Debates of the Senate (Hansard)
1st Session, 45th Parliament
Volume 154, Issue 17
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The Honourable Raymonde Gagné, Speaker
- SENATORS’ STATEMENTS
- ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
- The Senate
- Criminal Code
- National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Bill
- National Finance
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to Agriculture and Forestry
- Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Growing Issue of Wildfires and Refer Papers and Evidence from First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament to Current Session
- Study on the Status of Soil Health—Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Government Response to Thirteenth Report of Committee Tabled During First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament and Refer Papers and Evidence from Previous Session to Current Session
- Audit and Oversight
- Transport and Communications
- Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Local Services Provided by CBC/Radio-Canada and Refer Papers and Evidence for First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament to Current Session
- Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Copper Wire Theft and Its Impacts on the Telecommunications Industry, and Refer Papers and Evidence from First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament to Current Session
- Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to Transport and Communications Generally
- Business of the Senate
- QUESTION PERIOD
- ORDERS OF THE DAY
THE SENATE
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the chair.
Prayers.
Business of the Senate
Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate, I ask:
That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or previous order, for today’s sitting, Senators’ Statements be extended by a maximum of three minutes.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
SENATORS’ STATEMENTS
The Late Honourable Ken Dryden, P.C., O.C.
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable colleagues, I rise today on behalf of the Government Representative’s Office to pay tribute to the Honourable Ken Dryden, who passed away earlier this month.
Ken Dryden led an exemplary life. Some of us grew up dreaming of raising the Stanley Cup over our heads. Some of us grew up dreaming that our words would be published one day. Some of us grew up dreaming of helping our neighbours and dedicating ourselves to changing our country for the better through public service. Ken Dryden not only accomplished all of these things, but he truly embodied what it means to be an exceptional Canadian.
[Translation]
As young hockey fans, Ken Dryden gave us more than dreams. He made us proud to be Quebecers.
Ken Dryden was a goalie in Montreal and hoisted the Stanley Cup in Quebec in the 1970s. Sports have always been a political issue, especially in Quebec, and Ken Dryden, an English-speaking Ontarian, made an effort to learn French and to speak it with his teammates and reporters. He embraced Quebec culture and sports fans.
It was on this foundation of Quebec pride that Ken Dryden built the rest of his legacy. As he stoically defended the net during the Summit Series against the Soviet Union, he made us all proud to be Canadian.
His devotion to Canada extended to his public service through which he laid the foundation for early childhood services that are affordable and accessible for everyone and for the health and safety of Canada’s young athletes.
Mr. Dryden hoisted the cup and carried the torch of serving others. He is now passing that torch on to us to continue his work.
On behalf of the Government Representative Office and from the very bottom of my heart, I want to express my condolences to Ken Dryden’s family and friends.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[English]
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable colleagues, like many Canadians, especially those who grew up in Montreal, I was deeply saddened to learn of Ken Dryden’s passing. To us, he wasn’t just a hockey player; Ken Dryden was a towering presence, both literally and figuratively, in the golden era of the Montreal Canadiens.
As a boy growing up in Montreal, I remember watching him between the pipes at the old Montréal Forum with that unmistakable stance: calm, upright, unshakable. He made you believe that anything was possible, that no matter how tough the opponent, we had a chance because Ken Dryden was in our net.
He was the backbone of a team that gave our city six Stanley Cups in eight years, but more than that, he represented something bigger; he was the thinking fan’s goaltender, a Cornell Law graduate, a Rhodes Scholar and the bestselling author of The Game — not only one of the finest books ever written about hockey, but a work that gave fans a glimpse into the mind of an athlete deeply engaged with the world around him. And perhaps most notably, he was a man who walked away from the game at his peak — not out of injury or defeat, but rather, to ask deeper questions about life, purpose and public service — and who later brought that same thoughtful determination to the House of Commons.
As a member of Parliament and Minister of Social Development, Ken Dryden advocated tirelessly for Canadian families and children. He believed in the power of good public policy that would lift people up, and he worked to bring intelligence and empathy to the national conversation.
Ken Dryden may not have been born in Montreal, but he became a Montrealer through and through in every way that counts. He wove himself into the fabric of our city and this country. He gave us memories that we’ll carry for a lifetime: not just the saves or the championships, but the way he played the game, with poise, intelligence and respect. He was a hero to many and a role model to all. His loss is felt across Canada, particularly in my hometown of Montreal, where his legacy lives in every young fan who pulls on a Habs jersey and dreams of greatness.
To his family, his teammates and all those he inspired around this great country, we offer our deepest condolences. And to Ken Dryden, we say: Thank you. Rest well, number 29.
Silent Tribute
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, please join me in rising for a minute of silence in memory of the Honourable Ken Dryden, P.C., O.C.
(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)
[Translation]
Franco-Ontarian Flag
Fiftieth Anniversary
Hon. Lucie Moncion: Honourable senators, the Franco-Ontarian flag was first raised at the University of Sudbury on September 25, 1975, and on Thursday, it will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Our flag represents the spirit, values and identities of Franco-Ontarians. It expresses our history, our culture and our hopes. It is a symbol of unity and pride. The green and white symbolize summer and winter, the diversity of Ontario’s climate. The fleur-de-lys reminds us that we belong to the global francophone community. The trillium is Ontario’s official flower, symbolizing where we live and where we belong.
The province recognized our flag as the official emblem of the Franco-Ontarian community in 2001 and it has been an official emblem of Ontario since September 24, 2020.
Brian St-Pierre, a Franco-Ontarian singer-songwriter, musician and musical director, has set our francophone identity to music. I want to share some of the lyrics to his song:
Our Flag
They founded families in this wintry land
Producing countless descendants
Once grown, their children resisted those who would subdue them
Glory to my fair flag, the flag of Ontario’s francophones
I raise my flag high so all can see
That I am Franco-Ontarian!
Faithful to their distant past and the language of their ancestors
Proud to have come, to have stayed, to be here still all these years later
Let us raise our fair flag
Let us fly it ever higher
Franco-Ontarian now and forever
(1410)
Acadia has August 15; Quebec has June 24; and Ontario has September 25. I dream of the day when every province and territory in this country celebrates the French language and its great contribution to our country’s wonderful diversity.
I wish happy franco day to all whose francophone identity is near and dear to their heart.
[English]
Visitors in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Lieutenant-General Michael Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army, and Lieutenant-General (Retired) Guy Thibault, President of the Conference of Defence Associations. They are accompanied by other senior leaders of the Canadian Army on the occasion of Army Day on the Hill. They are the guests of the Honourable Senators Patterson, Henkel and Ince.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
Army Day on the Hill
Hon. Danièle Henkel: Honourable senators, I am pleased to rise today to recognize Canadian Army Day on the Hill. I would like to mention Senator Patterson and Senator Ince by name as well, since I know they share my respect and gratitude for those who serve our country in uniform.
[Translation]
This day reminds us that behind every uniform are women and men who embody courage, discipline and the spirit of service. But behind every soldier there is also a family who shares the burden of service and makes daily sacrifices in silence. To those who have fallen in the line of duty, to the injured, their loved ones and their brothers and sisters in arms, we need to say thank you and remember their invaluable commitment and the obligation it places on us.
The government wants a strong and ready military. This demands an urgent change in the procurement system. Whether it’s the Regular Force, the Rangers, or the Reserve Force, every component contributes its advanced skills to defend our land and protect our sovereignty. They respond in our communities, to support civilian authorities during natural disasters or emergencies, but also abroad, in theatres of operations, where they honour Canada’s words and deliver on commitments to our allies.
As Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Régiment de Maisonneuve, allow me to say a few special words about the Reserves. Often unsung and undervalued, reservists are a living link between civil society and the Armed Forces.
They are teachers, engineers, contractors, nurses, and more. They choose to dedicate part of their lives to their country, apart from their careers and families. In a time of deepening security challenges and recruitment difficulties, they play a strategic role.
[English]
The army is not only a protective force, it is also a force for national cohesion. Its presence ensures stability and is a source of collective pride.
To Canadian Army members, hear me when I say: We see you, we hear you and we are deeply grateful to you.
Honourable colleagues, I invite you to join me in showing them the recognition they deserve. Thank you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[Translation]
Visitor in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Édith Butler. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Aucoin.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
Édith Butler, O.C, C.Q., O.N.B.
Congratulations on Receiving the Ordre de la Pléiade
Hon. Réjean Aucoin: Honourable senators, it is with great emotion and pride that I rise today to recognize the incredible journey of a woman who has left her mark on the history of Acadia and the Francophonie. I am talking about our very own Édith Butler.
Originally from Paquetville, New Brunswick, Édith is much more than a successful singer. She is a storyteller, an ambassador and a caring woman who, for over 50 years, has been bringing our traditional songs, our stories and our accent to the farthest reaches of our country and around the world.
I have a funny story to share. At a festival in 1971, Édith spotted a man in the crowd wearing a suit. He stood out a little from the young people sitting on the grass. After the show, she discovered that it was the premier of New Brunswick, Richard Bennett Hatfield, who had come to hear her, but wanted to remain anonymous.
When she was asked if that was her boyfriend, she replied with a laugh, “No, that’s the premier of New Brunswick!” but no one believed her. This anecdote perfectly sums up Édith Butler. She’s an artist who, through her humour and humility, has always been able to bring people together, regardless of their status.
Of course, Édith has already received many honours, including Officer and Companion of the Order of Canada and member of the Order of New Brunswick. However, a very special distinction is being added to that list today, as she is awarded the title of Commander of the Ordre de la Pléiade.
This rank, one of the highest of this international order, is given to those who make an outstanding commitment to the Francophonie. Who could embody this spirit better than Édith? Since she first got her start, she has been singing about our language, culture and pride with authenticity and generosity.
As an Acadian senator, it is a great honour for me to see such an icon of our community receive this award. Édith Butler is the very epitome of what the Ordre de la Pléiade represents: serving the Francophonie, defending our values and sharing our cultural heritage, including our songs.
During an interview with Radio-Canada, she said that her career took off when she sang the traditional Acadian song “Un pommier doux” a cappella in Paris.
