Debates of the Senate (Hansard)
1st Session, 45th Parliament
Volume 154, Issue 87
Monday, September 28, 2026
The Honourable Raymonde Gagné, Speaker
- SENATORS’ STATEMENTS
- Distinguished Visitor in the Gallery
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Visitors in the Gallery
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
- Visitors in the Gallery
- Digital Infrastructure
- The Late Margaret Commodore
- The Late Honourable Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, O.C., O.N.B.
- Distinguished Visitor in the Gallery
- ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
- QUESTION PERIOD
- ORDERS OF THE DAY
THE SENATE
Monday, September 28, 2026
The Senate met at 6 p.m., the Speaker in the chair.
Prayers.
Business of the Senate
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, we were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our colleague, the Honourable Todd Lewis, on July 31. We will have an opportunity, tomorrow, to pay tribute to his life.
Honourable senators, there have been consultations and there is an agreement to allow a photographer in the Senate Chamber to photograph the introduction of new senators.
Is it agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
[Translation]
New Senators
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the honour to inform the Senate that the Clerk of the Senate has received certificates from the Registrar General of Canada showing that the following persons, respectively, have been summoned to the Senate:
Rodney Ouellette
Sampageeta Tucker
Richard Martel
Thomas Michael Pitfield
Introduction
The Hon. the Speaker having informed the Senate that there were senators without waiting to be introduced:
The following honourable senator was introduced; presented His Majesty’s writ of summons; took the solemn affirmation, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate; and was seated.
Hon. Rodney Ouellette, of Dieppe, New Brunswick, introduced between Hon. Pierre Moreau, P.C., and Hon. Victor Boudreau.
The following honourable senator was introduced; presented His Majesty’s writ of summons; took the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate; and was seated.
Hon. Geeta Tucker, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, introduced between Hon. Pierre Moreau, P.C., and Hon. Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler.
The following honourable senator was introduced; presented His Majesty’s writ of summons; took the solemn affirmation, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate; and was seated.
Hon. Richard Martel, of Chicoutimi, Quebec, introduced between Hon. Pierre Moreau, P.C., and Hon. Claude Carignan, P.C.
The following honourable senator was introduced; presented His Majesty’s writ of summons; took the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk of the Senate; and was seated.
Hon. Thomas Pitfield, of Westmount, Quebec, introduced between Hon. Pierre Moreau, P.C., and Hon. Peter Harder, P.C.
The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that each of the honourable senators named above had made and subscribed the declaration of qualification required by the Constitution Act, 1867, in the presence of the Clerk of the Senate, the Commissioner appointed to receive and witness the said declaration.
(1820)
Visitors in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Élaine and Amand Ouellette, parents of the Honourable Senator Ouellette; Martine Tremblay, his spouse; and Ève Ouellette, their daughter. They are accompanied by other family members.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
[English]
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Mike Tucker, spouse of the Honourable Senator Tucker; Nim and Deepak Ekbote, her parents; as well as Glenn Walker, her brother-in-law, and Ray Tucker, her father-in-law.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
[Translation]
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Annie Houle, wife of the Honourable Senator Martel; Michel Gaudette, his friend; and Louis-Charles Côté, his stepson. They are accompanied by other colleagues and friends of the Honourable Senator Martel.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
[English]
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Caroline and Katie Pitfield, sisters of the Honourable Senator Pitfield; Matthew Ramston and Thomas Aust, his brothers-in-law; as well as Gillian and Edward, his niece and nephew. They are accompanied by the Honourable Marc Miller, P.C., M.P., Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, as well as Marco Mendicino and other friends of the Honourable Senator Pitfield.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
[Translation]
New Senators
Congratulations on Appointments
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, it is with great pleasure that I rise today on behalf of the Government Representative’s Office in the Senate to welcome the newly appointed senators.
Today, you are joining this hallowed chamber, where generations of distinguished Canadians have worked tirelessly for the good of the country, its regions and its people. Among those sitting here today, you will find senators with expertise in a wide range of fields, hailing from vast, and vastly diverse, regions of our country, yet united by the same dedication to serving Canada, a country that remains a bastion of liberal democracy within a rapidly changing world order.
[English]
Senators, a review of your distinguished careers prior to joining the Senate leaves no doubt as to your dedication to Canadians. Your professional lives offer compelling evidence of individuals committed to a lifetime of public service.
A chartered professional accountant and public service leader for over 30 years, Senator Tucker has worked across the government, private and non-profit sectors. In all of those sectors, she strengthened professional standards, governance and public trust, while advancing education, accountability and community well-being through extensive board service — for example, with United Way Winnipeg.
(1830)
Senator Tucker, welcome to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
[Translation]
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator Ouellette, your research has pushed the boundaries of oncology, and you made a point of returning to New Brunswick to expand access to health care services in regions that are often underserved. Deeply rooted in your community, you embody a key component of the Senate’s mandate: We care about our regions. Welcome, Senator Ouellette, to the Senate of Canada.
Senator Martel, you opted for a life of public service when you decided to run to represent the citizens of Chicoutimi. I congratulate you on having had the courage to seek the voters’ confidence. You will also be remembered for your dedication to junior hockey and the young hockey players you mentored for more than 20 years, both on the ice and as they navigated the ups and downs of young adulthood. Senator Martel, welcome to your new arena. If I remember correctly, the Prime Minister has no objection to you keeping your elbows up.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[English]
Senator Moreau: Senator Pitfield, let me begin by saying that your late father, Senator Michael Pitfield, would undoubtedly be proud to see you carry on his legacy here in the Senate of Canada. Your experience in politics and in the private sector, together with your expertise in the digital world and your understanding of the profound changes reshaping our society, will be invaluable assets to this institution. I am confident that your insights will enrich our debates and committee work.
[Translation]
Senator Pitfield, welcome to Canada’s upper chamber.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[English]
Senator Moreau: Honourable senators, it is my utmost pleasure to welcome you to the upper chamber.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, it is my pleasure to rise on behalf of the Conservative caucus to welcome four new colleagues to the Senate of Canada.
I want to sincerely congratulate each and every one of you for your appointments to this chamber, a place whose work matters deeply to all Canadians, a place of sober second thought, regional representation and careful scrutiny of the laws and policies that shape our country. We welcome you to the Senate, and we look forward to working with each of you.
Senator Ouellette, you come to us with an exemplary career devoted to cancer research, one that has made New Brunswickers proud to call you their own. As the founder of the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, you put Atlantic Canada on the map in precision medicine. Your work on liquid biopsies has helped advance how we treat cancer — work rightfully recognized last year with your appointment to the Order of New Brunswick. I have no doubt that this experience will bring an important perspective to our discussions. Welcome to this august chamber.
Senator Tucker, you bring a career grounded in financial expertise, most recently as the president and CEO of CPA Manitoba, along with your service to your community as chair of the United Way Winnipeg and of the CPA Western School of Business. Those are skills with obvious relevance in this chamber, which spends a considerable amount of time on public finance.
Your appointment comes at a time when our Conservative caucus is missing one of the stalwarts in fiscal discipline, Senator Marshall, who retired recently. I’m just saying there is a nice pair of shoes that would fit you perfectly. Honourable colleagues, all joking aside, I have no doubt this chamber will benefit from your expertise. Welcome, Senator Tucker.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Senator Housakos: Senator Pitfield, it is a pleasure to welcome you to the Senate. You arrive with substantial experience at the centre of government and with an understanding of public service that is also part of your family’s history in this chamber, through your father’s distinguished service. I’m sure he would be very proud of your accomplishments, and I’m sure he will be watching carefully from where he is in terms of all your future work in this chamber.
