Honourable senators, allow me to take this opportunity to welcome you back to the Senate. I am very pleased to see our ranks strengthened by new appointments, which brought the Senate to full complement for the first time in several years.

Some of you may be surprised to see how the chamber has been set up. Due to the limited number of seats in the gallery, benches had to be installed in order to allow as many guests as possible for the historic occasion of a sovereign opening Parliament for the first time in nearly 50 years.

I wish to express my deep gratitude to all those who work with dedication behind the scenes. Their contributions and sustained efforts are essential to the success of this historic event.

Honourable colleagues, I trust that you were able to rejuvenate and spend meaningful time with family and friends within your respective communities during the time that we have been away from Ottawa. Let us hope this break from parliamentary proceedings has allowed us all to reflect on strategies that can help foster a culture of collaboration for the benefit of Canadians.

As many of our new colleagues will come to appreciate, honourable senators play a very important role in our democratic system. I look forward to working with all of you during this new Parliament in a spirit of collegiality.

Thank you, meegwetch.

As there is no business before the Senate, is it your pleasure, honourable senators, that the sitting be suspended to await the arrival of the Right Honourable Deputy of Her Excellency the Governor General?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(The sitting of the Senate was suspended.)