It was recorded in my hometown of Chéticamp.
On behalf of Acadians and all those who care about the French language and our traditional music, thank you Édith. Thank you for your commitment, for your love for our culture and for the joy that you bring everywhere that you go.
Édith will be in the senators’ lounge right after statements by senators. Come and shake her hand.
Congratulations to our very own Édith Butler and long live Acadia.
[English]
The Late Raymond Fraser, O.N.B.
Hon. David Richards: Honourable senators, I am going to pay tribute to my friend the late Ray Fraser of New Brunswick.
Ray Fraser was a poet, novelist, story writer and editor. He wrote fourteen books of fiction, three non-fiction books and eight poetry collections.
(1420)
He was born in Chatham, New Brunswick, in 1941 and died in Fredericton in 2018 at the age of 77. Growing up in Chatham after the war years in what can only be described as poverty, he was an exceptional athlete, playing both baseball and hockey, and an exceptional student. He graduated from St. Thomas University but gave up teaching for writing and spent the next 50 years dedicated to his craft and art without compromise.
The difficulty of a writer’s life is, of course, nothing new, yet each time it is spoken of, it reveals something original and personal about human courage and tenacity that becomes, in itself, inspiring. In itself, it is a drama, sometimes harsh and sometimes solitary, that plays out over the course of decades and yet upon reflection offers us moments of true grace and awe.
For years, he lived in Montreal and was a friend of people like Irving Layton, Louis Dudek and Leonard Cohen. In order to sustain himself, he wrote columns for newspapers, co-founded the magazine Intercourse and did pieces for the Star Weekly and other national papers, but his first true loves were poetry and fiction.
I met him when I was 17. He was the first truly professional writer I ever knew. The first poems I read by a Canadian writer other than Irving Layton were those of Ray Fraser. Some of the first Canadian stories I read, other than those of Farley Mowat, were those of Ray Fraser. He took the time to introduce this 17‑year-old kid to the writing of all the major poets in Canada.
He was a humorist and a gentle prankster, and he had a loving, caring smile for almost all he met. I remember that when Peg and I were broke in London, England, he never hesitated to give us money, though he and his wife, Sharon, couldn’t have had much themselves.
He was a founding member, along with Alden Nowlan, of the Flat Earth Society and a member of the Stuart Monarchy in Exile, both foundations having a gravity far beyond their playfulness.
His story book The Black Horse Tavern is a Canadian classic, as is his novel The Struggle Outside and his biography of the late light heavyweight boxer and champion Yvon Durelle, The Fighting Fisherman.
Yet it is in his reflective, introspective and at times spiritual poems where I think he reached the height of his talent. Some of his best work was written in the years when he lived in a small house at the end of a solitary road in Black River Bridge, New Brunswick. There, he grew a garden and cut his own wood for winter.
He was once shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award. He received the Order of New Brunswick, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for English-language literature and a Senate medal.
He was of that valiant and uncompromising class of writer, so rare today, where you find Kerouac and Bukowski, and that is a truly fine place to be.
But he, in the manner of all true writers — in the manner of a Hemingway or Fitzgerald — gave his entire life for his work, so very often a duty, without complaint.
He was steadfast to the very end. He died in 2018. He was my friend. Thank you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Visitor in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Jennifer Ladipo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TheSTEMGirl. She is the guest of the Honourable Senator Sorensen.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
The Late Honourable Donald H. Oliver, C.M., K.C., O.N.S.
Hon. Rosemary Moodie: Honourable senators, I rise today as the Chair of the African Canadian Senate Group, or ACSG, to pay tribute to a remarkable Canadian, former senator Donald Oliver.
When he retired in 2013, he wrote in his final newsletter:
Little did I know when I was growing up in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, in the 1940s and 1950s that one day this little Black kid from a poor family would one day become a Senator . . . Never in my wildest dreams!
From those humble beginnings, he went on to change the face of this country.
Long before his appointment, the Honourable Donald Oliver was already reshaping his province and the country. As a young law student, he helped draft legislation that became part of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. He later co-founded the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, a permanent home for the stories and history of African Nova Scotians.
In 1990, he made history as the first Black man appointed to the Senate of Canada. Over 23 years, he delivered over 1,000 speeches, chaired multiple committees and served as Speaker pro tempore. From his very first days in the Senate, he called attention to the absence of Black and racialized staff on Parliament Hill and in the senior public service and demanded action. His persistence forced leaders to acknowledge this imbalance and led to new commitments and lasting change regarding the approach to diversity in the public service.
Former Senator Oliver’s impact went beyond our borders. His groundbreaking report with the Conference Board of Canada on the benefits of diversity became a touchstone for leaders around the world. We learned from his memoir that when he co-chaired a joint committee on a parliamentary code of conduct, the resulting code was so well regarded that the Polish parliament adopted it even before Canada’s did, an extraordinary testament to the global reach of his work.
Honourable senators, as a Black senator and Chair of the African Canadian Senate Group, I know that I walk on the path he forged. My colleagues in the ACSG and I continue his fight against systemic racism and are strengthened by the example he left us.
Over his life and career, the Honourable Donald Oliver was a trusted voice for justice and a beacon for integrity. He showed this country that diversity is a strength, not a burden. A great senator, a great Canadian and a true pioneer, he leaves a legacy that will endure far into the future. Thank you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[Translation]
Visitors in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Karl Blackburn, departing chair of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, and Agnès Mbome Moume, co-founder of Afromonde Fondation. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Gerba.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
[English]
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
The Senate
Notice of Motion to Consider the Government Representative and Up to Four Senators as a Recognized Parliamentary Group for the Remainder of the Current Session
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, for the remainder of the current session the Government Representative and up to four senators who agree to be designated as working with him or her for parliamentary purposes, and who are not member of a recognized party or another recognized parliamentary group, be considered, for all purposes, to be a recognized parliamentary group as defined in the Rules.
[Translation]
Criminal Code
Bill to Amend—First Reading
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition) introduced Bill S-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assault against persons who provide health services and first responders).
(Bill read first time.)
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?
(On motion of Senator Housakos, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)
(1430)
[English]
National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Bill
First Reading
Hon. Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia introduced Bill S-234, An Act respecting a national framework for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
(Bill read first time.)
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?
(On motion of Senator Ravalia, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)
[Translation]
National Finance
Committee Authorized to Study Matters Relating to Federal Estimates Generally and Other Financial Matters
Hon. Claude Carignan: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(a), I move:
That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, in accordance with rule 12-7(7), be authorized to study and report on matters relating to federal estimates generally and other financial matters; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than September 22, 2029, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
(Motion agreed to.)
[English]
Agriculture and Forestry
Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to Agriculture and Forestry
Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, in accordance with rule 12-7(12), be authorized to examine and report on such issues as may arise from time to time relating to agriculture and forestry; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Growing Issue of Wildfires and Refer Papers and Evidence from First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament to Current Session
Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine and report on the growing issue of wildfires in Canada and the consequential effects that wildfires have on forestry and agriculture industries, as well as rural and Indigenous communities, throughout the country;
That, in particular, the committee should examine:
(a)the current status of wildfires in Canada;
(b)the impact of wildfires on forestry, agriculture, water systems, air quality, food security and biosecurity;
(c)the possible federal measures that are in place, or should be in place, to adequately monitor and organize a response to wildfires;
(d)the potential areas of improvement of these federal measures for addressing wildfires; and
(e)international best practices as they relate to responding to wildfires;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject during the First Session of the Forty-fourth Parliament be referred to the committee;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 25, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report; and
That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.
Study on the Status of Soil Health—Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Government Response to Thirteenth Report of Committee Tabled During First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament and Refer Papers and Evidence from Previous Session to Current Session
Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine and report on the government response, dated November 5, 2024, to the thirteenth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, entitled Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health, deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on June 6, 2024, during the First Session of the Forty-fourth Parliament;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject during the First Session of the Forty-fourth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
Audit and Oversight
Notice of Motion to Refer Papers and Evidence Since Beginning of Second Session of Forty-third Parliament and by Subsequent Intersessional Authorities to Committee
Hon. Marty Klyne: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight since the beginning of the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament and by subsequent intersessional authorities be referred to the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight.
Transport and Communications
Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Local Services Provided by CBC/Radio-Canada and Refer Papers and Evidence for First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament to Current Session
Hon. Larry W. Smith: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report on the local services provided by the CBC/Radio-Canada;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications during the First Session of the Forty-fourth Parliament as part of its study of issues related to transport and communications generally be referred to the committee;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 26, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report; and
That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.
Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Copper Wire Theft and Its Impacts on the Telecommunications Industry, and Refer Papers and Evidence from First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament to Current Session
Hon. Larry W. Smith: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report on copper wire theft and its impacts on the telecommunications industry;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications during the First Session of the Forty-fourth Parliament as part of its study of issues related to transport and communications generally be referred to the committee;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 26, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report; and
That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.
(1440)
Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to Transport and Communications Generally
Hon. Larry W. Smith: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, in accordance with rule 12-7(8), be authorized to examine and report on such issues as may arise from time to time relating to transport and communications generally; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than October 15, 2029.
Business of the Senate
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, before proceeding to Question Period, I would like to remind you that, pursuant to the order adopted June 4, 2025, during Question Period, main questions and responses are limited to one minute each, and are followed by a maximum of one supplementary question per main question, with these supplementary questions and responses being limited to a maximum of 30 seconds each. In all these cases the reading clerk stands 10 seconds before the time expires.
QUESTION PERIOD
National Defence
Arctic Sovereignty
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Moreau, congratulations on your new role. The opposition here in the Senate is looking forward to working with you.
Having said that, of course, government leader, according to a CBC report yesterday, Transport Canada quietly cut back aerial surveillance flights over the Arctic this summer — this comes at a time of growing Chinese and Russian incursion in the North and despite this government’s repeated rhetoric on the importance of Arctic security. If your government cannot even ensure the operability of three turboprop patrol planes in the region, how can Canadians trust that the additional $9 billion in defence spending won’t be wasted on truncated procurement processes while our forces continue to struggle with basic operability in our North?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): I think the government is well aware of the importance of securing all the borders of Canada, including the northern section of our country. The government is committed to the security and safety of all Canadians, and they will take into consideration whatever needs we must fulfill in order to ensure the security of Canada in all parts of our country.
