Journals of the Senate

The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPattersonPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AdlerAl ZaibakAndersonArnoldArnotAtaullahjanAucoinAudetteBattersBernardBlackBoehmBoudreauBoyerBrazeauBureyBussonCardozoCarignanClementCormierCoyleCuznerDalphondDaskoDeacon (Ontario)DeanDhillonDowneDuncanForestFrancisFridhandlerGagnéGerbaGignacGreenwoodHarderHayHébertHenkelHousakosKaretak-LindellKingstonKlyneLaBoucane-BensonLewisLoffredaMacAdamMacDonaldManningMartinMcBeanMcCallumMcNairMcPhedranMiville-DechêneMohamedMoncionMoodieMoreauMuggliOslerOudarPattersonPettenProsperPupatelloQuinnRavaliaRinguetteRobinsonRossSaint-GermainSeniorSimonsSuretteTannasVaroneVernerWallinWells (Alberta)WhiteWilsonWooYouanceYussuff

The first list records senators present in the Senate Chamber during the course of the sitting.

An asterisk in the second list indicates a senator who, while not present during the sitting, was in attendance to business, as defined in subsections 8(2) and (3) of the Senators Attendance Policy.

PRAYERS

Senators’ Statements

Tributes

Tribute was paid to the Honourable Senator Dasko, who will retire from the Senate on August 19, 2026.

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., presented the following:

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

The Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators has the honour to present its

FIRST REPORT

Your committee, which is responsible on its own initiative for all matters relating to the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, pursuant to rule 12-7(3) of the Rules of the Senate, now recommends:

(1) that subsection 17(1) of the Code be replaced with the following:

“17(1) Neither a Senator, nor a family member, shall accept, directly or indirectly, any gift or other benefit, except compensation authorized by law, that could reasonably be seen to have been given to influence the Senator in the exercise of a duty or function of their office.”

Currently, subsection 17(1) of the Code prohibits senators and their family members from accepting “any gift or other benefit, except compensation authority by law, that could reasonably be considered to relate to the Senator’s position.” The Code provides an exception to this rule for gifts or other benefits “received as a normal expression of courtesy or protocol, or within the customary standards of hospitality that normally accompany the Senator’s position.”

Your committee is of the view that the equivalent rule in the House of Commons is more aligned with the realities facing senators in the discharge of their duties and functions. Section 14 of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons provides that members of that house cannot accept “any gift or other benefit, except compensation authorized by law, that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence the member in the exercise of a duty or function of his or her office.”

Aligning the Code with the equivalent House of Commons rule would enable senators to more freely take part in activities and events where token gifts or benefits may be offered that could not reasonably be construed as having the potential to influence them in the exercise of their duties or functions.

(2) that subsection 23(2) of the Code be replaced with the following:

“(2) Any opinion provided by the Senate Ethics Officer at the request of a Senator in respect of subsection (1) is an opinion within the meaning of paragraphs 31(1)(e) and (f).”

Your committee heard that subsection 23(2) of the Code, as it is currently drafted, includes redundancies and is unclear. The Senate Ethics Officer has suggested this technical amendment to make it clearer that the provision of a written opinion in relation to participation in a government program is possible under the Code and any opinion provided would be made public in a public disclosure summary. Your committee agrees that the language of subsection 23(2) should be simplified accordingly.

(3) that the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be instructed to update the consolidation of the Code as soon as practicable to reflect these amendments and be empowered, in updating the consolidation, to renumber the provisions as necessary and to correct any grammatical or typographical errors, as well as to make any other changes of a non-substantive nature that may be required. The consolidation will be available on the website of the Senate Ethics Officer.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Senior, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, presented the committee’s fourth report (Bill S-219, An Act to establish Judicial Independence Day, without amendment).

The Honourable Senator White moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Francis, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Government Notices of Motions

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan:

That the Address of the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P., at the Installation of the Right Honourable Louise Arbour as Governor General of Canada on June 8, 2026, together with the reply of Her Excellency the Governor General thereto, be printed as an appendix to the Journals of the Senate of this day and form part of the permanent records of this house.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-32, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Duncan, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

A message was brought from the House of Commons with Bill C-33, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, to which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Moreau, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Introduction and First Reading of Senate Public Bills

The Honourable Senator Housakos introduced Bill S-249, An Act respecting Christian Heritage Month.