I look forward to your contributions and to our deliberations, especially on areas touching upon business, technology, public policy and artificial intelligence. Welcome, Senator Pitfield.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[Translation]
Senator Martel, we served in the Conservative caucus together, so I welcome you as a friend. Since 2018, you have represented the people of Chicoutimi with candour, loyalty and a genuine sense of service. I’m delighted to welcome you to this next stage of your journey in public service. Don’t worry, as your colleagues, Senator Carignan and I will be here to remind you when to add a little water to your wine and temper the partisan instincts you developed in the other place. Welcome to the Senate of Canada. We look forward to working with you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[English]
Senator Housakos: Honourable senators, welcome and congratulations. You are worthy nominees, and we’re very happy to have each of you here — an addition of four great Canadians to this chamber. We look forward to the contributions each of you will make to this institution and to making our great country even greater.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[Translation]
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Thank you and welcome.
Hon. Lucie Moncion: Honourable senators, I would like to begin by welcoming everyone back to the Senate. I hope that you enjoyed the beautiful summer that we just had and that you are raring to go for the fall session, which promises to be particularly busy.
On behalf of the Independent Senators Group, I want to extend an especially warm welcome to all the new senators who are joining us. We want to congratulate you on your appointment, which is a testament to your remarkable careers and your commitment to serving our country.
Senator Martel, you come to us as a man who has deep roots in the Saguenay community and a strong background in education. You also spent eight years in the other place, serving as a member of Parliament from 2018 to 2026, and worked for many years as a coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Your ability to thrive in highly competitive environments, in both the hockey arena and the political arena, and your understanding of the challenges that communities are facing will certainly be a real asset to the Senate’s work. We are glad to have you with us. Welcome, Senator Martel.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Hon. Lucie Moncion: Senator Ouellette, your numerous achievements in the field of medicine are a testament to your extraordinary leadership, determination and commitment. Throughout your career, you made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of research and innovation in oncology, particularly in precision medicine. You helped establish a cancer research centre in Moncton and develop world-class research capacity, proving the depth of your commitment to advancing knowledge and improving patient care. I believe that your scientific rigour, your innovative spirit and your impressive ability to rally key players around promising projects will be invaluable assets to the Senate’s work. Welcome, Senator Ouellette.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Hon. Lucie Moncion: Senator Tucker, with a distinguished career in accounting, you bring to the Senate solid professional expertise and extensive experience in governance. The qualities you gained over the course of your impressive career as a chartered professional accountant, such as attention to detail, analytical skills and, of course, an aptitude for numbers, will undoubtedly enhance our work. Welcome to the Senate, dear colleague, and let me add that I look forward to speaking with you and all your colleagues in the language of Molière. Welcome, Senator Tucker.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
(1840)
Senator Moncion: Senator Pitfield, having forged a career at the intersection of politics, technology and entrepreneurship, you will undoubtedly bring an interesting perspective to the work of this chamber.
We are pleased to welcome to the Senate a seasoned political strategist whose experience and knowledge of constantly evolving sectors will help enrich our discussions and debates.
Your arrival in the Senate also comes at a unique juncture. We are navigating a profoundly uncertain international context, but we are also marking the tenth anniversary of the independent Senate this year.
Welcome to the Senate, Senator Pitfield.
Dear new colleagues, on behalf of the Independent Senators Group, I would like to extend our warmest welcome. We look forward to getting to know you better, learning about the perspectives you will bring to our work and collaborating with you to serve Canadians.
Thank you.
[English]
Hon. Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler: Honourable senators, I rise today on behalf of the Canadian Senators Group, or CSG, to welcome our new colleagues to the Senate of Canada.
[Translation]
Senator Ouellette, welcome to the Senate.
[English]
As a fellow physician who also found her way from medicine to the Senate, I am pleased to welcome you to this chamber. Medicine teaches us to listen carefully, ask difficult questions, follow the evidence and understand that complex problems rarely have simple answers.
While your career has given you plenty of experience with patients, I suspect you will find that life in the Senate occasionally requires the practice of a different kind of patience.
[Translation]
Medicine and parliamentary work have a lot in common: they both require listening skills, diligence, judgment and, of course, patience.
I look forward to working with you and to putting our collective experience at the service of Canadians.
[English]
Senator Tucker, welcome to the Senate.
Your career has taken you through many different roles, but service has been a constant throughout. Your work with diverse organizations, communities and people with different perspectives reflects your commitment to organizational leadership and will serve you well here in the Senate.
And as a Filipino Canadian, your full name, Sampageeta, has a special resonance for me. For those who may not know, the sampaguita is the much-loved national flower of the Philippines.
Your experience as a chartered professional accountant and your leadership at United Way Winnipeg and Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba mean that our province will have another strong voice in this chamber, and I look forward to working alongside you.
[Translation]
Senator Martel, welcome to the Senate.
You have a rather unique background involving education, professional hockey and public service in the other place. In each of those settings, you worked as part of a team, brought people together and demonstrated leadership, all qualities that will certainly come in handy in the Senate.
[English]
Senator Martel, even after all those years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, I bet you never imagined that one day you’d become an “Ottawa Senator.”
[Translation]
I look forward to working with you and seeing what your very different background will bring to our work.
[English]
Senator Pitfield, welcome to the Senate.
You come to this chamber having spent much of your career at the intersection of technology, innovation and public policy and with a deep understanding of how government works from the inside. You have advised, shaped ideas and helped others navigate complex decisions. Now the seat is yours, the questions are yours to ask and the voice in the chamber will be your own.
At a time when AI and rapidly evolving technologies are challenging governments to think differently, your experience will add an important dimension to our work. We look forward to working alongside you.
In closing, on behalf of my CSG colleagues, welcome to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, it’s my pleasure to join the other leaders as we welcome new senators to our chamber.
We are a different group now than in June, when we last met. Through several retirements, as well as the tragic and untimely passing of Senator Lewis, we have lost some important voices. But the work does not stop, so neither can we. It feels fitting that we are marking our return to Ottawa by celebrating the gaining of new voices and new perspectives as we welcome four new senators to our chamber.
Senator Ouellette, as a fellow Atlantic Canadian, your reputation certainly precedes you. Your dedication to medical advances, your focus on innovation and your deep commitment to improving the lives of Canadians are all strengths that will continue to serve you well in this new chapter. Welcome.
Senator Tucker, your demonstrated leadership is commendable. Few accountants are also described as innovative or creative, but these are terms that are frequently found alongside your name.
On a personal level, your commitment to constructive actions in the name of reconciliation has been exemplary. Thank you and welcome.
Senator Martel, as has been noted, your experiences in the other place will certainly come in handy as you navigate your new role here. I believe your hockey background will be just as important. You understand that though we may sometimes play for different teams, our goals are the same. We are all here to do our job; we fight hard when it matters but also practise good sportsmanship.
[Translation]
Welcome.
[English]
Senator Pitfield, you also arrive here with a unique perspective on government and Parliament, as well as the Senate. I should note that this place may look a little different than when you were last here, but I suspect your experience with artificial intelligence, digital innovation and technology will be most welcome. It seems like a very timely moment to have your expertise. Welcome.