Senator Housakos: While the Russians and the Chinese are using icebreakers and piercing through our North, Senator Moreau, we have learned that Transport Canada has an active contract with an Israeli firm for Arctic surveillance drones, with delivery originally expected in 2022, yet no drones have been received. Why has this program been delayed? Is the government placing its virtue-signalling Middle Eastern policy over Canada’s important Arctic sovereignty and security policy?
Senator Moreau: The government is taking very seriously all security matters. For instance, Canada has one of the largest coastlines in the world, and it is up to us to defend it. This is why the government is procuring up to 12 conventionally powered, under-ice capable submarines. It is the same with icebreakers. We are looking forward to that. The government announced massive investment in the military to ensure that we have all the tools we need in order to ensure security in Canada.
[Translation]
Justice
Judicial Appointments
Hon. Claude Carignan: Leader, congratulations on your appointment. Those are big shoes to fill. Some of us have been in that position. It is an extremely important role.
Your lengthy legal career and your experience within the government that established an inquiry into judicial appointments should help you answer this question.
In January 2025, the former prime minister appointed lawyer Robert Leckey a judge on the Superior Court of Quebec. However, contrary to the usual rules, Justice Leckey had been a member of the Barreau du Québec for only seven years and not the ten years required by the Judges Act and the Constitution. Robert Leckey was a prolific donor to the Liberal Party of Canada, persistently criticized Bill 21 on laicity and Bill 96 on the French language, two Quebec bills.
How can your government justify this appointment, which bears the hallmarks of good old fashioned cronyism?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): I think it’s important to remember that Senator Carignan’s question isn’t entirely innocuous. When I had the opportunity to deliver my first speech in this chamber, I reiterated the importance of the rule of law and judicial independence. I believe that comments made by politicians, whether in the other place or here in this chamber, must first and foremost seek to emphasize our support for judicial institutions. They must also respect the separation of powers between the legislative, judicial and executive branches. When the independence of the courts or the independence and impartiality of judges is called into question, it does not serve the cause of the rule of law in Canada.
Senator Carignan: You didn’t answer the question, Leader. You’re not off to a great start in your new job.
The question was about the fact that the government appointed a judge who was supposed to have been a member of the bar for ten years, but he had been for only seven, so he didn’t meet the basic criteria to be appointed to the bench. He continues to hear cases despite the fact that his appointment is being challenged in court. Don’t you think it’s embarrassing and problematic to allow a judge to hear cases and hand down rulings when —
Senator Moreau: Senator Carignan, as a lawyer yourself, you know that I can’t comment on cases that are currently before the courts. Furthermore, what you are doing indirectly, if not directly through your main and supplementary questions, is to undermine the credibility of Canada’s justice system in the eyes of the public. I don’t think this is the usual role of a politician, and certainly not the role of a senator.
[English]
Environment and Climate Change
Energy Transition
Hon. Mary Coyle: Congratulations on your new Senate role, Senator Moreau.
This past Sunday, we made history hosting the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly here in the Senate. There were 33 young people from across Canada — chosen from over 700 who applied — and they came together to answer this question: What do young Canadians want Parliament to do to meet Canada’s climate commitments in a way that reflects their values and priorities? Many of their recommendations emphasized respecting Indigenous sovereignty and supporting Indigenous ownership when it comes to the clean energy transition.
Senator Moreau, next Tuesday, we will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Could you tell us what the government is doing to ensure the inclusion of Indigenous leadership in the renewable energy transition, ensuring economic reconciliation?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. The government is committed to the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It has been said here in this chamber that we are very aware of the importance of having close communication with Indigenous Peoples and the importance of taking into consideration whatever they have to say, whether it is related to the environment or economic development in this country. The government is committed to upholding those words.
(1450)
Senator Coyle: We will probe that further another time.
The Canadian Youth Climate Assembly also emphasized the need for better collaboration amongst federal, provincial, municipal and Indigenous governments to be better prepared for devastating climate events like wildfires, flooding and droughts. Senator Moreau, how will the federal government take up this imperative for better collaborative emergency preparedness and response, particularly with reference to Indigenous governments?
Senator Moreau: The government is very aware that First Nations, Inuit and Métis are leading efforts to address climate change and adapt to its impacts. Indigenous knowledge systems are vital to a healthy environment and a sustainable future for all. The Government of Canada is committed to help foster a collaborative approach to engage with Indigenous People and support Indigenous climate leadership. That is why it introduced a Healthy Environment and Healthy Economy climate plan that advances Indigenous climate leadership and announced over $2 billion —
The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you, Senator Moreau.
Privy Council Office
Senate Appointments
Hon. Donna Dasko: Honourable senators, I congratulate Senator Moreau on his appointment as Government Representative in the Senate. Congratulations.
A national public opinion survey conducted last year shows that a strong majority of Canadians — seven in ten — want future governments to continue with the appointment process which created a non-partisan and independent Senate, and only 5% of Canadians want a return to the old partisan Senate of the past. Only 5% want to go backwards. This sentiment is consistent across the country. Given this, will the government unequivocally commit to continuing the merit-based, independent Senate as we go forward, and will the government also commit to reforms, rules and protection against reverting to party caucus control? Thank you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator Dasko, thank you for the question. As you know, I am the Government Representative and I cannot comment for the government. I will have more to say on this in short order. I can say that I am not aware of any potential changes to the appointment process for senators, and I’m not aware of any intention on the part of the government to change the rules that have been applied since 2015. I am personally committed to an independent Senate. I said that in my maiden speech, and I will reaffirm it today.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Senator Dasko: As far as I know, Prime Minister Carney has made no comments or commitments regarding the independent Senate, but House leader Steve MacKinnon hinted that there may be more changes coming. “I think the Senate is very much a work in progress,” he said. What was the House leader referring to?
Thank you.
Senator Moreau: Can we bring the question to the House leader to obtain a proper answer? As I said, I think I’ve been clear before in this chamber that I have no indication whatsoever that the situation concerning the Senate will change in the near future or during this administration, but I will bring up your question to the minister, with whom I will probably meet as soon as tomorrow.
Public Services and Procurement
Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification
Hon. Colin Deacon: Honourable senators, it is lovely to be back here and to see everybody again. Senator Moreau, congratulations on your new appointment.
The Government of Canada is implementing the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification, or CPCSC, which will become increasingly mandatory for all organizations participating in defence contracts, starting in 2026. The lead time and cost required for Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, to achieve compliance with this important standard is between 9 and 12 months and over $200,000. In light of massively increasing defence spending and in the absence of targeted mechanisms to support SME compliance, there is a significant risk of further entrenchment of U.S.-made solutions instead of supporting domestic innovation, dual-use technology and sovereign capacity. What plans does the government have to fill the resource gap to enable Canadian SMEs to meet CPCSC standards, thereby safeguarding built-in-Canada innovation, job creation and economic benefit?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question, senator. The government currently uses a tiered model that assesses the compliance requirements with risks that the contracts might carry. This includes the sensitivity of information to ensure that small- and medium-sized enterprises’ obligations are proportionate to the data being processed. Having said that, the government is developing cyber-readiness supports, including the Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification levels, specific self-assessment tools and technical guidance, and broader industrial security modernization to help small- and medium-sized enterprises achieve compliance. The government has always stood up for Canadian small businesses and will continue to do so.
Senator C. Deacon: Thank you, Senator Moreau. A similar challenge exists in the United States with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, and nearly half of our defence contractors are part of the U.S. supply chain. What worries me is that if we don’t have a firm model in place — and I think there’s ambition to do so — we may miss out. One option we could consider is to use industrial technology benefits, which are often left unused and are then disqualified. Is that a consideration?
Senator Moreau: I will certainly raise the issue with the minister and with the government in general. Thank you for providing me the opportunity to raise the question with the government.
[Translation]
Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees
Temporary Foreign Workers
Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: Senator Moreau, first of all, allow me to wish you good luck in your new duties. I clearly see the importance that the government is placing on major projects, but a large swath of Quebec’s economy consists of small- and medium-sized businesses that are suffering now that the federal government has imposed a new and lower limit on temporary foreign workers.
I have spoken to two companies in the Lower St. Lawrence region that are deeply concerned: Aliments Asta had to let about 40 employees go to comply with federal quotas, and now the company is losing income because it can’t process the same amount of meat as before. The same concerns are dogging Lepage Millwork, a door and window manufacturer fearful that it could lose 45 temporary workers in January after investing in a plant expansion. Why are these companies being harmed?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. Obviously, I don’t think that the government’s goal is to harm companies; incidentally, we’re well aware of the problems in certain sectors when it comes to recruiting employees who reside in Canada. It’s an issue I’m quite familiar with, especially in the processing and agricultural field. I know these companies. What the government is trying to achieve through the program is to tighten up the criteria in order to maximize the number of jobs available to Canadian workers, and then truly allow these companies to hire foreign workers.
Sometimes, programs can create issues. The government knows this, and we are going to work on improving them. The government’s objective is to support these companies, which play a very important role in Canada’s economy.
Senator Miville-Dechêne: Thank you for that. The fact remains that there are very few younger workers, especially in the Lower St. Lawrence region. The workforce is much older. The population is aging. Saying that young people want to work, which is what we hear everywhere, solves nothing. What are your thoughts on the human element of this situation, given that these are families and children who are terrified they might have to leave Canada?
Is lowering the foreign worker cap really good for Quebec’s economy —
Senator Moreau: Senator, we have to consider the human element not only for those who fear having to leave Canada, but also for entrepreneurs who worked hard to build the businesses these employees sustain. We know the government is making changes to programs. In these cases, especially considering regional demographics and economies, I believe the government is making changes to programs. I’m sure the examples you shared will help the government be more aware of that.
[English]
Public Safety
Cannabis
Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Senator Moreau, I would like to echo what others have said and congratulate you on your new role.