The bill was read the first time.

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading two days hence.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Tabling of Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

The Honourable Senator Aucoin tabled the following:

Report of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association, Mission to France, Paris, France, from March 4 to 8, 2024.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1143.

Report of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association, 80th D-Day Anniversary, Juno Beach, Normandy, France, from June 2 to 8, 2024.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1144.

Report of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association, 50th Annual Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Quebec, from September 1 to 6, 2025.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1145.

Report of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association, 9th Conference of Paris, Paris, France, from December 15 to 17, 2025.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1146.

Question Period

The Senate proceeded to Question Period.

Orders of the Day

A message was brought from the House of Commons to return Bill S-228, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sterilization procedures),

And to acquaint the Senate that the Commons has passed this bill, without amendment.

Government Business

Bills – Third Reading

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice:

1.pursuant to rule 10-11(1), the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs be authorized to examine the subject matter of Bill C-16, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to criminal and correctional matters (child protection, gender-based violence, delays and other measures), introduced in the House of Commons on December 9, 2025, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate; and

2.for the purposes of its study, the committee be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, with the application of rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) being suspended in relation thereto.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.

Inquiries

Orders No. 1 and 2 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Third Reading

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Third reading of Bill S-215, An Act respecting National Immigration Month.

The Honourable Senator Gerba moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hay, that the bill be read for the third time.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The bill was then read for the third time.

Ordered, That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House that the Senate has passed this bill, to which it desires its concurrence.

o o o

Order No. 3 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Klyne, seconded by the Honourable Senator Audette, for the second reading of Bill S-239, An Act to amend the Competition Act.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The bill was then read for the second time.

The Honourable Senator Klyne moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Muggli, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

Orders No. 13, 14 and 15 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Second reading of Bill S-248, An Act respecting Caribbean Heritage Month.

The Honourable Senator Senior moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Clement, that the bill be read for the second time.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The bill was then read for the second time.

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Commons Public Bills – Second Reading

Second reading of Bill C-225, An Act to amend the Criminal Code.

The Honourable Senator Manning moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin, that the bill be read for the second time.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The bill was then read for the second time.

The Honourable Senator Manning moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan, that the bill be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

Order No. 2 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Orders No. 14, 19, 20, 24, 26, 29 and 30 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Motions

Order No. 3 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Woo, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boyer:

That the Senate call on the Government of Canada to create a national strategy to engage Canadians abroad.

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, for the Honourable Senator Martin, seconded by the Honourable Senator MacDonald, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

Orders No. 5 and 7 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Moodie, calling the attention of the Senate to the need for the safe and productive development and use of artificial intelligence in Canada.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Kingston moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

Orders No. 2, 3, 5, 8, 11 and 12 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

o o o

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Cardozo, calling the attention of the Senate to National Flag of Canada Day and the extra relevance of our flag given the current geopolitical situation.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator White moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gerba, that further debate on the inquiry be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

Orders No. 16 and 17 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator McPhedran moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Arnold:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be authorized to examine and report on the means of increasing democratic inclusion and strengthening democratic resilience, with attention to the possible expansion of the right to vote under section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states: “Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein.”;

That, in particular, the committee examine:

1.the constitutional and legislative evolution of the right to vote in Canada, and the alignment of current requirements with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canada’s international human rights obligations, within the context of potential franchise expansion;

2.the ways of removing barriers to democratic inclusion faced by First Nations, Métis and Inuit, Black, gender-diverse, racialized and other marginalized youth, and the potential impact of their inclusion on democracy in Canada;

3.the information available on voting or other participatory decision-making arrangements in Canada and other jurisdictions that include members younger than 18;

4.the administrative and operational readiness of federal election machinery to support the possible enfranchisement of younger citizens, including voter registration and information systems, the National Register of Electors and the National Register of Future Electors; and

5.the evidence on strategies to foster lifelong democratic participation, including the integration of effective civic literacy within education systems and digital environments;

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit 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; and

That the committee submit its final report on this study to the Senate no later than March 31, 2027, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Gignac moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Aucoin:

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy in relation to its study on access to credit and capital markets for small- and medium-sized enterprises as the basis for growth and improved productivity in the Canadian economy be extended from June 30, 2026, to October 31, 2026.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Petten:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

(Accordingly, at 6:20 p.m., the Senate was continued until tomorrow at 2 p.m.)

DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)

Report of the Chief of Defence Staff on the National Sex Offender Registry for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the National Defence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-5, s. 227.171.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1130.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-31 of the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1131.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-27 to 2030-31 of VIA HFR – VIA TGF Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1132.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-27 to 2030-31 of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1133.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-27 to 2030-31 of the Standards Council of Canada, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1134.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-27 to 2030-31 of the Business Development Bank of Canada, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1135.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-27 to 2030-31 of Defence Construction (1951) Limited, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1136.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-27 to 2030-31 of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1137.

Summaries of the Corporate Plan and Budgets for 2026-27 to 2030-31 of The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1138.

Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, entitled Supplementary Estimates (A), 2026-27, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 79.2(2).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1139.

Actuarial Report supplementing the revised Actuarial Report of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions on the Canada Pension Plan dated December 31, 2024, pursuant to the Canada Pension Plan, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-8, s. 115.—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1140.

Report on the administration of the Atlantic Fisheries Restructuring Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, pursuant to the Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-14, sbs. 8(1).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1141.

Annual Report of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians for the year 2025, pursuant to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act, S.C. 2017, c. 15, sbs. 21(1) and (6).—Sessional Paper No. 1/45-1142.

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

The Honourable Senator Oudar replaced the Honourable Senator Hébert (June 9, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Senator Prosper replaced the Honourable Senator Osler (June 5, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Honourable Senator Ross replaced the Honourable Senator Al Zaibak (June 9, 2026).

Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

The Honourable Senator Mohamed replaced the Honourable Senator MacAdam (June 5, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

The Honourable Senator Moncion replaced the Honourable Senator Pate (June 5, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Prosper replaced the Honourable Senator Aucoin (June 5, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

The Honourable Senator Kingston replaced the Honourable Senator Oudar (June 9, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Oudar replaced the Honourable Senator Kingston (June 5, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Senator Ross replaced the Honourable Senator Al Zaibak (June 9, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Ravalia replaced the Honourable Senator Boehm (June 9, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Hay replaced the Honourable Senator Henkel (June 8, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Henkel replaced the Honourable Senator Hay (June 8, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Patterson replaced the Honourable Senator Ince (June 5, 2026).

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

The Honourable Senator Patterson replaced the Honourable Senator Ross (June 9, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Oudar replaced the Honourable Senator Hébert (June 5, 2026).

The Honourable Senator Ross replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson (June 5, 2026).

APPENDIX

Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada,
the Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P.

On the installation of the 31st Governor General of Canada

Your Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour,
the Right Honourable Mary Simon and Whit Fraser,
the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada,
former governors general,
former prime ministers,
Indigenous leaders,
and distinguished guests.

As Elder Verna McGregor reminded us, this place holds history.

As part of the traditional lands of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg peoples, through time immemorial.

As the start of the Rideau Canal, which transformed commerce during the 19th century.

As the place where Canadian soldiers embarked for the battlefields of the First World War, including Vimy Ridge, where many felt Canada became an independent nation.

As the train station where Sir Winston Churchill arrived to rally Allied support when the outcome of the Second World War hung in the balance.

As the building where Canada’s first ministers gathered for negotiations that led to the repatriation of our Constitution, the establishment of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the enshrinement of Indigenous rights in it.

Important chapters in Canadian history have been written here. Moments of sacrifice and leadership. Moments that have helped to build our country.

Today, as the home of the Senate of Canada, this building is where the decisions that will shape the next chapters in our history are debated, refined, and given sober second thought.

Throughout Canada’s history, whenever the world’s fortunes were threatened, Canadians chose to step up and assert ourselves as a sovereign, ambitious, and compassionate nation.

We are once again living through one of those hinge moments of history.

Which is why, a year ago, His Majesty King Charles III came here to open our Parliament.

Which is why respect for our institutions is vital.

Which is why we are each called to share each other’s perspectives and work for our common good.

