Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, as Montrealers, we both celebrated the outstanding victory of the Montreal Canadiens earlier this week. What great news. There’s more good news. On Sunday, the federal government announced a quarantine exemption for the finalists in the NHL playoffs. Hockey players will be able to cross the border and avoid the 14-day quarantines which, understandably, have a considerable impact on the preparation and performance of athletes.

The bad news is that, 44 days from the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, our amateur athletes aren’t receiving the same treatment. They must still quarantine for 14 days. Many organizations, athletes and journalists are being very vocal about their frustration and anger, which I share wholeheartedly.

Our athletes have been vaccinated. They are tested regularly. They have been living in bubbles for more than a year. They are our best ambassadors and we must support them. They’re being told that Canada is a country where health measures for high-performance athletes vary depending on whether or not they can afford a private plane. Senator Gold, how does the government plan to address this situation?

Senator Gold, I really want to insist on this, because we can’t wait weeks for an answer. I read an article yesterday that quoted Mikaël Kingsbury, a 28-year-old skier, who said the following:

 . . . it’s really not cool for the Government of Canada to do that to athletes. It’s just sad when you see what other countries are doing.

That’s true.

I completely agree with Dominick Gauthier, an Olympian and coach, who said:

No matter what the government ends up doing, it will have sent a clear message that our Olympians are second-class athletes compared to professional hockey players.

Senator Gold, can you please ask Minister Guilbeault and Minister Mendicino to find a solution to this problem as soon as possible in the coming days? The Olympic Games are starting in 44 days.