One of the stated objectives of your government in legalizing cannabis in 2018 was to divert profits away from organized crime and reduce the black market. Yet, according to an intelligence report released by the RCMP this year, the black market still represents at least 50% of sales.
(1500)
Worse still, the report shows that since 2022, the illegal market has once again taken the lead, benefiting from the lack of regulation. In light of these damning facts, does the government now acknowledge that it has failed to attain its 2018 objective and that the Conservative opposition was right to say that legalization would not eliminate the black market?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Your question raised a fundamental issue: ensuring that we have the tools, the manpower and everything else we need to ensure that the black markets are stopped in this country. It will never be possible to attain the objective of zero black markets, but what the government says —
It’s very difficult to answer a question when you are speaking, Senator Batters. I’m sorry to tell you that because it’s my first Question Period, and I would think that you would listen instead of interrupting when I’m trying to answer the question. It’s a matter of tone and respect in this chamber, and I’m counting on you to be more respectful of this issue. Thank you.
Senator Martin: Since you will not recognize the failure of the government, can you at least explain how, according to the Terrebonne police, 35% of licensed producers have criminal records related to drugs and are tied to organized crime? Is this not proof that your system is now completely infiltrated by criminals and is simply legalizing smuggling?
Senator Moreau: I do not agree with the premise of your question. It’s clear the government is committed to ensuring that the police forces and security in this country are well assured for the benefit of all Canadians.
[Translation]
Justice
Notwithstanding Clause
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Moreau, last week, the Attorney General’s factum before the Supreme Court of Canada concerning section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in other words the notwithstanding clause, opened the door to the court re-examining its 1988 decision on that clause, which is a pillar of provincial autonomy.
As you know, Quebec has long been using section 33 responsibly to reflect its values. Ottawa is now trying to dictate how and when the province can use it. Why does the government want to risk destabilizing the delicate balance of national unity instead of respecting the jurisprudence that maintains the balance between the federal government and the provinces?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Contrary to the premise of the question, I don’t believe that the federal government is trying to dictate anything. The matter is before the Supreme Court of Canada, and I think that’s the appropriate body to interpret the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is an integral part of that.
It’s important to bear in mind that this issue has never been brought before the court. I think it’s also important for us to rely on the expertise of the Supreme Court to determine the scope of the application of the notwithstanding clause, and the Government of Canada has been careful not to go into detail about secularism or the substance of Bill 21.
The question before the court is whether a right that is otherwise guaranteed can be repeatedly set aside by invoking the notwithstanding clause. This question has never gone before the courts. I believe that the government is well positioned and has a constitutional obligation to ask the court to interpret the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Senator Housakos: Senator Moreau, I’m a little surprised by this kind of response from a former minister of the Quebec National Assembly. Senator Moreau, does the government not see that this intervention could set a dangerous precedent and allow Ottawa to override other provincial laws at will?
Senator Moreau: Given that it is a constitutional democracy, if Canada failed to intervene in a debate such as this, it would probably become the only democratic government in the world not to defend its Constitution and the Charter of Rights that forms part of it. It is also important for the Quebec National Assembly, all the other provinces and territories, and all governments to understand the true scope of this provision of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is the information that the Supreme Court will be called upon to provide in the coming weeks and months.
[English]
Public Safety
Impacts of Artificial Intelligence
Hon. Tony Loffreda: It’s great to be back and to see everyone once again.
[Translation]
My question is for the new Government Representative in the Senate.
First of all, Senator Moreau, allow me to congratulate you on your new position. I am confident that you will effectively advance the Senate’s legislative priorities in a spirit of collaboration and dialogue, but most of all, bring our demands to the government’s attention.
[English]
My question today focuses on the G7 AI Adoption Roadmap.
When Canada hosted the G7 in June, G7 leaders recognized the promise of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technologies to unlock competitiveness and deliver unprecedented prosperity for firms, organizations and countries that integrate them into their business processes. How is Canada preparing to deliver on the road map’s objectives? Has the government started to draft the AI Adoption Blueprint promised at the G7?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, Senator Loffreda. As artificial intelligence continues to shape our world, the Government of Canada seeks to harness AI opportunities, mitigate its risk and foster trust. Investing in AI is vital to building the strongest economy in the G7. The Government of Canada remains steadfast in supporting the nation’s AI ecosystem with strategic investment that will drive both economic growth and responsible technological advancement. To that end, the government has opened applications for the AI Compute Access Fund, a key initiative under the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy.
Senator Loffreda: Thank you. Canada needs to keep pace with this rapidly changing landscape and can’t delay implementing regulations any longer.
How will the government regulate the AI ecosystem in a way that allows small- and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, to take full advantage of the technology without it being overly cumbersome and bureaucratic, while never losing sight of consumer and privacy rights and ensuring that trust and confidence prevail? AI can help businesses scale up, drive productivity and reach new markets. Minister Solomon must get this right.
Senator Moreau: Yes, the minister is well aware. Canada is taking concrete action to ensure AI is safe and trustworthy by launching the Canadian AI Safety Institute, with a $50-million investment to lead cutting-edge research and risk assessment, ethical governance and the safe development of AI systems. The government is working closely with international partners through the new international network of the AI Safety Institute, leading key global discussions, most recently at the AI Safety Summit in San Francisco, and managing —
[Translation]
Privy Council Office
Agents of Parliament
Hon. Raymonde Saint-Germain: Now it is my turn to congratulate you and offer you my best wishes, Senator Moreau. I am delighted to have another neighbour from Quebec.
My question is about the appointment of officers of Parliament. There are nine of them, and their appointments must be approved by both Houses of Parliament.
Over the years, there have been last-minute interim appointments. I would like to focus on the most recent one, made by the current government. The Parliamentary Budget Officer, Jason Jacques, was given a few hours’ notice that he would be appointed on an interim basis for six months.
How do you explain that?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question, Senator Saint-Germain. I, too, am very happy to have a representative from Quebec as my neighbour.
I’m sure that happened because the general election resulted in a new government, a change in government. I realize it’s still the Liberal Party of Canada in power, but changes in government often result in unpredictable situations. I think that’s the only possible explanation in this case.
Clearly the government needs to pay attention to this kind of situation. I plan to raise the matter so as to avoid similar situations in future transitions.
I think the government is well aware of the problems this situation caused, and I imagine the rules can be changed to ensure better transitions in the future.
Senator Saint-Germain: Thank you. I get that the government might have every intention of doing better, but do you think one solution might be tougher legislation that limits the government’s ability to make hasty interim appointments under certain conditions?
Senator Moreau: You know, in addition to representing the government in the Senate, one of my roles as Government Representative in the Senate is to liaise between the Senate and the government.
(1510)
I will therefore be very open to any suggestions that could be made to the government in that regard to improve the rules and ensure that the type of situation you describe doesn’t happen again.
Government Priorities
Hon. Clément Gignac: First, I would like to congratulate Senator Pierre Moreau, my former colleague and a former minister in the Quebec National Assembly, on his appointment as Government Representative. I had the pleasure of sponsoring him here in the Senate.
Since the reform of the upper chamber in 2015, the number of Senate public bills has been going up. In the last session, 92 such bills were introduced and in the current session, after only 16 sittings, 33 have been introduced. Time will tell how many more will be added to the Order Paper. The Senate is increasingly seized of the study of these bills, which leaves us less time to fulfill our main mandate as a chamber of sober second thought. At least, that’s the mandate that was described to me when I applied to become a senator.
Senator Moreau, do you have any thoughts to share with us on this issue?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, Senator Gignac. As Édith Butler said, Paquetville can sleep in peace. As far as I am concerned, I’ll sleep peacefully at the end of this first day as the Government Representative in the Senate.
I understand that the Senate controls its own procedure. If the senators wish to change the rules so that we can focus on specific aspects of our work, I’ll be pleased to take the necessary steps to have the senators’ wishes implemented.
Senator Gignac: Prior to the Senate reform, it took an average of 12 sittings to pass a government bill. We’re familiar with that process and I suggest we not return to it again. However, it takes from 30 to 50 sitting days to pass government legislation. In June, we spent only three days on a complex study. Could we strike a fair balance between spending three days or 50 days on government legislation?
Senator Moreau: I had discussions with Senate colleagues and certain groups. In fact, the June session made a deep impression on people.
As far as I’m concerned, the Senate needs sufficient time to study bills and perform its constitutional role as the chamber of sober second thought. It is certainly a matter I will pay close attention to in my messages from the Senate to the other place.
[English]
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Speech from the Throne
Motion for Address in Reply—Debate Continued
On the Order:
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:
That the following Address be presented to His Majesty the King:
To His Most Excellent Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY:
We, Your Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both houses of Parliament.
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I would like to acknowledge that we’re gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg and to express my commitment to truth and reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
Colleagues, the Forty-fifth Parliament was opened by His Majesty King Charles III. The presence of the King here among us, in this very chamber, signifies that these are no ordinary times.
The grandeur of the projects the Prime Minister envisions signals that the government’s agenda is no ordinary agenda.
Colleagues, this is no ordinary Parliament.
[Translation]
Parliament has been summoned, the King told us, to respond to “unprecedented challenges” in our lives. Indeed, colleagues, never in our lifetimes have we faced a situation like this: the threat of annexation by our main ally, the unpredictable trading partner that the United States has become, the rise of autocracy, and a world in which the rule of law is under threat. As we continue advancing into the 21st century, this is not the world I had imagined for my children and grandchildren.
The King, who is no stranger to political upheaval — the most recent being Brexit — has urged us to seize this historic opportunity to seek renewal, to think big and to act bigger, and to embark on the largest transformation of our economy since the Second World War.
Colleagues, these words are full of meaning. I am convinced that our country will rise to these challenges and that this chamber will make a major contribution to manage the profound transformation that is under way.
[English]
Senators, I want to thank Prime Minister Carney for my appointment as Government Representative in the Senate, and I want to thank the Speaker, the leaders and each and every one of you for your warm welcome.
I am honoured to rise before you today to take part in the debate on the Speech from the Throne. Although Senate Rules grant me unlimited speaking time, my wife — wisely, I think — counselled that I not abuse this privilege on my first day on the job. And my wife is always right.
