I haven’t been able to attend Senate Question Period in years as the move to a separate building, and a shift of their usual timing to coincide with Commons QP have kept me away, as has the fact that they pretty much always rise at the same time as the Commons, which never used to be the practice, and for which I write a peevish column at the start of every summer. This year, however, they are sitting later to pass Bill C-5, so I am actually able to take it in. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.

Taking in #SenQP for the first time in *years*.

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-06-25T18:04:29.258Z

After statements and routine proceedings, things got underway in earnest as  Senator Housakos led off, and he raised the PBO saying that he has received little information on the NATO two percent announcement, and that they have now agreed to the five percent goal at this week’s summit, And wondered how they could take this credibly. Senator Gold lamented that there was underfunding over decades, and that this was because of a changing world, but also noted that only 3.5 percent of that was over a decade, while the other 1.5 percent was for other things. Housakos again questioned the credibility of the numbers, and Gold returned to the boilerplate assurances they are doing what they can, but also noted that DND hasn’t been able to spend their current allocations.

Senator Batters raised that Bill C-8 was resurrecting the old cybersecurity old bill, that was virtually unchanged, and wondered how the government could all themselves a “new government” if it was the same old. Gold disputed the characterisation, and said that the Senate did their job with that bill before. Batters said that Senate amendments were pretty much ignored, and referred to “CEO Carney,” and Gold said that if improvements are needed to the bill, he has every confidence that the Senate will do its job on this bill.

Senator Coyle raised a report that the Library of Parliament on climate framework on decision-making by government, and wondered if the government would continue to use the 2024 assessment regime. Senator Gold gave some bland assurances. Coyle wondered if legislation was necessary to do something akin to the gender budgeting framework for climate, and Gold demurred from speculating on future legislation.

Senator Loffreda raised Bill C-2’s financial transparency provisions, and the old promise for a new agency to combat financial crimes, and if the government still plans to create such an agency. Gold said that he can’t speculate on future funding announcements, but only that the government continues to take combatting financial crime seriously. Loffreda wondered if Canada was successful in using its G7 presidency to come to agreements on combating financial crime, and Gold said that he was told that this was part of the finance ministerial meeting.

Senator Deacon raised a recent CBC story of a woman whose pension was deposited in the wrong account and the bank refused to do anything until CBC intervened, and wanted higher standards in the banks to combatting bank fraud. Senator Gold said that the would take the concerns and suggestions to the appropriate minister. Deacon also wondered about modernised payment systems, which Canada is lagging on, and that funding for these projects was absent from the recently passed Estimates. Gold said that the government agrees with the premise but he doesn’t have any timelines to share.

Senator Henkel worried about unequal grants being given to women’s health research, leading to longer delays for diagnosis and treatment. Gold said that he was not surprised to hear this information and that it was disappointing, and offered reassurances that the government will play its role given the importance of the issue. Henkel wondered if this meant equal funding or designing research for women’s bodies in mind, or disaggregating of data, and Gold offered a bland assurance.

Senator David Wells wondered about the basis that the Coast Guard counts toward NATO defence spending targets, and Gold assured him that the Coast Guard plays roles that similar organisations do in other countries, and that it has an important role in Arctic sovereignty. Wells wondered why, if sixty percent already counts to the goal, the prime minister would float integrating them in to the Canadian Forces would help reach the spending goal. Gold didn’t necessarily agree with how this as framed, and offered some bland assurance that any work that needed to be done would be.

Senator Martin picked up that line of inquiry, and wondered about the contradictory information coming from PMO and the military. Gold wanted her to know that the government was moving quickly in order to address problems with the military that had been dealing  with for decades. Martin again wondered about the accounting question, and Gold praised the prime minster’s meeting in the Hague and that budget documents would be coming in due course.

Senator Petitclerc asked about the recent report on employment accessibility in Canada, and how disabled people willing to work can’t find employment, and wanted more voices like these in future Senate appointments. Gold said he can’t presume to know what the prime minster has in mind for future Senate appointments but wanted to see more of these perspectives. 

Senator Clement raised that it was recently World Refugee Day, and that she recently met with several refugees being processed in Cornwall, and wondered if Canada would provide dispensation for Syrians to return home now that the Assad regime has fallen, without risking losing their status. Gold said that he can’t speculate about that, and that he would bring this to the minister. Clement asked what more the department can do to meet its service standards, and Gold sighed before saying the government is committed to improving the efficiency of the system while maintaining its integrity. 

Senator Cardozo raised the anniversary of the Air India, and lamented that the truth was never fully uncovered, and asked to convey the request to have the Museum of History create a permanent exhibit. Gold promised to pass along the request. Cardozo noted that the identity of one perpetrator has never been revealed and asked if the government could do so, and Gold again promised to pass along the request. 

Senator Housakos got back up to raise the listing of Samidoun as a terrorist organisation, but they continue to operate in Canada. Gold noted that he agreed with this listing, and that their listing as a charity lie with the CRA, which the government cannot direct, but would bring it to the attention of the government. Housakos said that it was incumbent on all arms of the government to ensure that they are acting on the same page. Gold says that while he agrees with the sentiment that it’s important to respect the separation of powers between government and independent agencies.

Overall, it was a very different vibe from the House of Commons, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. The pace seemed to be a little faster than the Senate QP sessions I’ve sat in over years past, where the was plenty of time for lengthier preambles to questions, whereas there now seems to be a  clock on questions, which I have mixed feelings about. I did prefer the more measured pace of the former rules, because it wasn’t built for TV, but now that there are cameras in the Chamber, this is what we’re seeing now. We also remain with the same problems of the asking the Government Leader questions which he is unable to properly speak to, because he is not a member of Cabinet as Government Leaders are supposed to be. I would also note that because Senator Gold, the Government Leader, is retiring on the 30th, there were plenty of preambles today that mentioned that this would be their last question ever to him, and offered him well-wishes.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Danièle Henkel for a navy boat necked sleeveless dress, and to Senator Andrew Cardozo for a light blue-grey suit over a crisp white shirt and a dark pink tie. Style citations go out to Senator Réjean Aucoin for a burnt orange jacket, over a light blue shirt, orange patterned tie, and olive khaki slacks, and to Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne for a black and taupe patterned dress under a white jacket.