As you may have already realized, you will all be hitting the ground running. Learning the ins and outs of this institution is not easy, nor does it come quickly. But I can assure you that you are not alone. We are all here to help, whether that means explaining procedures and practices or simply directing you to the right committee room.
On behalf of the Progressive Senate Group, I am pleased to welcome you to the Senate of Canada. We look forward to working with you all.
Wela’lin. Thank you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
SENATORS’ STATEMENTS
Distinguished Visitor in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of our former colleague the Honourable Mohammad Al Zaibak.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you back to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, this week, we will all mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We do so with a responsibility to remember and to look honestly toward the future.
We know the history that brings us to this day every year. For generations, Indigenous children were separated from their families, communities and cultures and sent to residential schools. Many endured profound hardship, abuse and loss. Some never returned home.
The consequences of that history continue to be felt by Survivors, their families and their communities.
We must acknowledge that history plainly, respectfully and without qualification. It is by remembering the experiences of Survivors and their families, listening to Indigenous communities and learning from our history that we must continue the work toward reconciliation and strengthening the relationships that are so important to Canada’s future.
It means building relationships based on respect, trust and recognition. It means acknowledging where governments and institutions failed Indigenous Peoples and ensuring that the lessons from those failures continue to shape how those institutions serve Canadians today.
(1850)
It also means recognizing that Indigenous Peoples are not simply part of Canada’s history. They are an essential part of Canada’s present and future — as leaders, entrepreneurs, veterans, public servants, artists, parents, neighbours and partners in building this country.
[Translation]
Today, we remember the children who were separated from their families, those who never returned home and the survivors who have to live with those experiences their whole lives. We honour the memory of those who died and celebrate the resilience of the survivors.
We also renew our commitment to remembering their stories, not only as a part of Canada’s history, but as a reminder of the lessons that we need to learn for the Canada we will continue to build, a Canada that has the confidence to acknowledge its history, the humility to learn from it and the unity to move forward together.
Thank you, senators.
[English]
Let’s never ever forget.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Visitors in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Piper White, Layla Blanchard and Kiara Coade, Fancy Shawl Dancers and granddaughters of the Honourable Senators White and Francis.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Hon. Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler: Honourable senators, I rise today to give these remarks on behalf of Senator Greenwood:
Wednesday marks the sixth commemoration of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
On that day, we pause to remember the children who never returned home from residential schools, the Survivors who carry those experiences with them and the families and communities who continue to live with the consequences of government policies.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a reminder of our commitment to strengthen our relationships with one another and to create a future different from the one Indigenous children inherited for many generations and a better future for all of our children.
At its heart, truth and reconciliation is about relationships and the children whose lives were and continue to be shaped by them. These relationships are about you and me. They are about our children and grandchildren. The question is how we accept that responsibility. It is a reminder that the choices we make today in this chamber, as parliamentarians and as people sharing this land, will shape the lives of generations yet to come.
The residential school system sought to separate Indigenous children from their families, languages, cultures and communities, disrupting relationships that sustained Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. Those harms continue to be felt today — yet so too do the strength, resilience and wisdom of Indigenous children, families and communities.
As we reflect on this history, we must also look forward. Reconciliation requires us to consider the kind of country our children will inherit, whether Indigenous children will grow up connected to their languages, cultures, lands and identities and whether they will be able to flourish in healthy, self-determining communities where their rights are respected and upheld. We seek this future for all of our children.
The future of reconciliation will be measured in the lives and relationships our children create. It will be reflected in their actions and the outcomes. Indigenous teachings remind us that our responsibilities extend beyond ourselves to those who are yet to come. In that sense, we share a legacy of relationship with all of our children.
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, may we recommit ourselves to nurturing the bonds that sustain families and communities so that future generations do not inherit the harms of our nation’s past but rather the strength, dignity and hope that come from being truly connected to all humankind.
Hiy hiy. Thank you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I rise today to highlight Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place every September. It’s an opportunity to celebrate, to support and to raise awareness of the thousands of children and their families who have fought and continue to fight childhood cancer.
It’s also a month dedicated to supporting the hard work of health care workers and the many researchers who support these children and their families.
Cancer is relentless no matter whom it strikes, but it is particularly cruel when it affects the youngest among us. According to Statistics Canada, pediatric cancer is the number one cause of disease-related death in Canadian children. Each day, young lives are disrupted by diagnoses that bring fear, pain and uncertainty.
One of the most effective ways we can contribute to this cause is by raising awareness. Awareness sparks conversation, which leads to understanding, which drives change.
Honourable colleagues, the symbol for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a gold ribbon. I rise to ask that you join me in supporting this initiative and raise awareness by wearing the gold pin that I have sent to each of your offices.
For me, I wear the pin for Maggie, for Hannah, for Cameron and for Peter.
Raising awareness is not limited to one month. It’s a year-round mission. It involves supporting organizations that tirelessly work to find cures, aiding families in need and celebrating groups like Childcan, an organization dedicated to providing emotional, social and financial relief for families working through cancer treatments with their children.
As we wear gold ribbons and share stories of hope and resilience, we send a powerful message that pediatric cancer is a battle that we are committed to winning. Let us all work tirelessly to ensure that, one day, no child will face the daunting prospect of cancer. Together, we can make a profound impact, save lives and offer brighter tomorrows to our youngest fighters.
Thank you. Meegwetch.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Visitors in the Gallery
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Dave and Crystal White, son and daughter-in-law of Senator White.
On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
Digital Infrastructure
Hon. Andrew Cardozo: Honourable senators, let me start by welcoming all colleagues back to the chamber after the summer recess. Some of the big issues that have been blowing up over the summer have been around artificial intelligence, data centres and digital sovereignty.
I want to talk about the need for a Canadian public digital infrastructure. Let me repeat those four words: Canadian public digital infrastructure.
For this new ubiquitous and overwhelming technology, we stand to lose out if we don’t remain in the race to grow artificial intelligence, or AI, and yet, given the potential dangers and tremendous geopolitical uncertainty at this critical juncture of this technology, we need to be in control, masters in our own home. This is an urgent objective.
While we are rightly spending some big money and much attention on Canadian-owned companies, we should also be wary that private sector companies can, over time, have overextended partnerships, be bought out or can sell out to interests beyond Canada.
There have been suggestions to advance a public, government-funded player in the field that is at arm’s length from the government. One strong option is to use the tried-and-true Canadian instrument, namely a Crown corporation, to do this by using an existing one or creating a new Crown corporation.
Here are some of the issues that I believe we need to advance through a Canadian public digital infrastructure: to be a driver and catalyst for digital advancement in Canada, working alongside private sector companies; focus on artificial intelligence, large language models, sovereign compute capacity and secure cloud services; build Canadian-owned data centres in full consultation with communities, governments and the private sector; contribute to the development of clear standards and guardrails; regularly convene academics, experts and start-ups as well as interested people to share expertise; address and promote the benefits of artificial intelligence; address the shortcomings and dangers of artificial intelligence; and reflect the realities of Canada, including our bilingualism, our diversity and truth and reconciliation.
In the end, it must be a consolidated initiative to advance Canadian interests in a successful, safe and urgent manner. Thank you.
(1900)
The Late Margaret Commodore
Hon. Pat Duncan: Margaret Muriel Markie Mugsy Joe Commodore came into this world in 1932 in Chilliwack, B.C., a daughter of the Sto:lo Nation.
At seven, Margaret began attending the Coqualeetza Residential School near her family’s home community of Soowahlie. When that school closed a year later, Margaret was taken from her family and placed in the Alberni Residential School.