In her retirement speech, Senator Bellemare spoke of how in this chamber there sits a talented group of people, all of whom, in their respective fields, have graduated top of their class. Colleagues, as I take on this role, in all humility, I want to echo Senator Bellemare’s praise. It is an honour to be counted among you.
As we navigate these difficult times together, I will benefit from your wise counsel. In the chamber, in committees, in our extra-parliamentary duties, like the diplomatic work we do with parliamentary associations and friendship groups, today we are called to represent this institution and the people of Canada with a renewed sense of purpose.
Three months ago, I gave my maiden speech, and now again, I want to express in no uncertain terms my commitment to an independent Senate. I had explained then, without playing down the strengths political parties bring to Westminster democracy, that the Senate must endeavour to transcend the excesses of partisan politics. I had explained how we must work to safeguard individual rights, all the while maintaining a focus on the common good, and the government must continue a merit-based nomination process where experience, personal character and suitability are the prime criteria that govern the advisory board’s selection of new senators. I continue to uphold these values and commitments.
My predecessors, Senator Harder and Senator Gold, shepherded us through a creative decade in the Senate’s evolution, a decade which brought important changes to the Rules and a mode of governance that broke with the traditional duopoly. I salute their work, and I want to assure you that as their successor I am aligned with their vision of the Senate as it continues to evolve.
[Translation]
In my first speech, I said that, fortunately, the Senate is not frozen in time. Now more than ever, colleagues, we need to adapt to national and international situations that are undergoing tectonic shifts. As the Senate has done in the past, we all understand that we cannot address today’s problems with yesterday’s solutions. The rules and customs of this institution allow us to govern ourselves with flexibility. Let us do so, however, with wisdom, prudence and responsibility.
[English]
This morning, I made the first announcement on the expansion of the Government Representative’s Office, or GRO. As you know, the Parliament of Canada Act allows the GRO to be composed of five senators. However, with full consideration of the legislation and rules that govern the Senate, I am asking the chamber to adopt a motion to ensure the GRO roles can harmonize with the act and the Senate Administrative Rules.
(1520)
The chamber is master of its rules and procedures, and I look forward to its agreement and the adoption of the motion tomorrow so that I can, in a timely fashion, introduce the fifth member of the GRO team.
Now, let me explain why I am asking you to support the motion that will allow the GRO to expand to five. As the Prime Minister has often mentioned, to build Canada strong, Parliament must work closely with the provinces, the territories and Indigenous Peoples. If we are to overcome the challenges we face, we need to pull our federation together and row in the same direction. The same holds for the Senate. Therefore, the team I am proposing, along with being exceptionally capable individuals, represents the different parts of the federation: Eastern Canada, Central Canada, Western Canada and Northern Canada.
Honourable colleagues from coast to coast to coast, Senator LaBoucane-Benson continues in her role as Legislative Deputy. A Métis from Treaty 6 territory in Alberta, Senator LaBoucane-Benson’s commitment to reconciliation is invaluable to the GRO. With over five years of experience at the GRO working with my predecessor, Senator Gold, the senator helps me ensure continuity at the GRO and in the Senate’s evolution. I thank her deeply for her commitment.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Senator Petten remains in her post as Government Liaison. Senator Petten brings a wealth of experience from the private and corporate sector, which she combines with her public service, along with her extensive knowledge of the issues faced by Atlantic Canadians. With this experience, she is well-positioned to build bridges between our different groups. I also thank her for her continued commitment.
Joining us from the Independent Senators Group, a group whose values I’m sure she continues to cherish, Senator Pat Duncan joins the GRO team as Government Deputy Liaison. A former premier of Yukon Territory, Senator Duncan brings over two decades of legislative experience to the GRO and an attentive ear to issues that affect both western and northern Canada, and Canada’s many remote and rural communities. Having sat at the premiers’ table, Senator Duncan has firsthand knowledge of the perspectives of all 13 territories and provinces.
[Translation]
Our commitments are simple, and you know them well. How can we best represent minority voices and defend the varied regional interests of this vast nation, including the interests of rural communities that are all too often neglected? Honourable senators, as the Government Representative, my job is to liaise between the Senate and the government. As Senator Harder said, I am an intermediary, a messenger.
My extended team’s job is to reinforce that link and strengthen the connection among the Office of the Government Representative in the Senate, the GRO, your offices and those of the other place. This chamber is brimming with political expertise and wisdom, and I hope the GRO will help you and the government make the most of it.
GRO senators will be given a set of ministerial portfolios to oversee. My team of five senators and I will be more familiar with committee work, thereby enhancing the flow of information and ensuring greater clarity about the government’s position on legislation and committee studies. In short, by expanding the GRO, we will be more proactive and more representative of the many regions that make up Canada.
This amendment does not change my intention to give senators from the various groups that make up the Senate the responsibility of sponsoring government bills. These choices will be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the interest shown and the experience of senators. The GRO does not intend to assume the privilege of sponsoring all bills.
[English]
Senators, let me be clear, the GRO will continue to count on individual senators in the sponsoring of bills.
[Translation]
There are other ways for the Senate to exert greater parliamentary and political influence. Over the past decade, the Senate has amended an unprecedented number of bills and, in doing so, has profoundly influenced public policy in our country. This is a significant achievement. We must continue to make our mark on the legislative process, particularly upstream, by influencing the other place through informal and formal channels.
[English]
One channel that is available to us is pre-studies. A pre-study is a mechanism that allows committees to undertake a study once a bill is tabled in the other place. Over the last years, pre-studies have been the subject of considerable debate, nonetheless, I want to express my view on the matter. In short, pre-studies are an asset we should better leverage. They allow us to partake in debate early in the game, and without limiting our constitutional obligation of review.
If it was a simple matter of ramming legislation through the Senate for the sake of sheer efficiency, I would certainly agree with those who are skeptical of the merits of pre-studies. We have a job to do. We have a Constitutional duty. Efficiency alone does not justify agreeing to a pre-study, but there is more to the story.
In my view, pre-studies allow the Senate to exert greater influence over the legislative process. Not only does a bill travel on its regular journey through our bicameral system, through the mechanism of a pre-study, a committee can influence the other place and prompt it to make important amendments before it goes through its three readings here at the Senate. Colleagues, we get to have more — not less — time to do our jobs. This is the advantage pre-studies bring to our work at the Senate.
For a variety of reasons, the decision to undertake a pre-study must be made on a case-per-case basis. However, along with continuing our tradition of undertaking pre-studies to divide-up and examine budget bills, I am informing the chamber that I will be prompting leaders to discuss the possibility of a pre-study notably when a bill has unique sensitivities and is so deserving of extra attention, or when a bill is complex and multifaceted. In the right circumstances, a pre-study enables the Senate to make a valuable contribution to public policy, and we must make judicious use of this valuable Senate tool.
[Translation]
There is another type of study for which the Senate is historically known, specifically the in-depth and comprehensive studies that only Senate committees can undertake. When I reread Senator Harder’s inaugural speech — and I recommend that all of the new senators read it, because it is a valuable document — I was encouraged to read that the government representative of the day also recommended that senators pursue the in-depth and comprehensive studies for which the Senate is known.
Senator Harder referred to Senator Michael Kirby’s groundbreaking study on mental health, including the preliminary work began in November 2004 and whose report was finally tabled in this chamber in May 2006. We can also cite other studies, such as the study on Canada’s aging population, conducted in 2009 by Senator Sharon Carstairs, which lasted two and a half years, or the study on illegal drugs, conducted in 2002 by Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, which resulted in a two-volume report on issues related to the consumption, use and regulation of cannabis.
Although the results of these studies are not always immediate, in the medium and long term, they are more likely to have the greatest influence on the government’s agenda. In his 2016 speech, Senator Harder mentioned how the Kirby report, published 10 years prior, continued to influence the government of the day. Colleagues, the other place is burdened by “vote hunting” and the priority members give to getting re-elected. We are privileged to have time and to be able to put aside partisan behaviour. More time and less partisanship will allow us to carry out studies that will benefit all Canadians
[English]
I now want to return to the unique historical period the King described. Colleagues, as you know, the Speech from the Throne not only lays out the Government’s agenda, it also details the condition the country finds itself in.
(1530)
In the hundred-plus days since the King addressed the chamber, the condition of the country has not changed much; it remains critical. Although the rhetoric of manifest destiny has lessened and our trade relations with the United States have regained some stability, Canadians have lost confidence in our continental relationship. Although I remain optimistic that, one day, our relations with the United States will be restored, the friendship we built in the aftermath of the Second World War will never again be the same. This is an all-of-Canada, “je me souviens” moment.
This is not only a North American problem. Its historical warts and blemishes aside — especially its legacy of awful race relations — the world once admired what the United States stood for: in a word, democracy. Today, its President holds in contempt the very ideals that inspire you to take a seat in this chamber. With every passing week, funding for a regulatory agency is slashed and the rule of law is tarnished, with deportations and cold violence on the streets and on university campuses. America hasn’t looked this bad since the latter half of Lyndon Johnson’s time in office.
Colleagues, the crisis is real. The Prime Minister has stated that Canada “. . . must once again contend with hard power, contested borders, and authoritarian aggression.” But as the German poet Friedrich Hölderlin wrote, “. . . where danger is, grows the saving power also.”
[Translation]
My former leader, premier Jean Charest, said that Canadians will thank President Trump in 20 years for an economic shakeup that was sorely needed. Honourable senators, the government’s legislative agenda is ambitious. The Prime Minister wants to launch a number of projects that will sustainably transform our country and build a forward-facing nation through major projects on a scale akin to Expo ‘67 or construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. To kick-start its initiative, the government has created the Major Projects Office. The name alone speaks volumes.
That said, allow me to balance my enthusiasm for this transformation with a question that many of you may be asking yourselves: When a government undertakes major projects, is it necessary to set aside democratic advances, like hard-won regulatory gains or reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?
As a chamber of sober second thought, it is certainly our duty to monitor and remain ever watchful in that regard. We have to make sure that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Charter are not attacked. We have to ensure that the voices of Indigenous peoples are heard and that our decisions take the rights of minorities and under-represented groups into account. We have to ensure fairness across all regions of Canada, including remote and rural communities. This our constitutional duty.
