by this chamber.
[English]
Hon. Claudette Tardif (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, given that Senator Wallin was able to speak today after the report had been adopted, senators on this side who would like to speak should have the same courtesy applied to them.
The report was adopted, but the house agreed to revert so that Senator Wallin could speak to it. I would encourage affording the same courtesy to senators on this side who wish to speak to the report today.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Further debate, honourable senators?
Senator Dallaire: Honourable senators, I would like to speak at length. I am sorry that the opportunity was not discussed previously. I would like to reinforce and amplify certain points in the report, but it would be unfair for me to articulate these points at this time.
I seek a procedural opportunity for a similar dispensation to speak to this report tomorrow when I would be better prepared if the house is willing to give me 24 hours to prepare.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Comeau has so indicated. Is it agreed, honourable senators?
Senator Comeau: When Senator Dallaire rose to move the adjournment of the debate, I knew that he could not do so because it was a temporary item. I rose because I presumed that the honourable senator wished to speak not later today but tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Thus, I suggested a Notice of Inquiry tomorrow morning that, with leave, can proceed later in the day. In that way, Senator Dallaire and others will have an opportunity to speak to the subject matter.
Honourable senators, I will have a Notice of Inquiry on the Order Paper tomorrow.
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Hon. Joseph A. Day: It seems to me that we are creating a double standard here. Senator Comeau asked for a courtesy, to which we all agreed, to allow Senator Wallin to speak on this matter after the fact. Why can we not have the same courtesy offered to the deputy chair of the committee? He is not ready to speak now. If Senator Wallin had not spoken, no one would be speaking. We gave courtesy one way; give us the courtesy the other way.
Senator Comeau: Our side is prepared to give the courtesy if Senator Dallaire wishes to speak right now. I have said that already. That was not Senator Dallaire's intent. Watch my lips: That was not his intent. He moved to adjourn the debate. I am offering, on behalf of our side, the opportunity for Senator Dallaire to speak this afternoon if he wishes to, but that is not what he requested. We are offering this afternoon, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. That is as great a courtesy as possibly can be offered.
Senator Day: I was watching Senator Comeau's lips. I thank him for directing me to them. I appreciate that.
Senator Dallaire was not in this chamber when Senator Wallin asked for special dispensation to speak after the motion had passed. We did not anticipate that request would come up. Special consideration was requested and it was given. We are asking for special consideration to allow Senator Dallaire to speak tomorrow. What is wrong with that?
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Honourable Senator Day, there is no item before the chamber to be adjourned now because it has already been voted upon. Senator Comeau has given an undertaking to set down an inquiry so that the Honourable Senator Dallaire can speak tomorrow, the next day or the following day after he has had an opportunity to prepare his notes. The Honourable Senator Dallaire has indicated that he is not prepared to speak today, and he cannot be compelled to speak.
[Translation]
Hon. Fernand Robichaud: Honourable senators, I believe that the Honourable Senator Dallaire has asked for consent to present Notice of Inquiry that would allow him to speak tomorrow. I think that it would help everyone here, including him.
[English]
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Committee Authorized to Study Use of Electronic Assistive Voting Devices for Persons with Disabilities
Hon. Joan Fraser, pursuant to notice of September 27, 2010, moved:
That pursuant to section 18.1 of the Canada Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9), the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized to examine and report on the use of electronic assistive voting devices for persons with disabilities; and
That the committee report to the Senate no later than October 28, 2010.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to.)
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Committee Authorized to Extend Date of Final Report on Study of Pandemic Preparedness
Leave having been given to revert to Motions, Item No. 68:
Hon. Art Eggleton, pursuant to notice of September 27, 2010, moved:
That notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on June 28, 2010, the date for the presentation of the final report by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology on Canada's pandemic preparedness be extended from October 31, 2010 to December 31, 2010 and that the date until which the committee retains powers to allow it to publicize its findings be extended from January 31, 2011 to March 31, 2011.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to.)
(The Senate adjourned until Wednesday, September 29, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.)