Honourable senators, I rise today with a deep sense of humility and duty to speak in this distinguished chamber for the first time.

I would like to use the motion in reply to the Speech from the Throne to open the First Session of the Forty-fifth Parliament, entitled Building Canada Strong, to draw attention to certain passages that also describe the path that led me here today.

My path to the Senate was not a direct one. It was the outcome of a long-standing commitment to social justice, equity and human dignity. These same values are echoed in the section entitled “Building new relationships with the United States and the world” in the Speech from the Throne. As a firm believer in international cooperation, I hope to be one of Canada’s builders.

Even in this new, quickly evolving world, I shall be ready to lead and contribute in a just-in-time manner, as my project manager self would say. My past engineering experiences have prepared me for today’s urgent Canadian challenges of piloting major nation-building projects.

I was born into a Haitian society and I am a big believer in the transformative power of education. I had the privilege of attending some of Haiti’s best schools. My education began in a primary and secondary school for girls in Port-au-Prince, where we were taught the values of sharing, courage and responsibility.

Most importantly, we were taught that we girls and women are capable of shaping our future and changing the world. The world was our oyster, as they say, and anything was possible.

I am well aware of how lucky I was in my home country. While 88% of children are enrolled in primary school, less than 1% of them make it to university, and very few of those who do are women.

I chose to study civil engineering in the State University of Haiti’s faculty of science, a field that still doesn’t have nearly enough women. When I started university, only 20 of the 320 students were women, and five of them were part of my cohort of 120 students. That was in 1989, the year of the tragedy at École Polytechnique in Montreal, and we felt the shockwaves as far away as Haiti.

That tragedy shook me to the core, but it inspired me to rededicate myself to engineering. My passion for the construction, safety and resilience of buildings was my lifeline all through the process of immigrating to Canada and integrating into Canadian society.

Coincidentally, I defended my master’s thesis on the seismic vulnerability of churches in Quebec shortly after the major earthquake on January 12, 2010, which primarily affected the capital, Port-au-Prince. Pursuing a PhD became the obvious choice for me, as it was the key to reaching my full potential and making a meaningful contribution to my field. This choice has allowed me to overcome personal and professional challenges and discover aspects of myself that I never imagined existed.

Even today, women are still a minority in engineering. Only 13% of practising engineers in Canada and 15% in Quebec are women. Unfortunately, 45% of them report having experienced gender discrimination during their careers. These figures reflect a reality: Women often have to overcome invisible barriers to gain access to technical fields that are still predominantly male. Gender parity is long overdue.

I began my professional career with a Canadian cooperation in Haiti, working on issues such as infrastructure, energy, the environment and public policy development. These experiences gave me a better understanding of the complex dynamics of development, but also allowed me to see first-hand how fragile yet resilient Haitian communities could be in the face of adversity. I also witnessed the important connection between the Haitian diaspora and countries around the world.

I also had opportunities to tackle major international issues related to UN conventions, such as climate change, drought and desertification, sustainable resource management and the systemic challenges of sustainable development.

Today, what I bring with me to the Senate are my experience on the ground, my active listening skills, my knowledge of the impact of global policies, and my desire to help bring about changes that will improve people’s quality of life.

Honourable senators, the Throne Speech delivered by His Majesty King Charles III, King of Canada, underlined that Canada’s immigration system has long been a source of pride to Canadians and of dynamism for the economy. It was true in 1867, it was also true in 2006 when I arrived in Canada and it remains true today more than ever, as it is essential for sustaining our demographic diversity.

In the Speech from the Throne, His Majesty reminded us that we speak for our communities and that we represent an incredible richness of cultures, languages and perspectives.

In his speech on immigration on June 5, Senator Ravalia also said, and I quote:

I stand before you today not only as a Canadian but as someone who chose this country and in turn was chosen by it.

For me as well, the choice was mutual and forged a strong bond based on hope, responsibility and a common goal.

Let me quote the words of the King of Canada:

While the world faces unprecedented challenges, generating uncertainties across the continents with regards to peace and stability, economics, and climate change —

— and Haiti is a prime example —

— your communities have the skills and determination to bring a wealth of solutions.

We owe it to this generation, and the next seven generations, to reflect carefully and to act in the interest of the common good.

I see my role as a senator as a demanding and profoundly human commitment. I promise to be an attentive voice, a champion of ideas and a guardian of the democratic principles that underpin our country.

To me, being a senator is more than just sitting in a prestigious institution. It is an immense responsibility to understand and speak for those who, far too often, are not heard.

My career in engineering taught me about being diligent and methodical, but also about the importance of building on a solid foundation. My experience in international cooperation taught me humility, active listening and the power of dialogue.

These two dimensions — science and humanity — will guide my advocacy in the Senate.

During the Forty-fourth Parliament, I had the honour of sitting on the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, as well as on the Subcommittee on Long Term Vision and Plan.