While we must be vigilant, we must not forget that major government projects are central features of modern democracies. They create wealth and enable us to finance the social safety net that Canadians hold dear. In my home province, the government of Jean Lesage spearheaded an industrial policy that benefits Quebecers to this day. His government’s bold measures gave rise to large-scale infrastructure projects like Hydro-Québec, which supplies clean, renewable electricity while continuing to enrich Quebecers.
Ladies and gentlemen, the challenge we face is enormous. At a time when autocracy is on the rise, we must rebuild this country without abandoning our democratic values.
[English]
Let me conclude by underscoring what I see as the Senate’s principal role in our Parliament. As the chamber of sober second thought, we are here to safeguard against the possible excesses of the elected chamber. However, the government has a mandate to execute the policies it outlined in its election platform. That’s what Canadians voted for, and that’s what they should get.
Not only must we keep in mind what Canadians voted for, but we must also consider how Canadians voted. Although His Majesty’s official opposition did not expect to return to the same post, over 8 million Canadians voted for Senator Housakos’s party, which is nearly 42% of those who turned out to vote on election day. As a democratic institution, we must keep this in mind and not ignore the reality of this aspect of political representation.
Colleagues, I spoke of how the King’s presence signified that these are not ordinary times and of the government’s out-of-the-ordinary agenda. This is no ordinary Parliament, and considering the talent in this chamber, I am confident I can count on you to serve Canadians in an extraordinary way.
Thank you. Meegwetch.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
Hon. Tracy Muggli: Honourable senators, I too want to begin with a land acknowledgment: We are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe People, and I am grateful to make my home where Chief Whitecap advised John Lake on settlement options in 1882, now the city of Saskatoon, which is located on Treaty 6 territory and is the traditional homeland of the Métis.
I am humbled in this chamber and grateful to former prime minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon for my appointment just a year ago. I look forward to serving our country with all of you.
Colleagues, each of us was appointed to represent a region. For me, that place is Saskatchewan. I was born in Humboldt and raised on a grain farm between Muenster and St. Gregor. While I didn’t always appreciate farm life, it taught me the value of hard work, problem solving and perseverance, and it instilled the belief that when one of us struggles, the rest of us must step up. This community ethic raised me and continues to ground me.
After leaving the farm and before coming to the Senate, I spent 36 years as a social worker in both front-line practice and administration. Most recently, I served as the executive director of St. Paul’s Hospital, where I led our pandemic response and, concurrently, reconciliACTION efforts. Prior to that, I was the director of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the Saskatoon Health Region and the Saskatchewan Health Authority — work that deepened my understanding that health is shaped by income, environment, inclusion and belonging. I saw how systemic inequalities like classism, racism, homophobia, ableism and sexism intersect and impact the most vulnerable. For me, this has repeatedly underscored the importance of active listening, acknowledging dignity in every person and deploying my privilege in service of equity.
As I begin my journey in the Senate, I remain committed to those principles.
Reviewing and debating legislation is not an abstract exercise; it’s about understanding how our decisions affect all people. I think it is important to see the full spectrum of humanity, ensuring the experiences of First Peoples, women, gender-diverse people and those of all ages and abilities are heard and taken seriously.
As a result of these inequities, we know that across Canada, many are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. In Saskatchewan, I worked closely with those experiencing such challenges through my community outreach work right through to in-patient care. I saw how gaps in coordination and political will often hinder recovery.
Young people are particularly affected. A 2024 report from the Province of Saskatchewan’s Advocate for Children and Youth highlighted a fivefold increase in reported mental health and addiction concerns since 2020, reflecting how root causes such as poverty, trauma, and systemic inequities shape mental well-being. I know I sit among colleagues who share these concerns and are motivated toward finding solutions.
First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples must be prioritized in solutions-focused care, as they remain disproportionately affected due to long-standing systemic inequalities.
This is a reality that was laid bare to me early in my career as a child welfare worker in 1988. At age 22, as a new — and White — social worker, one of my earliest calls was initiated by a six-year-old boy reporting to his school principal that there was a need to attend to his three siblings. The responsible adults were intoxicated and unresponsive, and the children were living in conditions no child should endure: All had impetigo and lice, the baby had failure to thrive and all three girls were soaked in urine. The baby was lying silent on a bed, the two-and-a-half-year-old was found via her whimpering from a closet and the five-year-old was found in a van in the driveway. When I opened the door, the mother fell to the ground.
(1540)
I transported the children to foster care, helped all day to clean, feed and care for them, then drove home, weeping most of the way. I knew in my heart and soul that no mother would ever want these conditions for her children. What had happened to her that led to these circumstances?
Of course, after forming a relationship with her, I learned of the many traumas she had experienced and how deeply she loved her children. That was 36 years ago. What have we learned, and what have we done to change such circumstances? Not enough.
In 2023 alone, 48 youth in provincial care in Saskatchewan attempted suicide — that we know of. Canada needs better support for children who require protective care, more effective interventions and reliable access to comprehensive, timely and culturally responsive mental health services.
Mental health and substance use are inevitably interconnected, and the toxic drug crisis continues to devastate communities. Between January 2016 and September 2022, more than 34,000 people in Canada died from opioid toxicity. In Saskatchewan, escalating overdoses and increased street drug toxicity continue to kill.
In my former role at St. Paul’s Hospital, I personally watched emergency staff revive and treat hundreds of overdoses in the space of weeks. Staff are burnt out; they leave in tears; many need stress leave to cope. This is a national reality. This crisis demands a compassionate and comprehensive public health approach rooted in the pillars of law enforcement, harm reduction, prevention, treatment and recovery-based measures supported by evidence and sustained by investment and culturally responsive policies.
Let me say this now for the first time as a senator but certainly not the last: In a country like Canada, access to quality care must never depend on race, income, sexual orientation, ability or geography. Also, we cannot achieve equity without true reconciliation. That means co-creating systems and the creation of Indigenous-led solutions in health care, education and economic development that respect Indigenous sovereignty and leadership.
The unanimous Senate passage of Bill C-51 in 2023, which enacted the governance treaty between the Government of Canada and the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, recognized Whitecap as a self-governing nation through establishing a new government-to-government relationship. Whitecap Dakota First Nation has generated real success stories we can point to, such as their recent announcement of the Indigenous-led Virtual Health Hub, which is being developed on Whitecap Dakota First Nation and has been supported in a recent federal funding announcement. This is the first initiative of its kind in Canada, and it will use remote presence technology to bring health care directly to rural and Indigenous communities.
The vision is to train a new generation of health workers — many of them Indigenous — to deliver care in their own communities and beyond, improving access and reducing the need for costly and disruptive travel. Led by Chief Darcy Bear and Dr. Ivar Mendez, the project is already under way and will be fully operational by 2026.
This is an incredible innovation, one that shows the country how Indigenous-led solutions can deliver lasting benefits for everyone. The treaty is a model for Indigenous self-determination, and I am anxious for this government to act on Bill C-51 and turn that framework into long-lasting action.
I want to turn now to Saskatchewan and the economic promise of my home province. Paying homage to my own upbringing on a farm, I’ll begin with agriculture.
In 2024 Saskatchewan international agricultural export sales totalled more than $18 billion. Agricultural exports have increased more than 32% since 2014, accounting for 41% of total provincial exports in 2024.
We are the world’s top exporter of key crops like lentils, dry peas, canola oil and durum wheat, sending produce to over 160 countries while also expanding value-added agriculture, with over 300 processing companies employing 6,000 people, a sector expected to account for $10 billion in revenue by 2030. Saskatchewan is also a global leader in sustainable farming practices like no-till and minimum-till farming, which means that our canola has a carbon footprint that is 67% below the global average.
I am proud to say that my dad and his brothers were among the first farmers in the Muenster area some 45 years ago to acquire an air seeder and avoid excessive land tillage.
Institutions like the Crop Development Centre and the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence at the University of Saskatchewan help drive further innovation by advancing sustainable crop and livestock practices.
Another Saskatchewan success story is the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, or PAMI, based in my hometown area of Humboldt, which has been a cornerstone of innovation and advancement in Canada’s agricultural landscape since its establishment in 1975. Happy fiftieth anniversary, PAMI.
For over nearly five decades, they have served Saskatchewan by providing expertise in agriculture, mining, transportation and defence sectors, with a broad range of engineering solutions and testing services that have driven innovation and economic growth. Science on the Prairies is driving innovation in Canada’s agricultural sector and playing a key role in promoting food security, animal welfare and environmental sustainability at both national and global levels.
However, research and innovation in Saskatchewan extend far beyond agriculture.
The Canadian Light Source, or CLS, Canada’s only synchrotron facility, is also located in Saskatoon. This incredible structure produces intensely bright light to analyze materials at the molecular and atomic levels. At CLS, they examine everything from cancer cells to EV batteries and even ancient artifacts. Those utilizing CLS technology have over 4,600 peer-reviewed publications to their credit, placing Canada at the forefront of global scientific research while creating local opportunities and innovation on the Prairies.
You’ve heard me speak before about the Global Water Futures Observatories, or GWFO, which was launched in 2023 as Canada’s premier national freshwater research network. With 64 observation sites across diverse ecosystems, it supports adaptive strategies for water security, flood and drought management and long-term planning to safeguard our freshwater for future generations.
The work at GWFO underpins Bill C-241, introduced yesterday in the other place, which will establish a coordinated national approach to flood and drought forecasting. This is a cause I believe in strongly and intend to champion in the Senate.
Colleagues, as I close, let me say a few words about the Senate and my place within it. I come to this chamber with humility and a deep belief in collaboration, the role of this institution and our mandate to speak for marginalized Canadians. I’ve already had the honour of being elected chair of the Progressive Senate Group, or PSG, and intend to quickly sharpen my understanding of our practices and procedures. I will look to many of you as mentors.
