SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Royal Canadian Navy—Canadian Coast Guard
October 28, 2025
Honourable senators, today, we are paying tribute to the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard. I want to do so by recognizing a simple truth: Canada is and always has been a maritime nation. However, regionalism and sea blindness have made this sector and this work invisible to too many Canadians.
Canada’s maritime future depends not only on ships and infrastructure but also on its people. These are the skilled, dedicated professionals — some of whom are in the gallery with us today — who cover every discipline and will keep our waters secure, sustainable and prosperous.
From our ports and shipyards to our research institutes, from the bridges of merchant vessels to the decks of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard, we share a common challenge and purpose: building and maintaining the workforce that supports our maritime strength.
We are bordered by three oceans and blessed with numerous inland seas. We are profoundly connected to all of them for our sovereignty, our economy and our environment.
The Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard are central to this national effort. They represent dedication, technical skill and a strong commitment to protecting Canada’s interests, both at home and abroad.
Their success relies not only on advanced ships and systems but also on the men and women who serve. Whether they are watchkeepers, operators, deckhands, engineers, logisticians or — yes — even medical professionals, we will always need crews who bring expertise, resilience and heart to every mission.
Enhancing the wider maritime workforce reinforces these institutions and, in turn, boosts our nation’s ability to exercise sovereignty, maintain safety and respond effectively to crises.
I wish to remind everyone present that the maritime workforce is not just one sector; it’s an ecosystem that includes both civilian and military parts. It spans public, private and academic realms.
Long-term success will depend on alignment across that ecosystem, including education and training, recruitment and retention, policy and partnerships. The sector’s significance, combined with persistent labour challenges, strengthens the case for declaring it a critical industry with government support. It is a major nation-building effort.
We need to encourage the next generation to see the maritime industry not as a career, but as a vocation, one that contributes to Canada’s security, prosperity and openness to the world.
Our success will depend on our ability to recruit, retain and empower those who will carry out this essential work.
That is why, on behalf of all honourable senators, I want to thank the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard for their leadership, discernment and dedication.
Honourable senators, today, we are celebrating Navy and Coast Guard Day. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to those who watch over our waters, coasts and lives day and night.
The Canadian Coast Guard is a quiet but essential force. Operating on three oceans, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence, it ensures maritime safety, protects the marine environment and supports coastal and northern communities through rescue, icebreaking, environmental monitoring and sovereignty operations in the Arctic.
In the Northern territories, where distances are vast and conditions are extreme, the Coast Guard’s presence is a matter of not only logistics but survival.
The Polar Max icebreaker, currently under construction, will further bolster this capacity. Showcasing cutting-edge technology, it will demonstrate Canada’s ability to respond and serve in the most challenging regions of the globe. Behind every beacon and every ship are women and men — sailors, engineers, technicians and scientists — who have chosen to serve the public good. Their motto, “Saluti Primum, Auxilio Semper” — or “Safety First, Service Always” — is not just a slogan: It is a promise that they keep every day, often far from the public eye.
As the first female honorary captain of the Canadian Coast Guard, I had the privilege of meeting these crews and witnessing their expertise and courage. They embody the noblest values of the public service: duty, solidarity and humility. Behind them stand their families, who share in the sacrifices of this vocation.
The Coast Guard is also a tangible demonstration of our presence on our oceans and ice, a presence that protects, connects and affirms Canada as a responsible and peaceful maritime power.
Today, let’s pay tribute to their strength, endurance and dedication. I want them to know that the Parliament of Canada sees them, recognizes them and thanks them. Long live the Canadian Coast Guard and long live the Royal Canadian Navy.
Thank you.
