Debates of the Senate (Hansard)1st Session, 41st Parliament,
Thursday, March 15, 2012

Governor General
Diamond Jubilee Medal Nominations

Hon. Percy E. Downe: Honourable senators, can the Leader of the Government in the Senate advise whether the list of the allocation of the Queen's Jubilee medals that was published in the Canada Gazette was provided by the government to the Governor General?

Hon. Marjory LeBreton (Leader of the Government): I was asked this question yesterday, and I did make an inquiry. Deserving Canadians of all backgrounds are eligible to receive the honour of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee medal, and there is information on the Governor General's website. People can apply through information on the website or they can be awarded the medal through us as parliamentarians. We are all gathering names and submitting them to the Governor General.

This is a wonderful medal struck in honour of a wonderful occasion, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and it is to be hoped that deserving Canadians of all backgrounds will be well represented in the final distribution of the medals.

Senator Downe: I thank the minister for that interesting information. However, my question was whether the list of the allocation of medals that is published in the Canada Gazette was given by the government to the Governor General.

Senator LeBreton: I do not believe so. I am not aware that it was. Having said that, there are many medals to be awarded and we are all participating. I am sure that Senator Downe is.

All deserving Canadians have equal access to apply through information on the Governor General's website.

Senator Downe: I appreciate that answer as well. The list published in the Canada Gazette indicates that the public service will have 4,000 nominees, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will have 2,300, and so on.

Would the names of the organizations and the numbers have gone from the government to the Governor General, or do they come directly from the Governor General? If the minister does not know, could she find out?

Senator LeBreton: I will take that question as notice.

Senator Downe: Will there be any screening, as there is for appointments and nominations to government boards and agencies and for senior appointments in the government, of the nominees for this medal?

Senator LeBreton: Why would any of us interfere with a process that can be done through the Governor General? It is absolutely ridiculous to suggest that they be screened.

Senator Downe: Does the leader think it is ridiculous that an overseas tax cheat would be awarded the Queen's Jubilee medal? None of us would want such people to receive the medal. Senator LeBreton knows full well that every nominee for an appointment in the Government of Canada is screened through the Privy Council by the RCMP and CSIS and that they must be in conformity with the Canadian Revenue Agency before being appointed.

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Why would it be any different for these nominees?

Senator LeBreton: Obviously, honourable senators, these are not appointments. This is a medal to honour a special occasion, namely, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. When each and every one of us submits the 30 names, or however many names we are allowed to suggest, we would surely not be submitting names of known felons from around the world. To suggest that, somehow or other, the government should set up a screening process for the awarding of a commemorative medal is bizarre to say the least.

Senator Downe: I want to thank the honourable leader for that answer. I totally disagree, however, that there is no way one can screen the 1,800 names, given to the Canada Revenue Agency four years ago by the governments of Germany and France, of Canadians who had overseas, hidden, secret accounts. If we knew who they were, we would not nominate them. I am sure no one in this chamber would nominate an overseas tax cheat. The government knows. Would the government check each name? After all, we are only nominating them, not selecting them.

Senator LeBreton: First, these medals are being given out by the Governor General. I do not know the process that they are following at Government House. I suppose I could make inquiries, although it is the responsibility of the Governor General and falls within the purview of his position representing Her Majesty. I know that they have a system in place for screening out duplication. Perhaps they have some system that I am not aware of. I would be happy to pass on your concerns to Government House.

Senator Downe: It is not only my concern. I assume it is a concern shared by the majority in this chamber, though obviously not the Leader of the Government in the Senate, that no one who is trying to defraud the Government of Canada out of taxes that are owed for the social programs and infrastructure of this country be awarded an honour in the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty's rule. I assume that would be done by the government automatically. However, the leader does not know where the list came from or who is responsible for it. I look forward to hearing from the leader with regard to that information.

Senator LeBreton: Honourable senators, this is being handled by the Governor General as the representative of Her Majesty. The honourable senator is asking me questions that I am not in a position to answer because I am not part of the Governor General's staff. I answer for the government. I agree that I would not want to see a prestigious medal given to someone undeserving. On that, we are in total agreement.

Senator Downe: That is a change.

Senator LeBreton: It is not a change.

Senator Downe: It is a change from what you said earlier. Check the transcript. We all heard what you said.

Senator LeBreton: No, honourable senators. What I talked about was putting in place a process. The Governor General may have already done that. Hopefully, at the end of the day, these medals will be, as I said a few moments ago, handed out to deserving Canadians from all walks of life.