I’m grateful to Senator Boyer, who stood beside me in support of my oath to this place, and to my colleagues in the PSG — talented, insightful legislators who know how to have a little fun along the way. I look forward to working across all groups to uplift the communities we represent. The Senate is evolving. To quote Senator Harder once again — I wish he were here — and I might be paraphrasing. He said:
Independence and non-partisanship are not ends in themselves. They bestow upon senators a sense of responsibility, accountability and a commitment to meaningful scrutiny of legislation. We are not here to rival the House of Commons but to complement it; not to deliver political sound bites but to provide thoughtful oversight. That means ensuring our debates are timely, our decisions transparent and our collaboration across groups is genuine so that good ideas are not sidelined by outdated partisan habits, and that bad ideas without merit or an evidence base don’t progress.
I take my place here as a senator from Saskatchewan: a senator who has been witness, through 36 years of social work practice, to the horrors of domestic violence, a racist child welfare system, the devastating impact of substance use and mental health disorders and the intergenerational impact of colonization and its subsequent traumas. I am also a senator who has witnessed the deep compassion of people and the true meaning of community when I co-led the mental health response throughout the Humboldt Broncos tragedy, and the extraordinary compassion practised through end-of-life care, which I supported in leadership roles at St. Paul’s Hospital and its community-based hospice. I have also witnessed genuine motivation and meaningful outcomes through co-led work resulting in reconciliACTION.
I am a senator committed to advancing legislation that supports wellness for all, equity and Indigenous self-determination, and policies that foster economic growth and scientific excellence.
(1550)
Colleagues, I am filled with hope. I look forward to continued work with all of you to build a Canada where every person in every region and treaty territory has a genuine opportunity to succeed.
Thank you, merci, meegwetch, marsee.
(On motion of Senator LaBoucane-Benson, debate adjourned.)
Corrections and Conditional Release Act
Bill to Amend—Second Reading—Debate Continued
On the Order:
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Pate, seconded by the Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne, for the second reading of Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: Honourable senators, I am honoured to rise today on Algonquin and Anishinaabe land in support of Bill S-205, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. I will continue to stand for this critical issue, which I view as one of the most serious human rights violations that we see in Canada today. I thank Senator Pate for her tireless efforts to bring this legislation forward again.
The lasting effects of time spent in segregation are felt after only 48 hours of segregation. Longer-term impacts, like irreversible psychological harm, can occur after 15 days in solitary confinement.
Honourable senators, Tona, whom many of you have heard about before, spent 10 years in segregation. I had the opportunity to visit with Tona this summer. Tona has endured more than any person should ever have to. Her deepest wish is that no one else suffers lasting damage to their mental health from being held in solitary confinement.
Tona is a resilient, kind and brilliant woman. It is fitting that this bill carries her name. Truly, it is her legacy. A Sixties Scoop survivor, Tona spent 10 years in segregation. The thought of what she endured evokes a deep sense of rage. Yet, Tona herself feels profound gratitude to Senator Pate for introducing this legislation. Her experiences have made her a beacon of strength and critical hope.
During the study on the human rights of federally sentenced persons, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights developed 71 recommendations after thorough study of our corrections system. I will now highlight two of the recommendations from the study that relate closely to Tona’s law. They are from page 170 of the study, if any of you care to revisit that report.
Recommendation 33 states:
That the Correctional Service of Canada ensure that Structured Intervention Units adhere to the most recent court decisions and respect Canada’s human rights obligations and international commitments, including by:
eliminating the use of solitary confinement for all federally-sentenced persons;
taking into account the different needs and experiences of particular groups, including LGBTQI2-S persons and women;
eliminating solitary confinement in excess of 15 days;
providing meaningful human contact and continued access to programming as well as 24-hour access to health and mental health services; and
establishing judicial oversight to review all Structured Intervention Unit placements and decisions.
Recommendation 34 states:
That the Correctional Service of Canada immediately end the use of separation by any name with youth, women and those with disabling mental health issues, and implement mental health assessments and judicial oversight to eliminate the overrepresentation of federally-sentenced Indigenous Peoples, Black persons, other racialized persons and persons with mental health issues in Structured Intervention Units.
Honourable senators, I remind you of these recommendations our committee tabled in 2021. I encourage you to revisit the study’s findings and recommendations to understand the critical nature of Bill S-205. I fully support this bill because I believe no one deserves to experience the inhumanity of time spent in segregation, called by any name. I believe we can legislate meaningful alternatives. I urge the adoption of this bill.
As Tona said when I saw her last week — I want you to hear this — “Let’s get this bill passed so I can die in peace.”
Thank you, asante.
(On motion of Senator Martin, for Senator Carignan, debate adjourned.)
(1600)
The Senate
Motion that All Committees Consider the Influences and Impacts of Technology in Any Studies for the Remainder of Current Session—Debate Continued
On the Order:
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia), seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe:
That, for the remainder of the current session, all committees consider the influences and impacts of technology in any study, including the consideration of bills, the subject matter of bills, estimates and special studies, authorized by the Senate, including any such work already authorized but not yet completed.
Hon. Katherine Hay: Honourable senators, dear colleagues, it is my pleasure to rise today in strong support of Motion No. 3, introduced by Senator Colin Deacon.
This motion is both timely and important. Technology is reshaping every part of Canadian life, from how we work and learn to how we govern, heal and connect with one another. Making technology a core consideration across Senate committees is essential for responsible governance in this period of rapid transformation.
This means asking not only what technology can do, but also who benefits, who may be harmed and how these changes strengthen the well-being and prosperity of society as a whole. In other words, the “how” of technology-driven transformation is just as important as the “what.”
This motion is asking us to recognize that steady state is not an option. A sober second thought should not be steady state. And as complex as technology and innovation may be — and it is — what is truer is that technology is fast moving.
Forgive me, but I am not sure the Senate is always built for speed. However, I do believe the Senate can move at the speed of technology. In fact, we have no choice. We are in a global technological sprint — in the midst of many marathons — that is rewriting every file this Senate touches, and Canada must lead, not lag.
Technology; artificial intelligence, or AI; and machine learning, or ML, are influencing some of the world’s most pressing issues, whether we like it or not, from health care, the economy and markets, national security, education, mental health, climate and people — us.
Emerging technologies are advancing at an unprecedented speed. Canadians expect not only cutting-edge tools but also fairness, transparency, ethical oversight and resilient systems. If technology is an afterthought in our work, we will lose influence and miss something that we shouldn’t, and we may even become irrelevant. Change is hard; irrelevance is harder.
Let me take you on a journey from my old world. I would promise not to speak about it every time I speak, though I’m not sure I can. However, I ask you to now remember two things: a name and a statement. I will come back to them later.
The name is Adam Raine. This is the statement:
I was going to try and kill myself tonight when I reached out, and they helped me so much, I feel like I can fight another day. And they told me that I’m a fighter.
I love speaking about this journey in places where people are kind of confused as to why I am speaking there: on the stage of a tech festival like Elevate or, before that, Collision; at Davos and the World Economic Forum; even at global mental health conferences that don’t necessarily even consider digital, in places like Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom; and here in the upper chamber, the Senate of Canada.
I will quote again, though this is not really a quote:
What the heck is a social service charity — albeit the most trusted charity brand in Canada — nonetheless, a social service charity on our stage talking to us about technology?
That journey I will talk about relates to Motion No. 3 as well as technology and innovation. I will talk about a simple thing: a mindset shift, exactly what Motion No. 3 is asking us all to enact.
At Kids Help Phone, or KHP — the social service charity I mentioned and the only 24-7 e-mental health solution coast to coast to coast in Canada — that mindset shift happened seven or eight years ago.
It was anchored in the idea that if you know who you are, you will know where you need to go; you will actually see it.
We sat around an executive table and a board table grappling with how we were going to stay relevant. Kids are changing faster, and technology even faster than that. We did something very odd: We put two things that were obvious to the side. We put being a charity — because that was obvious — to the side. The odd thing that day was that we put youth mental health to the side, because we were Kids Help Phone and that was obvious. Then we looked at what was right in front of us, and that was not so obvious.
It was clear then, though, that we understood we were an innovation- and data-driven technology charity with a laser-sharp focus on youth and mental health. It was a reordering of words, a nuance, but it was a mindset shift. It was who we were, and it changed everything — from how we organized our front lines, to how we operated, to our vision, strategy and brand. And we quickly built the Innovation Imperative — “imperative” being the operative word.
In 2018, we used artificial intelligence and machine learning to launch new services and technology. We created new programs and access points from coast to coast to coast, with a strong focus on equity. We even changed our mojo. We didn’t just sit meekly at the corner of the table and ask to speak. We took our place at and even chaired that table many times.
As smart as we thought we were with that mojo, what we didn’t know — we had no clue — was that what we were doing was building for COVID. And when Canada and the world shut down, we scaled and then scaled again, from 1.9 million interactions in 2019, a 30% increase from the year before, to more than 22.5 million interactions as of yesterday — a 250% increase.
With that kind of growth, you must decide what you’re going to give up. We promised youth we would be there, so what could we give up? Nothing. Technology, AI and ML were an integral part of how we scaled and how we ensured that wait times stayed at around three and a half minutes over every 24-hour period and quality scores stayed over 90%. KHP moved at the speed of youth and technology.
I tell you about this real-life application of AI and ML — of technology and innovation — because it required one very clear, intentional thing: a mindset shift.
Since then, KHP has taken the stage in the technology innovation sector many times over, even launching the acceleratorKHP at Elevate last October and Davos last January. Why? Because lives depend on it.
Let me bring this back to Motion No. 3 and all of us. If the Senate examines technology in isolation, it risks enabling systems that unintentionally leave people behind or cause harm. By explicitly broadening the lens, the Senate can help ensure that Canada builds a future economy that is not only innovative and competitive, but also just and inclusive. These are not marginal issues. They are central to ensuring that technological progress delivers real benefits for Canadians.
Other jurisdictions have recognized this. The European Union Horizon Europe program, the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development — or OECD — Oslo Manual and the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act all require technology to be assessed alongside its broader socio-economic impacts. The United Kingdom and the Nordic countries also embed these dimensions into their innovation strategies, not only measuring success through patents and profit, but also health, equity, inclusion and regional prosperity.