As of today, His Majesty will have a new representative in Canada.

Canada will have a new Commander-in-Chief and a new guardian of the constitutional order.

Today, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour is becoming the 31st Governor General of Canada.

The Crown is the continuous thread through our constitutional life. It is, as His Majesty himself said in this very building, “a symbol of Canada today, in all her richness and dynamism”.

The Governor General is the guardian of our constitutional order, a symbol of unity, and above all, a steward of our commitment to peace, order, and good government.

Canadians entrust the Governor General to defend our institutions.

To uphold our core values of liberty, fairness, solidarity, and sustainability.

To represent our ambition to build a stronger, fairer country for all.

These duties call for sound judgment, deep learning, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.

The very principles upon which our new Governor General, Her Excellency Louise Arbour, has built her exceptional career.

Her Excellency has served at the pinnacle of Canada’s judiciary, including at the Supreme Court of Canada.

However, her legacy is not limited to the work she has done on the bench.

Some of her most notable achievements as a jurist have taken place outside of Canadian courtrooms.

As High Commissioner, she urged the United Nations’ human rights system to be worthy of the people it claimed to serve.

She gave voice to those who were denied dignity, in places where the powerful preferred silence.

At every stage of her distinguished career, Her Excellency Louise Arbour has defended and promoted justice, dignity, and equality.

In The Hague, where her work held the most powerful to account.

At the United Nations, where she defended the most vulnerable.

In Canada, where across academia, our highest courts, and public service, she upheld justice for all.

For over 50 years, in every role that she has held, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour has always had the same conviction.

The conviction that, in order for a society to be free, its institutions must be held to account.

That the law is what stands between the most powerful and the most disadvantaged.

That the dignity of every human being should not depend on random factors like geography, citizenship, or convenience.

And that Canada’s role in the world is to put these principles into practice and to help other countries to do the same.

The Governor General is the steward of the values we cherish, of the democracy we celebrate, of the constitution that protects our freedoms, and of the institutions that promote them.

In fulfilling these tasks, Her Excellency will represent the best of Canada to Canadians and to the world.

A Canada that is a bastion of justice, security, and prosperity for all.

A Canada that is a beacon to a world at sea.

A Canada that is clear-eyed about the challenges we face and steadfast in the values we uphold.

A Canada that is not just strong, but good.

A Canada that is not just prosperous, but fair.

Your Excellency, on behalf of the Government of Canada and of all Canadians, thank you for agreeing to take on this new role — for the good of Canada.

And now, it gives me great pleasure to welcome the 31st Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Louise Arbour.

Installation Speech from Her Excellency
the Right Honourable Louise Arbour,
31st Governor General of Canada

Prime Minister,
Honourable Judges of the Supreme Court,
Honourable Senators, Ministers, Members of Parliament,
Distinguished Indigenous Chiefs,
Dear Canadians,

I am deeply honoured to stand before you here today. These halls were built on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation, a proud people who have cared for these lands and enriched them with their culture for millennia.

We are gathered today in this Senate Chamber, where careful scrutiny is applied to the laws that will shape our future.

Like the Supreme Court of Canada and the House of Commons, the Senate contributes to the dialogue through which Canadian democracy is expressed.

I want to thank Prime Minister Carney, and His Majesty King Charles III, for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve another great Canadian institution in a new role over the coming years.

I also wish to thank the Right Honourable Mary Simon for her remarkable service.

Her Excellency stood with Canadians through defining moments — from the COVID-19 pandemic to periods of economic strain and profound shifts in the global landscape.

Her tenure as Canada’s first Indigenous governor general will be viewed by history as both significant and timely. I admire the hand that Her Excellency has extended to all Canadians. She has reminded us that reconciliation is a lifelong journey that begins with listening and with empathy.

Listening to voices that challenge our understanding of history.

Listening to Indigenous environmental and spiritual knowledge, deeply sophisticated yet long overlooked.

Listening to languages unfamiliar to many of us, that have resonated from coast to coast to coast for centuries.

And embracing a future in which First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples are no longer cast aside.

For my part, I have learned the importance of understanding differing points of view, both through my education and throughout my professional life. In fact, I have experienced both the comfort and discomfort of homogeneity.