Sixty-three years later, in 2013, Margaret bravely stood before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to give testimony about the abuse she had endured as a child at the Alberni Residential School. After a brief visit in 1956, she returned to the Yukon in 1965 with two little girls, Jackie and Trace. She had been through a marriage and lost her Indian status because her ex was not Indigenous. This loss of status meant she could not live on her home reserve, Soowahlie.
The territory was where she would marry again, where daughter Sheila would be welcomed and Margaret would raise her family and build her life. Her political activism began with fundraising for the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre and helping to found YANSI, the Yukon Association of Non-Status Indians.
In 1974, the Yukon Indian Women’s Association worked to establish a transition place for women fleeing domestic violence, Kaushee’s Place. It serves the women of the Yukon to this day.
In 1980, a judge encouraged her to apply to become a justice of the peace, or JP, and she became the first indigenous JP in the Yukon.
Margaret was so well known by Yukoners that one person appearing before her walked into the courtroom and very excitedly yelled, “Hi, Margaret,” rather than, “Your Honour.”
Margaret was first elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in 1982. When the New Democratic Party, or NDP, formed the government in 1985, Margaret was named Minister of Health and Human Resources and, in 1989, the Minister of Justice. She was the first First Nations woman to hold a cabinet position and the first Indigenous woman to serve as a Minister of Justice in any Canadian legislature.
Margaret was a force behind the Yukon Indian Hockey Association, understanding that community is built on frozen ponds and ball diamonds. She was known on the ball field as “Mugsy.” Not merely a hobby, ball was a way of life. Her daughter Trace remembers her teaching them discipline, to be good players, to have fun and to keep trying.
Her never-say-die attitude was clearly expressed to her girls with this quote:
I don’t care if your arm is broken or your leg is broken; you make that play before you say, “Ouch!”
“Mugsy” left us on June 1 this year. The celebration of her life well lived was honoured at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse with traditional First Nations dancers from British Columbia and the Yukon.
A mother of three, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of five, her story was one of love and service. Her 93 years saw her raising strong women, watching election returns with too much excitement to stay home, sharing stories and making sure that the next generation had more than hers.
The legacy of “Mugsy”: There are historic firsts, hard-won titles, a commitment to dignity, visibility and justice for people and a lifelong story, as was stated at the celebration. One door held open, one policy changed, one bucket of soup and one more inning at a time.
Most especially, Margaret’s legacy is her loving family and friends, who miss her dearly and to whom all Yukoners and Canadians owe a debt of thanks for sharing her with us.
Mahsi’cho, Margaret. Rest in peace. Thank you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
[Translation]
The Late Honourable Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, O.C., O.N.B.
Hon. Victor Boudreau: Honourable senators, on June 17, New Brunswick lost a true legend.
Marilyn Trenholme Counsell was a force of nature. She worked as a nutritionist, a family physician and a teacher, and she also served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick and as a cabinet minister.
In 1997, she became the twenty-eighth Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, only the second woman to serve in that position. A few years later, in 2003, she was appointed to the Senate of Canada and made important contributions to this chamber until 2008.
[English]
Like many, many New Brunswickers, I was fortunate to know Marilyn personally. She was — and I say this without reservation or hyperbole — one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met.
When I got called to the Senate in 2024, Marilyn was one of the first people I sat down with to seek advice, and she was more than happy to share her wisdom with me as I began my journey in this place.
Coming from humble beginnings, Marilyn was raised in a single-parent household. When her husband passed away less than 10 years into their married life, she became a single parent herself. She balanced those responsibilities with the pressures of being a family physician and a tireless community activist and teacher. She made it look easy, although we all knew that it wasn’t. She carried herself every day with grace, patience and caring.
As a cabinet minister in the government of Premier Frank McKenna, she advocated on behalf of children and other vulnerable people. Through her work, she helped move the needle on important social issues, like nutrition, early childhood development and — her life’s work — literacy.
[Translation]
Years later, when she became the Queen’s representative in New Brunswick, she reopened the Lieutenant Governor’s residence in Fredericton to the general public, returning it to the people.
That was Marilyn through and through. She was a servant of the people in the truest and most selfless sense of the term.
Rest in peace, Marilyn. We will miss you dearly.
[English]
Thank you. Meegwetch.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Justice
Charter Statement in Relation to Bill C-27—Document Tabled
Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a Charter Statement prepared by the Minister of Justice in relation to Bill C-27, An Act to give effect to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tlegohli Got’ine and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, pursuant to the Department of Justice Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. J-2, sbs. 4.2(1).
The Senate
Notice of Motion to Resolve into Committee of the Whole to Consider Subject Matter of Bill C-38
Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the 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:
1.at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to examine the subject matter of Bill C-38, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (extension of the federal fuel excise tax relief);
2.the Committee of the Whole receive the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P., Minister of Finance and National Revenue, accompanied by at most two officials;
3.the committee rise no later than 65 minutes after it begins;
4.the minister’s introductory remarks be limited to a maximum of five minutes;
5.if, during the Committee of the Whole, a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-31(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator; and
6.for greater certainty, all witnesses appear in person.
Adjournment
Notice of Motion to Adjourn Until Thursday, October 1, 2026
Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on June 4, 2025, when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
The Senate
Notice of Motion to Resolve into Committee of the Whole to Consider Subject Matter of Bill C-39
Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the 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:
1.at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole to examine the subject matter of Bill C-39, An Act respecting certain measures to strengthen the economy;
2.the Committee of the Whole receive:
(a) the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy;
(b)the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, P.C., M.P., Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons; and
(c)the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario;
3.the witnesses be accompanied by at most one official each;
4.the committee rise no later than two hours after it begins;
5.the ministers’ introductory remarks be limited to a maximum of five minutes each;
6.if, during the Committee of the Whole, a senator does not use the entire period of 10 minutes for debate provided under rule 12-31(3)(d), including the responses of the witnesses, that senator may yield the balance of time to another senator; and
7.for greater certainty, all witnesses appear in person.
(1910)
Notice of Motion to Affect Proceedings on Bill C-27
Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That, if and when Bill C-27, An Act to give effect to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tlegohli Got’ine and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, is adopted at second reading, it be deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples; and
That, for the purpose of this study, the committee have the power to meet, even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, and with rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto.
Adjournment
Notice of Motion to Adjourn Until Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 2 p.m.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Bill
First Reading
The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-10, An Act respecting the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation.
(Bill read first time.)
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?
(On motion of Senator Moreau, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)
The Late Honourable Todd Lewis
Motion to Place Inquiry on Notice Paper Adopted
Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(k), I move:
That, notwithstanding rule 5-6(2), the following inquiry be placed on the Notice Paper dated September 29, 2026, and called immediately after Senators’ Statements on that day:
“By the Honourable Senator Black: That he will call the attention of the Senate to the life of the Honourable Todd Lewis.”; and
That, notwithstanding rule 6-3(1), during proceedings on this inquiry no senator speak for more than three minutes.
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.)
[Translation]
The Senate
Notice of Motion to Strike a Special Senate Committee on Canada-United States Trade
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:
That a Special Senate Committee on Canada-United States Trade be appointed to examine the evolving Canada-United States trade relationship, including its regional and sectoral impacts on businesses, workers and communities in Canada;
That the committee be composed of nine members, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, and that four members constitute a quorum;
That the committee have the power to send for persons, papers and records, to hear witnesses and to publish such papers and evidence from day to day as may be ordered by the committee; and
That the committee be empowered to report from time to time, provided that it submits interim reports to the Senate at least twice in each calendar year.