Canada should do no less. There is no question — the pace of change is relentless. The Senate can either shape that change or be overtaken by it. Motion No. 3 is a simple structural step to make a technology lens routine in committee work. This is not a procedural nicety. It is a decision — a decisive act — that will equip our committees to protect Canadians, preserve equity and ensure public policy keeps pace with how people live, work and play.
(1610)
Let me bring you back to the beginning: Adam Raine, a 16‑year-old from California, a great kid who died by suicide in April 2025 with the help of ChatGPT.
I was going to try and kill myself tonight when I reached out, and they helped me so much, I feel like I can fight another day. And they told me I’m a fighter . . . .
A KHP service user triaged, using AI, to a human crisis responder.
In Canada, steady state is not an option. There are too many Adams who are asking us, pleading with us to ensure there is technology for good and AI for good in all the work that we do. Time is of the essence. Innovation and data-driven technology are, in fact, life-saving.
We must ask ourselves in every committee, during every study how technology — AI, ML — is impacting this work in Canada. Motion No. 3 is a mindset shift that can change everything.
I thank you, dear colleagues. Meegwetch.
The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Deacon, would you like to ask a question?
Hon. Colin Deacon: If Senator Hay would accept.
Senator Hay: Yes.
Senator C. Deacon: Thank you, Speaker pro tempore. It’s lovely to see you sitting there.
I’m really honoured by your speech in terms of the way you articulated a really important perspective on Motion No. 3 and its intention. Thank you. You’ve knocked me back a bit with how compelling a presentation you gave us.
I want to just ask one specific question as it relates to rural, remote, marginalized communities. We often think of technology as being an urban phenomenon, but the opportunities outside our urban centres and the needs are tremendous. Would you have a perspective that you could offer — I’m sure you do because you’ve mentioned the services that were provided coast to coast to coast — that could help us understand the need or issues that have to be considered when we’re looking outside of our urban centres? Thank you.
Senator Hay: Thank you for the question, Senator Deacon. I did promise not to always speak about my former world, but I will in this case. There is no equity in Canada when it comes to health and mental health and many things with regard to rural and remote communities. That is without question. And so what I do now, in the vast data that KHP has — which is the largest, most significant, unique, real-time, real-geography, real-language data in the country — 40% of all those data points that I speak about come from rural Canada, because they do not have all the same services wrapped around them that they might have in an urban area.
So technology enables accessibility and programs they wouldn’t even have. For example, the Counsellor in the Classroom Program, which is easy to deliver to a classroom using curriculum with teachers and video with a counsellor, perhaps — in a remote area, that works, but it feels very transactional. So, technology like virtual reality is changing the game when we are in remote communities using technology and AI.
So if your question is whether rural Canada and remote Canada will benefit, 100% they will benefit. New programs, new accessibility points — it is proven time and time again through the work that I have done that programs, first of all, distinction-based and — I wouldn’t even say co-created — created by the communities that we serve are not only successful but game-changing and life-changing, and wouldn’t be possible without technology.
Hon. Tony Ince: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak in support of Motion No. 3, putting a technology lens on the work we do.
I find it a bit odd that my first response to a motion begins with a confession. I have a sad lack of knowledge about this subject matter. Singer-songwriter and Ottawa native Alanis Morissette might call that ironic. And making a pop-culture reference that is 30 years old explains my situation.
Is it arrogant of me to rise in this historic chamber to speak on a subject I know very little about? Well, I suppose it probably isn’t the first time.
But no, this isn’t arrogance. It’s humility. In the short time since I became a privileged member of this esteemed body, I have noticed that most of what we do is intended to correct failings and to remedy shortcomings. Motion No. 3 is no different, except the potential failings and shortcomings are our own.
Motion No. 3 prompts us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves: When it comes to technology, have we brought enough humility to our discoveries? Are there unintended gaps in our deliberations? Can we be confident in our decisions? As a man of a certain age, my mirror is brutally honest. My mirror also tells me I don’t know enough about technology. My mirror tells me I don’t even know what I don’t know. My mirror has no mercy.
But I do know this about technology: There are many Canadians, wise Canadians, who would be happy to explain it if we asked. We should ask. We should ask often.
The other thing I know about technology is that it’s not all bad. We are currently witnessing significant advances in AI, bringing our workplace productivity up. We are seeing technology enable advances in medical science and in every field of science at a previously unimagined pace. Likewise, we are at the brink of unimagined opportunities.
But the same tools that are being used for good are being exploited by bad people: predators and adversaries. During a discussion in June, a group of national security experts described Canada as being in a polycrisis environment. Specifically, we have four overlapping threats: climate, geopolitical, societal and technological.
Going back to the song I mentioned earlier, I’m grateful to Ms. Morissette and her co-writer, Glen Ballard, who inspired such discussion about irony. Some of you may recall the many debates that followed the release of that song.
(1620)
Dictionary definitions were shared and dissected. People argued about situational irony versus dramatic irony. It warmed the cockles of every educator’s heart. Even some spoofs followed. The comedy website CollegeHumor pointed out that rain on your wedding day would actually be ironic if you were marrying Ra, the Egyptian sun god.
The mayhem that Ms. Morrisette and Mr. Ballard unintentionally caused helped me to segue to my final point. I am not alone in my lack of understanding of the complex and serpentine impact of technology. I know there are others in this chamber who feel the same way, and we are joined by millions of people across our country. If the motion made by my honourable colleague is passed, the experts who will teach us, will also be teaching them.
We cannot forget that the Parliament of Canada itself is a technology platform. Putting a technological lens on the work we do would naturally become a teaching tool. Sharing critically important lessons with fellow Canadians will enable us to climb this steep and urgent learning curve together. Now isn’t that ironic? Or is it?
Thank you.
Hon. Paulette Senior: Honourable senators, I rise today on the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the great Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
I, too, am pleased — and I’m sure there is some irony there — to have the opportunity on our first day back to express my support for Motion No. 3, which calls on Senate committees to consider the influences and impact of technology in any studies that they undertake.
Thank you to our colleague Senator Deacon for bringing forward this motion. I appreciated many of the points, Senator Deacon, that you made in your speech in June and your ideas for how this motion could effectively and practically be implemented as they relate to our committee responsibilities as senators.
There is no question that the rate of technological advancement and growth is outpacing Canadians’ awareness and knowledge of where we are, and legislators are no exception. As legislators, we need to be asking ourselves how we are keeping abreast of technological advances with all the work that we are doing.
Let’s take the technological reality of AI as an example, one that is affecting all aspects of our lives, whether we know it or not. Some of these we may be aware of, and others we aren’t.
I believe it is important to understand how AI is impacting the particular issues we are addressing in the Senate. How is AI being used to support, advance or possibly hinder the work being done in different areas like health, finance, social benefits and other major areas that Canadians depend on? How is AI impacting the systems and structures in place to support Canadians, and what can we do to make this more transparent? These are some of the questions that a committee can ask and consider in all their deliberations.
Another key reason I support this motion is because it will help us focus on the intersecting issue of technology and equity. I believe that this is an important issue, and it is something I have been considering and addressing through the lens of my work in recent years.
Regarding AI, there has been a long-standing concern regarding the way it has developed, particularly as it relates to discriminatory practices due to the input of discriminatory information. Several groups, including women, Black, Indigenous and racialized peoples, have been particularly targeted and harmed as a result of misinformation, sexism and racism. Tools created with AI for public good will only support progress if their development includes the people most at risk.
With the technological lens that Motion No. 3 encourages committees to use, issues around AI development should be top of mind as we engage in our work. Senators are encouraged to ask questions and learn about technology and equity.
We can build on our understanding of the use of technology by young people and the impact on their mental health. We can explore how women are being affected, particularly those with an online presence, including journalists and politicians. Too often, technology is utilized in an abhorrent way against women, mainly to silence and discredit. Yet, AI is an extraordinarily powerful tool capable of supporting massive transformation and helping us to better understand complex problems of the day and potential solutions not yet imagined.
As we engage in our work in various committees and begin to apply a technology lens to the complex studies and bills before us, I imagine much will be revealed that otherwise would remain hidden. Such revelations will allow us to better understand technological advancements and needs, while we deepen our own literacy and comprehension about technological implications of particular policy directions. Essentially, colleagues, if we’re not asking the questions, we cannot know the answers, and in this time of massive technological change, we cannot afford to leave our blinders on.
Colleagues, please join me in supporting this motion. Let’s endeavour to have the Senate of Canada lead the way in how legislators can consider technology as part of our work in an inclusive and intentional way.
Thank you, meegwetch.
Hon. Colin Deacon: Will you take a question, Senator Senior?
Senator Senior: I will. Thank you.
Senator C. Deacon: The point you raise is so important, because a great deal of our software that we use now, which is ingrained in so many apps that we use, has been developed by young, White men, and they come with a certain perspective of the world. That has turbocharged ingrained challenges in society from the past that show a very narrow perspective on how to deliver a program — what works for people and whatever else.
Senator Mohamed set up a meeting with Dais earlier in the summer at Toronto Metropolitan University, or TMU, and we’re hearing about how many Canadians don’t trust AI, but I’d love to meet a Canadian who doesn’t use AI multiple times every day.
Do you know where the best research is, or can you think of places where we could be looking for research sources on this, the complexities of which you so eloquently described in your speech? Perhaps it is TMU.
Senator Senior: Thank you for the question. Perhaps it is TMU, but what I can say as a member of SOCI, is that a few of us have been visiting institutes established by the federal government to develop Canada’s capacity in AI, and I’ve had an opportunity to visit two, one just last week in Toronto, the Vector Institute, where we’ve been privy to learn about advancements, particularly in health care, for example, that are being made in terms of achieving more robust and useful information population-wise and in terms of which treatments are working and which aren’t, but also for which populations.
I was particularly encouraged by that, and that’s what I call “technology or AI for good.” This week, Friday, some of us are going to Montreal to learn more from the institute there as well. That has been my journey as someone who comes from a very non-technical background.
(On motion of Senator Martin, debate adjourned.)
(At 4:31 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)