SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Support for Syria

Honourable senators, I was born in Syria, and I know what it means to love a country and to watch it suffer. I also know what it means to find refuge in a country as generous as Canada. It is from that place — personal and deeply felt — that I rise today.

On April 17, Syrians marked their Independence Day — Eid al-Jala’a — commemorating the end of the French occupation and the birth of a sovereign Syrian state in 1946. This year marks the eightieth anniversary of that milestone.

And after nearly 60 years of suffering under an authoritarian regime, including 14 years of devastating violence and armed struggle, this anniversary stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and hope for a more stable and peaceful future.

It is in that spirit that I acknowledge an important step taken by the Government of Canada.

On February 18, Canada announced amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations, lifting restrictions on trade and financial activity. As a Syrian-born Canadian senator, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Right Honourable Mark Carney and his government for this strategic decision.

This is not simply a technical adjustment. It is a signal of hope with real, tangible consequences. It means that Syrian Canadians can now send remittances to their families through legitimate Canadian banks and financial institutions. It means that Canadians of Syrian origin can begin investing in rebuilding their devastated homeland.

It opens doors for Canadian companies with world-class expertise in engineering, construction, finance and technology to participate and co-invest in Syria’s reconstruction — a rebuilding effort estimated to cost over $500 billion. Canada is not standing on the sidelines; it is stepping forward.

For the Syrian-Canadian community, including more than 100,000 Syrian newcomers who have made Canada their home since 2015, this moment carries profound meaning.

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all Canadians who stood with Syrians in crisis and who opened their arms, hearts and homes to welcome those newcomers. They embody what Canada truly stands for.

Honourable senators, today Canada has once again demonstrated that leadership. I am deeply grateful.

To all Syrians around the world and across this vast and generous country we call home, happy Independence Day. The road ahead is long, but you are not walking it alone.

Thank you. Meegwetch. Shukran.