[English]
QUESTION PERIOD
International Trade
Trade Tariffs
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Moreau, I have been spending the last few weeks travelling and meeting stakeholders in the Canadian economy, particularly in my home province of Quebec, as well as in Ontario and British Columbia. There is a deep sense of fear and uncertainty about the tariff war that is going on between Canada and the United States. They have heard the Prime Minister’s and the government’s plan to try to become the twenty-eighth member state of the EU.
Just to be clear, we want to know this: Does the government believe that the EU has the capacity to make up for potential market losses to the Canadian economy that might occur because of this trade war with the United States?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question, Senator Housakos.
The government is actively pursuing a closer partnership with the European Union. As the Prime Minister said, Canada and Europe are not fair-weather allies; we hold common values, for which we have always fought, and in whose defence, we must always remain vigilant. Our cooperation is expanding across economic growth, security and defence, supply chain resilience and the green and digital transitions.
Canada will host the next EU-Canada summit on October 29 and 30, 2026, to advance shared priorities. To be clear, Canada is not seeking membership.
Senator Housakos: That’s a good start because the EU is only about 70% the size of the GDP of the American market. We know that the EU has been contracting over the last few years in terms of their economic capacity. We also know that, despite this trade war we have been having, the United States buys 200% more Canadian goods and services than all other global markets combined.
The government keeps talking about diversity. Where exactly will they make up for the market share that we are losing?
Senator Moreau: You are probably well aware, Senator Housakos, that we are not the ones who started the tariff war between Canada and the United States.
The Government of Canada has been clear. We are ready to resume negotiations with the United States when it respects Canada and is prepared to negotiate. It takes two to tango, and we are waiting for the United States to do that.
Public Safety
Correctional Service Canada
Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Senator Moreau, Canadians were horrified to learn that a man who snatched a 10-year-old girl from her bike, raped and murdered her, and dumped her lifeless body into a lake, has been granted unescorted leave from prison for cooking classes. This degree of failure in our justice system would be unbelievable if it were not occurring with such alarming regularity.
My question is a simple one, and I think Canadians deserve an answer: Does the government believe that a child killer having unescorted community access is an acceptable outcome under Canada’s judicial system?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): The fact that you related this as horrific is understandable, but I guess you are not suggesting that politics should come into negotiations for the release of any prisoner who has served their sentence. That’s why there is a specific commission in charge of that, and the government does not have a say in it.
Having said that, the government has modified the Criminal Code many times, even during the last session, making it very tough on crime. When a prisoner has served their sentence, it is up to the Canadian commission to decide whether they are fit for conditional release.
Be that as it may, I think our justice system has no room for politics.
Senator Housakos: Government leader, Canadians don’t want this to be politicized, but they want their politicians to ensure there is justice and fairness.
Consider what else Canadians learned this week: Correctional Service Canada has confirmed that it is handing out paper straws to inmates in order to snort drugs more safely. In a single week, we have an unescorted pass for a child murderer and government-supplied drug paraphernalia for inmates. Is that what the government considers functional public security in this country?
Senator Moreau: I think it’s clear that the government is getting tougher on crime. We agree with Canadians that we need a strong justice system to keep Canadians safe. That is the reason why we have adopted three major criminal justice bills: Bill C-9, Bill C-14 and Bill C-16. The safety and security of Canadians are main priorities for the government, and we will keep up that pace.
(1920)
International Trade
Export of Cannabis
Hon. Tony Dean: Senator Moreau, Canada’s legalization of cannabis is a global success story for its positive impact on both public health and our economy. This sector has contributed $76.5 billion to Canada’s GDP since 2018 and $4.2 billion in revenues to Canada’s provinces and territories.
The value of our medical cannabis exports, including to Germany and Australia, will reach $1 billion this year and is expected to double next year. The industry sustains 99,000 jobs annually and twice that number via indirect employment.
The cannabis industry is asking for non-financial support from the government such as inclusion in trade delegations and other federal programs promoting Canada’s exports.
Given the Prime Minister’s efforts to supercharge our economy and grow our exports, will you make the case to the government that Canada’s cannabis industry should have access to the benefits extended to other major exporters?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, Senator Dean. As you know, the government is putting a lot of effort into creating new trade opportunities for Canadian businesses and to great effect, as July 2026 saw the highest record for non-U.S. trade for Canada, with $25.6 billion in trade going overseas.
To your question more specifically, Global Affairs Canada supports Canadian cannabis companies through the Trade Commissioner Service and coordinates and consults with Health Canada on cannabis-related matters. The government is always open to receiving applications from Canadian industry to take part in its trade delegations, although it is important to respect the sovereignty of our trading partners, since recreational cannabis remains an illegal substance in many countries, particularly in India, which is where our upcoming trade delegation is going. That industry will likely not be able to participate in this specific trip.
Senator Dean: Thank you for the response. The fact remains that this is an industry that has asked for access to delegations to countries without prohibitions for other reasons and for other supports extended to our exporters.
Will you undertake to ask the government whether it is prepared to treat this industry —
The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you, senator.
Senator Moreau: Thank you for this supplementary question. I will certainly make the government aware of your question on the needs of the industry. Wherever it is possible in countries where recreational cannabis is legal, the government is certainly open to helping the industry.
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Strong Transit Fund
Hon. Tony Loffreda: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
First, I wish to welcome back all honourable colleagues and extend my congratulations to our new colleagues.
As we begin a new parliamentary session, I am reminded that strong connections between people, communities and economies are essential to building a stronger Canada. In Montreal, however, public transit users are facing longer wait times and declining service, even as costs rise.
At the same time, the federal government has committed billions through the Strong Transit Fund to support transit infrastructure in Quebec, including projects that could benefit Montreal.
Senator Moreau, given that reliable transit is essential to economic productivity, housing and affordability, how will the federal government ensure that its substantial infrastructure investments translate into reliable, accessible and efficient public transit service for Montrealers?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, Senator Loffreda, for the question.
The government recognizes that public transit is an important and structural part of our modern cities. It enables efficient travel for large numbers of people in dense environments, reduces our greenhouse gas emissions and ensures everyone has an affordable way to get to work.
Via the Canada Public Transit Fund, the federal government is investing more than $6 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade, build and modernize public transit infrastructure across Quebec, notably by investing $1.95 billion to help complete the Montreal Metro blue line extension project, $1.44 billion to support the Quebec City tramway project and a $400-million investment in the Zero Emission Transit Fund to support 11 new projects that will accelerate the electrification of public transit across the province, including the deployment of new electric buses and hundreds of charging stations.
Senator Loffreda: Thank you for your answer. Montreal’s transit challenges are not simply about building new infrastructure; they are also about maintaining and improving the system people rely on every day.
The federal government has committed to predictable long-term transit funding. Will the government work with Quebec and Montreal to ensure that federal investments address both major expansion projects and the maintenance and modernization needed to improve everyday service?
Senator Moreau: It is a question of relevance. I cannot speculate when it comes to future government spending, though I can assure you that the government always seeks to coordinate with the provinces and territories when it comes to implementing its policies. The government has stepped up when it comes to additional infrastructure funding recently, notably with more than $3.5 billion announced on June 2 to help build and improve housing, post-secondary campuses, community centres and hospitals across Quebec. So we will be there to address the needs of Quebecers.
