The Senate

Pursuant to notice of February 25, 2026, moved:

That the Senate call on the Government of Canada to act quickly and resolutely to urge the Coalition of the Willing to provide Ukraine with the tools that it needs to end the war and ensure a meaningful peace.

He said: Honourable senators, I will only take one or two minutes because it is late.

I want to share with you what it will mean to people if you pass this motion. I want to share with you one of the most fundamental parts of what it means to be human, and that is to have hope. Hope is the thing that keeps us going all the time. Those of you who are fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs know all about that.

But seriously, sometimes people wonder what a motion in the Senate actually accomplishes. It can make us feel good, but sometimes we don’t realize what it accomplishes. Let me quickly share with you some feedback.

When I talk to the Ukrainian diaspora or those who have been displaced by the war — Ukrainians who are here — I find they pay attention to what happens in the Senate. I’m absolutely impressed, even gobsmacked. They know what goes on in this chamber and talk to me about it.

They say that when the Senate comes forward with a motion that supports Ukraine, they feel hope. They dig deeper into their pockets, donate more and become more active. That hope builds that activity.

And with people in Ukraine, I’m doubly gobsmacked that a number of them know what goes on in the Senate of Canada. Colleagues, when you passed the motion urging Canada to do more to save the Ukrainian children, that received press in Ukraine. When you passed that motion, people in parliament referenced it.

When you passed that motion, although I had not mentioned it, members of my family contacted me and said that the Senate did an incredible thing because it gave them hope.

That being said, I will try to go to Ukraine in a few weeks. I texted my cousin in Kyiv and said, “I’m going to try to come. What do you want me to bring?” She said, “Weapons.” They’re hoping for weapons. You have to love people who, after four years of this kind of warfare, when asked what they want you to bring, say, “Weapons.”

Thank you, senators, for considering the motion.

Absolutely.

Thank you for that important question, Senator Batters.

“Tools” mean we have a lot of stuff in our tool kit, and tools include things such as what Senator Dasko has been doing, pushing for unfreezing the Russian state bank assets in Euroclear and using that money for Ukraine. I know you agree with that.

“Tools” are the things that Senator Patterson has been doing — getting work done to prepare for when the war is over, the demobilization of all these troops, people who have had physical injuries, people who have had psychological injuries, people who have no home to go back to. It is a huge demobilization that’s going to happen. We need tools to deal with that.

We need tools to help children who have been stolen by Russia and now repatriated to be rehabilitated. I’m actually going to go visit one of the centres that deals with rehabilitating children who have been brought back, and I’ll share with you what I found.

You’re right. Tools also include missiles, and tools also include closing the skies. As you know, both Senator Patterson and I have convened a meeting of senators to talk about closing the skies to try to get support. As you know, I have tried, with the last government and this government, to do the same thing.

I also think, and I happen to feel — and people on the Foreign Affairs Committee will know I’ve raised this on the Foreign Affairs Committee with our witnesses — that missiles are important. In fact, yesterday, I said that you can’t win a war by playing defence.

So, yes, missiles are important. Closing the skies is important. They’re all important tools.

Would you accept another question?

Certainly.

Thank you. First, let me start by saying it’s late in the evening, so no long speeches here now. I want to start by acknowledging your leadership, consistent leadership, since the beginning.

I also want to thank you for your friendship. I live in a community in Toronto that has a large Ukrainian population, so I’m very familiar with their hope and their desire to see this war end. We’re about to start the fourth year of this war. As somebody who has lived in that community with so many comrades who have friends and family in Ukraine, I know this motion that you have brought here tonight is not just about the words. It’s about the aspiration and the hope of the people of Ukraine. One day soon, with Canada and the rest of the world, we will find the resolve to do all that’s necessary to ensure this brutal war comes to an end.

Thank you for your leadership, and if there is anything else we can do to support you in this effort, please do ask this chamber, because we could not think of anything better to do than to ensure the future children of that country grow up in a place where there is no war and there is total peace.

Are senators ready for the question?

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)