I grew up in Montréal in a comfortably homogenous environment.

I grew up in uniform, educated exclusively by women: my mother and the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame. Until the age of 20, I was surrounded by classmates who were all Francophone, white, Catholic girls, just like me.

I then worked in another largely homogenous environment — one that was predominantly Anglophone and male-dominated. And despite the promise I made to myself at age 20 to never again wear a uniform, I donned my judge’s robe without the slightest inkling of the surprises life has in store for us.

I then had the incredible opportunity to work abroad. I discovered the richness of the connections to be made with people with whom we thought we had nothing in common.

My work, both as a judge and in service to the international community, exposed me to a wide range of perspectives. The same is true of the privilege I had of living abroad and working in countries that are vastly different from Canada. I have seen regions ravaged by war and poverty, where people, like all of us, yearn to live with dignity, in peace and security.

I have always been struck by the fact that, after all, everything is a matter of perspective.

I remember standing outside the United Nations headquarters in New York in the 1990s, confronted with my own biases. I came across a group of Chinese tourists and asked a young woman about her impressions of the city. She replied: “It is so old!” I was surprised.

Then I realized I had been projecting a story onto her, imagining her as coming from a civilization of centuries-old splendour, gazing out at a vibrant city in a younger country. In reality, she was more likely born in futuristic Shenzhen or Shanghai, glittering metropolises of glass towers.

There I was, looking at New York, looking at her, and making assumptions.

Perspective is everything.

I look at Canada through the eyes of someone who has known it both up close and from afar, always with admiration. A country that is not afraid to reinvent itself.

Our future is our shared project, a project that calls on us to balance the many perspectives that shape our collective identity.

We do not all share the same understanding of our history.

Nor do we all share the same origins. We, or our ancestors, come from all over the world.

Peoples have always travelled. I am thinking in particular of Inuit families, who have always traversed the vast expanse of the Arctic.

Humanity has always sought to go further, to push the boundaries. And to go higher, as our Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen did on his mission into space.

How could anyone be anything other than awestruck by the thought that he set his eyes on places no other human being had ever seen before?

I say this with confidence: let us not slow our momentum toward progress out of fear of differences.

Extreme polarization is dangerous — but so is extreme consensus.

It is through our differences, and our fundamental right to express them, that we will nourish critical thinking, creativity and innovation. It is through our differences that we will build our common future.

As Canadians, we have the extraordinary privilege of living in a mature democracy. We benefit from strong institutions that allow different views to be expressed.

We must continue to protect the public space in which our national debates take place: from schools and universities to the media, political parties, unions and civil society organizations. From theatres,concert halls and museums to courtrooms and the floors of our legislative assemblies.

The peaceful management of our differences is nowhere better expressed than in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter guarantees that our cherished individual rights are subject only to the reasonable limits necessary for life in a free and peaceful democracy.

This is what it means to live under the rule of law. In an open society like ours, the purpose of law is not to restrain, but to construct a greater freedom for all.

We have a constitutional and cultural framework that allows us to imagine, to explore, to innovate, to experiment.

Our humour is grounded in self-deprecation. We believe in leading as a team. We do not mistake humility for weakness, nor do we measure a person’s worth by the thickness of their wallet.

We don’t think we are perfect, but we believe we are pretty well on the way there.

We have a remarkable capacity to pause, to examine our failures and to learn from them. When we do, we seek to understand, not just to blame.

And we know we are not yet doing enough — not enough for each other, let alone for the billions around the world who look at us with justifiable envy.

Our country covers nearly 7% of the world’s land mass and holds 20% of its freshwater — yet we make up just half a percent of its population.

We have the talent and the resources the world will need most in the decades ahead.

Young Canadians are citizens of the world — they are well educated, with both a deep climate awareness and remarkable digital literacy. Yet not all of them are able to reach their full potential as they face the headwinds of inequality. In that, we are failing them. It is our shared responsibility to correct course.

The better we advance our common project to build a great future for Canada, the greater our influence on the world will be. And for that, our ambition must be bold and sustained.

To help Canada reach its full potential, we must adopt a new perspective — one that is ambitious and confident — on ourselves and our place in the world of tomorrow.