[Translation]
Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Artificial Intelligence
Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: My question is for Senator Moreau.
Our leading expert on AI, Quebec researcher Yoshua Bengio, recently issued some dire warnings to the United Nations Security Council, which he repeated on a prime-time program, “Tout le monde en parle.”
Mr. Bengio is urging the Canadian government, and others for that matter, to establish guidelines to ensure that superintelligence does not become a threat to the planet by launching autonomous cyberattacks, which is something that recently happened.
I’m aware that you recently provided funding for the work of LoiZéro, Yoshua Bengio’s company. However, what sort of guidelines, regulations or licences do you think are necessary to prevent the commercial interests behind AI from doing as they please without any regard for the dangers to humanity?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator Miville-Dechêne, I’m very pleased to see you again.
The government takes the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence, and artificial superintelligence in particular, very seriously.
Government Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, which our colleague Senator Hay has kindly agreed to sponsor, is designed to make AI companies responsible for identifying and preventing the risks associated with insidious and dangerous content. As an aside, today we’re welcoming a new colleague who is very knowledgeable about AI and who will certainly help the Senate with this work.
The government has also invested $50 million to ensure that the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute has the expertise and capacity to identify risk factors and conduct transparent evaluations of the world’s most advanced models.
Senator Miville-Dechêne: Is that enough?
A Labour MP in the United Kingdom introduced a bill in Parliament earlier this month to outright ban the development of artificial superintelligence on U.K. soil in order to contain its catastrophic risks. Seventy parliamentarians, former ministers and experts with ControlAI support this initiative.
What are your thoughts on this approach?
Senator Moreau: As I understand the AI field, it’s like building a plane while flying it.
I’d like to call your attention to the Prime Minister’s speech on this matter. He pointed out that our planet is a small world, and he called on the international community to create a global body to oversee the development and progress of AI. The government believes that what we need is a comprehensive, multilateral approach, rather than seeing —
The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you, Senator Moreau.
[English]
Public Safety
Victims of Crime
Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Government leader, I will continue from where Senator Housakos left off by addressing another terrible incident. According to a recent National Post report, a man charged with sexually abusing his own daughter had his case dismissed not because the allegations were disproven but because of more than nine years of delay after he failed to appear in court in 2017.
(1930)
Senator Moreau, I’m sure you can appreciate the enormous courage it takes for victims in cases like this to come forward. What message does this send to them?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Those are unfortunate situations, but you know as well as I do that this is the consequence of a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada ensuring any person in the justice system has the right to trial in a timely manner. The problem is not only with this case but with other cases as well. The government is well aware of that, and that is the reason why we put in all the needed resources to ensure those cases have hearings in a timely manner.
There will be some situations like that. It is not the first one since the decision of the court, but the government is acting accordingly to bring the necessary resources to the Crown prosecutor.
Senator Martin: Victims should not have to come forward, wait years and then watch a serious case disappear because the system failed to move it forward. How many more victims must be failed by systemic delays before the government takes concrete action to reduce delays, improve police responsiveness and ensure victims are not left waiting for justice for years on end? This is unacceptable.
Senator Moreau: I agree with your premise: No victim should face such an unfortunate situation. The government is taking action by bringing resources to the courts and Crown prosecutors to ensure that those delays do not occur. There are also procedural techniques to ensure that those things won’t happen, and I know that the Crown prosecutors are very well aware of that.
Finance
Cost of Living
Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): A recent survey by the National Payroll Institute found that 28% of Canadians are now living paycheque to paycheque, the highest level in the last five years. Canadians are struggling under the weight of rising everyday costs, with groceries identified as the leading source of financial stress for over half of respondents. Meanwhile, Canada’s Financial Wellness Lab estimates that financial stress is costing our economy $74 billion annually in lost productivity. After 18 months in office, do you still believe your government’s economic plan is working for Canadians?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): The government made affordability for all Canadians the number one issue, with measures for all Canadians. We lowered taxes for 22 million Canadians with Bill C-4. We are cutting the consumer carbon tax and providing immediate relief for groceries with Bill C-19. We are reducing the contribution rate to the Canada Pension Plan from 9.9% to 9.5% with Bill C-30.
As for groceries, we are providing immediate relief on groceries with Bill C-19 and providing $1 billion to expand food terminals so independent grocers can buy at competitive prices. I could go on and on. For protections for vulnerable Canadians, for the housing market, for children, the government is acting on many plans, and we continue to work for Canadians to bring affordability to everyone.
Senator Martin: That was quite a list, leader, but the problem is the fact that one in four Canadians cannot cover a $500 emergency expense without taking on debt. They would certainly disagree and say what you are doing is not working. They would agree that what you are doing is not working.
Would the many parents who are now helping adult children pay rent and afford groceries agree to this long list? Why is it not working, senator? You have given me the list —
The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Moreau?
Senator Moreau: It is a long list, but, unfortunately, all Conservatives in the other place voted against all those measures. That is a shame. The government is working hard to provide Canadians with affordability, with housing possibilities. For children, for instance, we are investing $57 billion for 900,000 affordable child care spaces with Bill C-15. We are making the National School Food Program permanent for 400,000 children. I think the plan is working.
Privy Council
Youth Employment
Hon. Andrew Cardozo: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate, and it is on youth unemployment. Over the summer, some 100,000 young people received employment through the Canada Summer Jobs program. They worked in an array of jobs, learning valuable skills and contributing to the economy and society. We know that youth unemployment remains stubbornly high — twice that of the general population.
I want to focus on turning the Canada Summer Jobs program into a program that runs year-round, using the same criteria and administration as the summer program, running in every riding of the country.
Will you pass a message on to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Jobs and Families to give this matter serious consideration in their preparation of the federal budget to extend this successful program so it runs for three terms — summer, fall and winter — starting in January 2027?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): I certainly will, Senator Cardozo, and you can ask as well because we will have the Minister of Finance in the chamber in the coming days.
Youth unemployment is a structural issue of the economy that many countries face, but the government is acting, as you mentioned, to answer the concern it has heard from young Canadians through its engagement by posting 100,000 Canada Summer Jobs on Job Bank as of April 20, by expanding the Student Work Placement Program to 55,000 for work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students, by expanding the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy to 20,000, and by facilitating careers in Red Seal trades with a $75-million expansion of the Union Training and Innovation Program in Budget 2025. I’m sure the minister will gladly answer any question you might have.
Senator Cardozo: Whether or not it is within the purview of the discussion we are having, I will ask that question.
There have been proposals for other programs, including a one-year job-guaranteed national service program for young people or a beefed-up youth climate corps, which was announced in the last budget. Will the government consider developing a much more comprehensive, long-term set of policies for the decade ahead to deal with, as you put it, the structural problem of youth unemployment?
Senator Moreau: That is a very good question for the minister, since I cannot provide you with an answer as to what is coming on the government’s agenda. Certainly, the government is well aware of that situation and is working hard on youth employment. We know this is a problem that many countries face.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tlegohli Got’ine Bill
Second Reading
Hon. Pat Duncan moved second reading of Bill C-27, An Act to give effect to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tlegohli Got’ine and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
She said: Honourable senators, as we gather today on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg, I am mindful of all Indigenous Peoples who have been guardians of this land and all who have walked upon it for millennia.
It is with a deep sense of respect, gratitude and a profound responsibility that I rise today to speak as the Senate sponsor of the legislation that will give legal force to the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę self-government agreement, Bill C-27.