I thank the Independent Senators Group for entrusting me with these important roles.

In fact, as projects of national interest start to arrive at our committees, it is important to remind you of the government’s commitment to resolutely remain guided by the principle of free, prior and informed consent to ensure and advance reconciliation in this country. The creation of sustainable wealth and prosperity has to be done in collaboration with Indigenous peoples.

I also had the opportunity to participate in three parliamentary missions — in Hungary, Senegal and the United States — that showed me the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in a rapidly changing world.

These exchanges were enriching for me, both politically and personally.

I also participated in many activities through the SENgage program, which put me in direct contact with young Canadians. Their ideas, their energy and their hopes are a constant source of inspiration.

These past months have also allowed me to learn from you, my wise owls. I’ve learned from your experience, your expertise, but above all from the benevolent collegiality that is the strength of the Senate and that will enable us to maintain this energy in the years to come.

My professional background will be very useful in the work and studies ahead.

Yesterday’s tributes to my sponsor, Senator Mégie, highlighted the challenges of linguistic duality in Canada. I realize that being bilingual and being able to rely on a multilingual team to verify legislative consistency in our two official languages is an asset.

I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of Senator Mégie, with whom I share my director of parliamentary affairs, Nicolas Thibodeau.

Our dear colleague’s departure, for mandatory retirement from the Senate, will leave much more than an empty chair beside me.

Honourable senators, I am committed to being an accessible senator who is engaged and connected to the realities on the ground. I believe in a style of politics that brings people together and builds bridges between generations, cultures and regions.

I am committed to working with passion, rigour and the conviction that every action, every word and every decision matter in building a more just, equitable and inclusive Canada.

I want to work with the current government, with all parliamentarians, with local communities, with researchers, with youth and with civil society actors to advance inclusive, sustainable public policies that are rooted in reality and consistent with the needs and expectations of all Canadians.

I will pay special attention to social justice, human rights, peace and security, poverty reduction and community resilience to climate change.

Lastly, I want to dedicate part of my mandate to an issue that is near and dear to my heart: restoring democracy, security, stability and development to the country of my birth.

Haiti is the birthplace of the first independent Black republic. It is in the midst of a multi-dimensional crisis caused by an internal conflict that necessitates international action.

We live in an increasingly dangerous and divided world. Risky geopolitical situations are emerging; some even threaten Canada’s sovereignty. International trade is undergoing its most profound transformation since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The rule of law and democratic governance are under assault. In many countries, the future of official development assistance is altogether unknown. Meanwhile, Haiti is going through a critical period that could be a point of no return, according to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti.

In Haiti right now, gang violence is escalating and armed gangs are expanding their territorial control, creating chaos and undermining the state authority. Thousands of people have been killed or wounded, and there are more than a million internally displaced persons, half of whom are children who are not receiving an education.

The consequences of this crisis are manifold: cholera outbreaks, sexual violence and attacks on hospitals and schools, nearly 2,000 of which are closed in Port-au-Prince.

The forced recruitment of children increased by 70% between mid-2023 and mid-2024. They now make up more than half of gang members. In addition, approximately 5.7 million people face acute food insecurity.

As I mentioned earlier, I had the privilege of attending some of the best schools in Haiti. I therefore feel compelled to speak out when I see all these children being deprived of their fundamental right to education. I am also deeply affected when I see these young people being forcibly recruited by gangs. They face a very bleak future. Restoring the education system and reintegrating child soldiers into society without punishment will give young people the means to rebuild Haiti and its capacity to play a role in democratic governance.

Honourable senators, with the goal of building stronger economies, Prime Minister Carney made strengthening peace and security in our communities and around the world the first mission of the G7 summit.

The previous government was not indifferent to the situation in Haiti. During their meeting in March in Charlevoix, the G7 foreign affairs ministers reaffirmed their commitment to helping the Haitian people restore democracy, security and stability, including through support to the Haitian National Police and the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission and an increased role for the UN.

The chair’s summary indicated that the leaders at the G7 summit in Kananaskis discussed the crisis in Haiti.

The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti noted in her most recent report to the Security Council that “any effort by the Haitian Government will not be enough to significantly reduce the intensity and violence of criminal groups.”

Yes, please.

Thank you, colleagues.

That said, lasting change will require the contribution of Haitians themselves. The role of the international community, including Canada, must be to support and guide them, but never to take their place. Only a strong, inclusive and legitimate national effort can end the crisis. I will work to ensure that Canada and the international community live up to their commitments to restore Haiti’s democracy, security, stability and development. This objective must be well recognized at all times in multilateral forums, and Canada must play a constructive and supportive role. The solutions put forward must be acceptable to Haitians and the diaspora, while respecting their sovereignty and dignity.

Honourable senators, thank you for welcoming me among you. As I said before, I’m prepared to work with you diligently, wholeheartedly and passionately to honour the trust placed in me.

Thank you. Meegwetch.