Some of you may have heard the parable of the three stonemasons.

A traveller comes across three stonemasons at work and asks, “What are you doing?”

The first replies, “I’m cutting stones.” The second says, “I’m building a wall.”

The third replies, “I’m building a cathedral.”

I know that it can be difficult to feel as though you are part of the ambitious project of building the Canada of tomorrow.

We all get caught up in the busyness of our day-to-day lives: meeting the demands of our children, of our colleagues, grappling with the cost of living.

But the fact remains that each and every one of us, in our own way, is helping to shape what Canada will become.

Our country is our shared work. So, too, is our influence on the world.

Our expertise already positions us among global leaders in many fields — from ethical artificial intelligence to clean technologies, and from creative industries to medical research.

The new technologies at our disposal are more powerful than ever — highly attractive and widely accessible.

But we must ensure that their convenience does not lead us to overlook the profound societal shifts they are driving.

With instant access to vast amounts of information, it is very tempting to pay little attention to the reliability of sources.

The lines between knowledge and belief, between truth and falsehood, between facts and assumptions, are increasingly blurred. AI could be threatening not only the way we live and work, but also the control we exercise over our own destiny.

Yet these challenges are not insurmountable.

If we remain vigilant, we can meet them — with public institutions that remain trustworthy, a strong education system at every level, sustained investment in science, research and development, and a private sector that upholds the standards of integrity that Canadians expect.

I would now like to speak to young Canadians in particular.

Right now, you are starting to build the world in which your children will grow up. Your first task is to build yourselves: learn, explore, dream, but also listen, pause, take a step back.

Like the generations before you, you have at your disposal tools that didn’t exist when your parents were born. Surprise us.

And don’t underestimate how lucky you are to grow up here, even if you’re rightly concerned about the major challenges of our time: the health of our planet, the inequitable distribution of wealth, the violence of armed conflicts.

But trust in yourselves. Canada offers you tremendous freedom and possibilities.

The world is watching the country that we are building together.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan often spoke of the three pillars of the United Nations: security, development and human rights.

He stressed that there can be no security without development, no development without security, and neither without the protection of human rights.

This is as true in Canada as it is everywhere else.

As we undertake major initiatives to strengthen our security and grow our economy, including in the Arctic, we must remain attentive to the rights of those directly affected and we must always ensure a fair sharing of both burdens and benefits.

Our collective security rests, above everything else, on the trust that we place in each other.

Of course, I cannot speak about security without recognizing the vital contribution of the Canadian Armed Forces to peace, stability and security — both around the world and here at home when there are times of great hardship.

I recently came across a remark by General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, who described the Forces as long-standing “exporters of security.” I think today, those vital efforts are complemented by a renewed focus on defending our own vast territory.

To our uniformed members, I express my deepest gratitude for your service, professionalism and commitment to excellence. And I stand with your families, who share in the sacrifices that this commitment entails.

I am very encouraged to see recruitment efforts bearing fruit, with more Canadians — from diverse genders, backgrounds and perspectives — choosing to serve.

Significant progress is also being made within the Forces to foster inclusion with dignity. Building on a proud tradition of respect and honour, this continued modernization will, over time, strengthen effectiveness and morale. It will also enhance your capacity by better reflecting the country you are called to protect.

It is a profound honour for me to assume the role of commander-in-chief of Canada.

As I take on my new role, I am mindful of the privilege given to me to go out and meet with Canadians across this country and to discover the wealth of ideas and ideals that inspire them.

I am preparing myself to be surprised and to confront my own stereotypes and unconscious biases, like that day when a young Chinese woman made me smile when she remarked that everything in New York was old. I can’t wait to learn and share with you my thoughts on the joy of discovering others.

And when I am called upon to represent Canada beyond our borders or to welcome foreign dignitaries here at home, it is this diversity of Canadian voices that I intend to showcase.

I hope that each day, I will be able to embody the spirit of empathy that lies at the heart of our great reconciliation project.

Together, we can harness our extraordinary resources, the breadth of our talent, our collective know-how and our boundless imagination.

The world is watching us, not to copy everything we do, but to draw inspiration from a country striving to embrace the future with greater security, prosperity and dignity for all.

Thank you.