May I begin with gratitude and an expression of thanks to the People of the Sahtu region, Elders, leaders and families and the community of Norman Wells. Thank you for your trust, for building relationships and for your resilience through a lengthy process.
The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę members worked alongside Government of Canada and Northwest Territories public servants. Most especially, let me take a moment to honour Shannon Shannon, a former federal negotiator whose recent passing is felt deeply by all who worked with her. Shannon brought compassion, empathy and unwavering commitment to the negotiations throughout her many years of working with all parties.
(1940)
May I also give thanks to my Northern colleagues in the Senate, Senator Dawn Anderson and Senator Nancy Karetak-Lindell, for this opportunity to speak on behalf of the North, most especially our Yukon neighbours in Norman Wells with whom we share the history of the Canol Road.
The Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę refer to themselves as the “people where the oil is.”
The Canol Road was built to construct a pipeline to carry high-quality oil from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, southwest to a refinery in Whitehorse, Yukon, completed on December 31, 1943.
The northern portion of this road starts in Ross River in the Yukon — the traditional territory of the Kaska Dena — crosses the Pelly River and, 222 kilometres later, is the border with the Northwest Territories.
From the Yukon-Northwest Territories border, the now Canol Heritage Trail travels 350 kilometres to the Mackenzie River. This area is recognized in the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement.
Our lived experiences shape our approach to all that we do. As a member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, I supported the legislation enacting the Little Salmon/Carmacks, Selkirk and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in final and self-government agreements. As Premier of the Yukon, I was the signatory to the Ta’an Kwach’an Council Self-Government Agreement. My remarks at the signing ceremony first and foremost recognized the First Nations Elders and negotiators and the Yukon negotiators and government leaders who preceded me: Tony Penikett, John Ostashek and Piers McDonald.
Our party platform in the 2000 election campaign had pledged to continue the work of settling land claims throughout the Yukon. The Ta’an Kwäch’än was the eighth First Nation of the 14 Yukon First Nations to sign a land claim in the territory.
In the weeks following the signing of the self-government agreement with the Ta’an Kwäch’än, I delivered a cheque to the First Nations office for their share of the royalties from the Kotaneelee gas fields in southeast Yukon, which is geographically far southwest of Norman Wells.
Permit me the opportunity to share a little Land Claims 101 with those unfamiliar with the process.
Yukon First Nations, Canada and the Yukon government signed the Umbrella Final Agreement in 1993. Yukon First Nations negotiate their individual land claims and self-government agreements under the Umbrella Final Agreement.
The Umbrella Final Agreement contains several main topics from which all of the remaining topics flow. These include land in Chapter 9, compensation monies in Chapter 19 and self-government in Chapter 24, and there is Chapter 12. Chapter 12 is the origin of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act, or YESAA, process.
The federal YESAA received Royal Assent in 2003, coming into effect in 2005.
We continue to see references to this federal legislation here in the Senate.
This act and that of the Yukon government in keeping with the Umbrella Final Agreement constitutes the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board, or YESAB. YESAB works within a system that recognizes Yukon First Nations as governments with distinct rights, interests and responsibilities.
YESAB engages with Yukon First Nations throughout the assessment of all projects, including projects like mines and bridge replacements. YESAB recognizes the role of transboundary Indigenous governments. In a September 23 media advisory, it indicates that YESAB has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mackenzie Valley Review Board.
Colleagues, this understanding recognizing this legislation — YESAA, the final and self-government agreements — recognizes the role of self-governing First Nations. It is clearly a work-in-progress in Canada.
I remind members of a time frame reference: The Umbrella Final Agreement was signed in 1993. Twenty years later, the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act — a chapter called for in the agreement — was passed.
The Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement includes the communities of Colville Lake, Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells and Tulita in the Northwest Territories. The agreement was signed in 1993 and brought into force in 1994.
The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act was first passed in 1998. Please note these dates, not because there is a quiz but simply for the context of the details of the agreements and the length of time for negotiation and ratification by the people and the references to resource development.
Going forward, these comprehensive agreements and the Umbrella Final Agreement fundamentally reshaped the relationships between Canada, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories governments and First Nations in the Yukon as well as the Dene and Métis in the Northwest Territories and later with Nunavut and the Inuit throughout the North.
These comprehensive agreements are not easily achieved and are truly comprehensive. Their details brought certainty to many discussions, including that of land and resource management and membership in the nation that determines eligibility for participation in the benefits that accrue to the First Nation within the land claim agreement. It’s Chapter 4 of the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement that discusses membership.
You will recall the Umbrella Final Agreement in the Yukon was signed in 1993. There are 14 First Nations included in that agreement. Thirty-three years later, 11 concluded their final, including self-government agreements.
You will recall that I noted the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement received Royal Assent in 1994.
There are five self-government agreements envisioned under this comprehensive claim. The first agreement is the Déline Final Self-Government Agreement, which was sponsored by Senator Tannas in this chamber and received Royal Assent in June 2015.
The second, the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, signed a framework agreement in 2007. And a dozen years later, in 2019, they completed their work with an agreement in principle on their self-government agreement. Consultations were conducted between May 2023 and October 2024.
Colleagues, the importance of true consultation cannot be understated. Consultation is not simply checking a box on a form that you were in the community for a period of time or that you met with leadership.
Comprehensive consultation consistent with the principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP, took place for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę with 30 Indigenous groups over 16 months.
The next step in the process of acceptance of the individual land claims and self-government agreements is ratification by the membership.
Membership, as I noted before, is outlined in Chapter 4 of the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. Membership of Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę are not all located in Norman Wells. They are throughout Canada, including some in my home territory of the Yukon.
Ratification is not simply providing members with a ballot.
Not voting is considered a “no” vote to the agreement, and the threshold for acceptance is very high. In order to secure the vote, members of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę negotiating team travelled to all the communities where the membership resides in Canada, visiting, drinking tea and explaining the claim and seeking support. The self-government agreement was ratified on March 31, 2025, with an absolute majority.
What does it mean to have a self-government agreement in place? What difference will it make to a community?
Colleagues, I have struggled to truly articulate the difference that a self-government agreement makes to the people, to the territory and to society. Words like “profound” and “foundational” hardly begin to describe what a difference it makes to people.
It is not like turning a switch and suddenly the light comes on and everyone understands and appreciates one another. Self-government agreements within our 150-year young country are very much a work-in-progress that requires effort and patience and understanding on the part of everyone.
Senators will recall that I mentioned signing the Ta’an Kwach’an Council Self-Government Agreement. I reached out to the current Chief Ruth Massie to ask her 20-plus years later what self-government means to her First Nation. I took the opportunity to actually look at the agreement I had signed, and I noted that of all the First Nations witnesses, Chief Ruth Massie was the first. I asked her what it has meant to her community. Quoting with permission, she used words and phrases like “independence,” “solve our own issues within our own government,” “you answer to your own community” and “a really big difference because you can have programs when your abilities to engage in conversation confirm the direction taken by Chief and council.”
(1950)
In the Yukon, it has been over 30 years since the Umbrella Final Agreement was first signed. Today, it includes government-to-government-to-government relationships. The Council of Yukon First Nations, the leadership of the First Nations, the Yukon government represented by the governing party in the legislature and the Government of Canada meet quarterly in an intergovernmental forum.
