SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Diversity and Equality

Honourable senators, I rise today to celebrate the diversity of voices that we are privileged to have here in the Red Chamber.

As someone who has worked to advance diversity and inclusion throughout my career, I’ve witnessed first-hand how it transforms organizations and communities. When we have a range of voices, life experiences and perspectives around our decision-making tables, we make wiser, more inclusive and more forward-looking choices.

I also want to take a moment to celebrate a truly remarkable event that occurred in my province of New Brunswick. For the first time in the province’s history, New Brunswick is being led by three extraordinary women: the Premier, Susan Holt; the Lieutenant Governor, Louise Imbeault; and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Francine Landry. I recently had the privilege of hearing them speak at a conference organized by Women for 50%, a non-partisan movement to support gender parity in politics.

When Women for 50% was founded in 2017, only 16% of our legislative assembly were women. That number rose to 22% in 2018, 29% in 2020 and 35% in 2024. Their goal now is clear and ambitious: full parity — 50% — by the 2028 provincial election.

Through my work encouraging women and diverse voices to step forward for municipal leadership in Moncton, I have seen first-hand the transformative power of representation. When women lead and when diverse perspectives are heard, our communities become stronger, more innovative and more compassionate.

Today, as we reflect on the diversity within this chamber, let us remember that this is who we are as Canadians: a country strengthened by many voices, many perspectives and many stories. Let us continue to open doors so that the decision-making tables of tomorrow truly reflect the full diversity of the people we serve from coast to coast to coast.

Thank you. Meegwetch.