On September 2, 2026, 21 and 24 years after reaching their land claim agreements, leaders from the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the City of Whitehorse gathered at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre for a meeting of the Tri-Council Assembly.
The meeting was described as providing an opportunity for leaders of the three governments to discuss shared priorities and emerging issues, coordinate engagement with territorial and federal partners and celebrate the successes of collaboration for the people of Whitehorse.
The implementation of self-government agreements, like the negotiation of the agreements themselves, is about relationship building. It takes time. It takes effort.
The self-government agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę has taken a very long time. Proceeding to Royal Assent in a timely, expeditious manner is a respectful and honourable request.
It has taken years to negotiate these agreements and considerable discussion. Time was taken to reach a vote. Are people ready and prepared for this act to be implemented and to give life and meaning to a self-government agreement?
I took the opportunity to discuss the implementation of the self-government agreement with the President of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government Inc., Sherry Hodgson. Their self-government agreement has an implementation plan that will take place over a two-year period. Ms. Hodgson intends to remain as president during this time, and those involved in the negotiation intend to stay on and work with the council.
Bill C-27, upon Royal Assent, will give effect to the final self‑government agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, enabling profound change for Norman Wells and other communities over time as the implementation takes effect.
There are also consequential amendments to other acts in Bill C-27, including amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act.
Colleagues, allow me to remind you of the beginning of my address this evening and my reference to the Canol Road.
The Canol Road was built to construct a pipeline from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, southwest to Whitehorse, Yukon. It was completed on December 31, 1943, and oil flowed in the pipeline in 1944 until April 1, 1945.
The Canol Road in the Yukon and Northwest Territories was an American initiative on Canadian soil to support their defence efforts in Alaska. It was built to support a pipeline from Norman Wells in the Northwest Territories to a refinery in Whitehorse, Yukon. The level of discussion about a right-of-way, the environment or the impact on the people that lived in the North would have been conducted with Ottawa, 4,000 or more miles away. We used miles at that time.
Today, the Canol Road at the Yukon-Northwest Territories border is a site of a world-class tungsten deposit. I had an opportunity to attend that camp this summer right on the border. It is of tremendous interest. I also noted at the facility of the camp that I was visiting the presence of a First Nation Elder and that the camp included non-specific, gender-inclusive washrooms. It is a far cry from what it was many years ago.
Imperial Oil, the source of the oil for the pipeline, began the extraction of oil in Norman Wells in 1919. It ceased production on September 1 this year.
In an article entitled “After a Century of Oil Extraction: Reclaiming the River at Norman Wells” by Annie King of the Yellowhead Institute, it is stated:
In the 1980s, against the wishes of local people, the oilfield underwent a massive expansion, which included the construction of six artificial islands in the middle of the Mackenzie River.
The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act was passed by Canada in 1998. In order to fully exercise their rights under this and other acts that affect development in their traditional territory in the Northwest Territories, the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę must be recognized as a self-governing First Nation. That will be accomplished only upon Royal Assent to this legislation.
Senators, all eyes, including our own, are turned to the North, witnessing the development of resources and the infrastructure to support their development. The recognition of self-governments and the government-to-government-to-government relationship is fundamental to our honourable behaviour as legislators.
Fundamentally, it is an expression of appreciation of the Indigenous guardians of the land and all those who have walked upon it for millennia. It upholds the Constitution, specifically section 35, recognizes the rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP, and, most especially, lives up to our commitment to reconciliation.
Colleagues, this agreement was ratified by the membership of the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, passed by the duly elected members of the Northwest Territories legislature and reviewed and passed by the House of Commons. In light of this democratic process and with the principles I have noted above, I ask the Senate for its concurrent, expeditious review of Bill C-27.
Mahsi’cho. Gùnáłchîsh. Thank you.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.
Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Will Senator Duncan take a question?
Senator Duncan: Certainly.
Senator Martin: First of all, thank you for your speech. It allowed me to understand the process a little bit more, which, as you say, has been decades in the making. I just want you to know that the Conservatives really understand the importance of the long-negotiated and community-ratified agreement.
I am the critic of this bill, but I have to tell the chamber that I wasn’t able to get a technical briefing, so your speech today was helpful. I understand the importance of the agreement and all the different people you have named — the Dene, the Métis, the Inuit of the North and the Northwest Territories legislature — and everyone who has been a part of this process.
I was doing some reading about the Norman Wells community and the wider community impacted by this agreement. There are long-standing northern families. I’m curious: Are these northern families part of the groups that you have named, or are they people who have been there but are not part of a nation? They are just described as long-standing northern families.
It also talks about international workers who are part of the Filipino community. Once enacted by us, how is this arrangement, with all of the different people who will be impacted, expected to foster practical economic opportunities, such as local employment, business development and participation in major projects for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę citizens and the wider community, including others that I have named? I’m curious how this agreement will impact the wider community.
Senator Duncan: Thank you very much for the question. That truly references government-to-government relationships. The Government of the Northwest Territories, for example, would introduce an employment program. You talked about employment. They would consult with communities, and that’s where the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę, or TGG, would also work with any elected government in the community of Norman Wells and put their voice forward. That’s where it is government to government to government. That’s where the wider community, which is not represented by the TGG, would be represented by their local government, either through members of their legislative assembly or their community. That’s the importance of recognizing that it is government-to-government-to-government relationships. That’s where the wider communities are represented.
Senator Martin: Okay. Thank you.
(2000)
You mentioned Sherry Hodgson. I remember being on the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples early in my Senate work. There was a self-government agreement that had taken over 20 years. It was historic. I’m trying to remember exactly what it was. Former senator Gerry St. Germain was the chair at the time.
What I remember is that, from the beginning to that moment of it being studied at committee — and we did adopt the bill without amendments — there was only one person there from the beginning who was still at the table.
So, it has taken this long, but are you confident that, with respect to the transition and leadership, there are people like Sherry and others who will be able to see the successful implementation of this agreement?
Senator Duncan: Thank you again, Senator Martin.
That is why I specifically brought that forward. It is important that the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę have recognized the implementation. It is well and good to sign the agreement, but what happens next? Are we ready? They have a two-year implementation plan in their agreement. That is a critical point, and it must be recognized.
I also have to give tribute to Ms. Hodgson, who took the time to have a lengthy conversation with me and explain that she was prepared to stay on through that implementation process. I understand there are other officials who work with the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government, or TGG, who also intend to stay on.
Senator Martin: As I said, I didn’t get my technical briefing, but your speech really speaks to the importance and urgency of what we are doing.
I am not speaking at second reading; I guess this is my brief second reading speech. I would be prepared to call the question.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
(Motion agreed to and bill read second time.)
Referred to Committee
The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the third time?
(On motion of Senator Duncan, bill referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples.)
Business of the Senate
Hon. Percy E. Downe: Your Honour, could you provide me with clarification on something? In my time here, I have always understood that when a minister appears for Question Period, any question is allowed. However, with respect to when a minister appears before the Committee of the Whole on a specific bill — as is happening in a few days with the Minister of Finance regarding Bill C-38, I believe — could you advise me on whether questions are allowed on topics other than that bill when the minister is here? If so, I have some questions for the Minister of Finance that have nothing to do with that bill.
Might you have an answer now? If not, could you please advise us before we have the Committee of the Whole?
The Hon. the Speaker: Would any other senators like to intervene? If not, I will take the question under advisement. Thank you.
Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-13(2), I move:
That the Senate do now adjourn.
The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
(At 8:05 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)