Pursuant to notice of June 16, 2020, moved:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or usual practice, at the start of the Orders of the Day on the sitting day following the adoption of this order, the Senate resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole in order to receive a minister or ministers of the Crown to discuss the role of the Government of Canada in combatting anti-Black racism and anti-Indigenous racism, and ending systemic racism;

That the committee report to the Senate no later than 120 minutes after it begins;

That the provisions of rule 3-3(1) be suspended while the committee is meeting;

That the application of any provision of the Rules or previous order concerning the time of adjournment be suspended until the committee has completed its work; and

That the ringing of the bells for any deferred vote that would conflict with the committee be deferred until the committee has completed its work.

She said: Honourable senators, systemic racism exists here.

I would appreciate it if all honourable senators could wear their ear pieces. I need to be understood now more than ever. Thank you.

Black lives matter; Indigenous lives matter.

Please pay attention and listen to the interpretation, because as a black, francophone woman, I sometimes feel as though my voice, and the community’s voice, is not being heard. How can we expect to be understood by the majority if we don’t even make an effort to be systematically heard?

Today I’m calling on our Senate to resolve into a committee of the whole to study the urgent issue of systemic racism in Canada. This is a historic opportunity to address racism once and for all. I hope that no one here will stand in the way of our earning the respect of the people we are meant to serve.

Why is this urgent right now? People in the street are speaking out from coast to coast to coast, and various levels of government have already recognized, studied and received countless recommendations for ending systemic racism. A committee of the whole is just one of the many steps we absolutely must take to prevent tragic incidents like the deaths of George Floyd, Fredy Villanueva, Bony Jean-Pierre, André Benjamin, Regis Korchinski-Paquet and so many others from happening again. These brutal acts of racism came to light these past few years. They represent only a very thin slice of the racism that black Canadians experience in their daily lives. From daily micro-aggressions to the rarer, but tragically fatal, hate-filled acts we have seen in certain videos online, many white Canadians are becoming conscious of the systemic and insidious nature of racism in our country. Recent public demonstrations across Canada, as well as online campaigns, have illustrated a rapidly developing attempt to understand the causes and manifestations of this pernicious and widespread phenomenon. Canada needs to act immediately. We must turn our sympathy into action. If nothing is done in this country, we will continue to stand by helplessly as history repeats itself.

As the Honourable Claude Carignan said to the Honourable André Pratte, one of the aims of the Senate is to draw the public’s attention to a point of view. I would add that, in this case, the public has drawn our attention to this topic. We must engage in an open and public dialogue.

The time has come to focus our energy on stamping out systemic racism. Every time we study a bill or conduct other studies in any committee, we must leave space to analyze the impact on racialized communities.

As Francine Pelletier noted in Le Devoir this morning:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mayor Valérie Plante, Montreal Police Chief Sylvain Caron, and even the Merriam-Webster dictionary all now recognize the systemic nature of racism. The death of George Floyd provided an opportunity to set the record straight.

Much like the Harvey Weinstein affair suddenly brought to light the scope of sexual assault, transforming it from a series of anecdotes into a large-scale social tragedy for women, a black man’s agonizing death at the hands of a white police officer finally showed this issue for what it was: an abuse of power that is repeated over and over, as opposed to just a police mistake. It is disgraceful the way black people in the United States get stopped, arrested, beaten, jailed and finally killed. This is a well-documented fact. The same could be said for Indigenous peoples in this country. In the past three months, eight Indigenous people have been killed by Canadian police. That’s no coincidence.

This may come as a shock, but unfortunately, we’re still at the starting line, still wondering whether Canada has one consistent definition of systemic racism. I smiled as I read that article. It’s time to get our act together and have all agencies and departments agree on one consistent definition. I hope to question the ministers to get information on the measures that have already been taken and to get a concrete plan with a timeline for putting an end to systemic racism.

That is a big undertaking. The statement of the Parliamentary Black Caucus, which I tried unsuccessfully to table in this chamber, proposes practical measures to mitigate the impact of systemic racism. In this document, the Parliamentary Black Caucus calls on all levels of government in Canada to: (1) measure the pervasiveness of systemic discrimination through the collection of race-based data; (2) assist black Canadians in providing economic prosperity to all through measures to support black-owned or -run businesses; (3) eliminate the barriers to access to justice and public security for black Canadians and Indigenous people; (4) make our public administration more effective and resilient by ensuring it actually reflects the diversity of the public it serves; and (5) recognize and support the artistic and economic contributions of black Canadian culture and heritage.

As you heard, we are calling for the collection of detailed statistical data to develop sound and informed policies affecting racialized communities.

We are also proposing economic tools that should help us critically examine the budgets presented and the government’s spending. What’s more, we address the reforms that are needed within the Department of Justice, the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Canadian Heritage so that we can work together to build new foundations for a more inclusive Canada.

Honourable colleagues, even the COVID-19 pandemic is opening our eyes to systemic racism. The death of Marcelin François, an asylum seeker in Canada, is a glaring example. Working in long-term care centres and seniors’ homes in Montreal, taking care of our elders, cost him his life. This pandemic is having an even greater impact on racialized communities and temporary foreign workers because of the shortage of PPE and horrible living conditions they endure here, including overcrowded accommodations, a lack of water and food, and so on. Because of their misgivings about the system, these individuals are reluctant to speak out and seek care, for fear of being deported. We therefore depend on a workforce made up of people from racialized communities who have limited protections, even when they’re at the epicentre of the pandemic.

Some people say there is no urgent need to talk about racism. It’s 2020. It’s time to implement the recommendations proposed decades ago and dedicate adequate financial resources to do so effectively.

The reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic proves that governments can act quickly and ably in crisis. Black Canadians are in a state of crisis. It is time to act. Words and symbolic gestures, while important, are no longer enough. Black lives matter. Indigenous lives matter.

Lastly, I would remind you that this document has already been made public. Honourable senators, pursuant to rule 14-1(4), I ask for leave of the Senate to table the statement against discrimination and systemic racism in Canada issued by the Parliamentary Black Caucus. Thank you.

Is leave granted?

I’m sorry, Senator, but I heard a “no.” Leave is not granted.

I have a question for Senator Mégie, if she will take one.

With pleasure.

Thank you for your words. I want you to know that I support your motion; it’s an important one. I want to participate in a Committee of the Whole, and I know many people here want to participate in a Committee of the Whole. I know there are many people who are not here, and can’t be here, who want to participate in a Committee of the Whole.

What we would need technologically for Committee of the Whole is operating down the street in the House of Commons and has been for weeks, brought to you by the same people who serve us. If it were a matter of a few days for us, maybe next Tuesday — we are going to be here six days from now — and there were some way that we could magically have a Committee of the Whole, would you support waiting, and therefore support a friendly amendment that would incorporate the ability for us all to participate with appropriate technology?

Thank you, Senator Tannas. I really appreciate your proposal. I also appreciate your support for a Committee of the Whole. I think we could take our chances on Tuesday if we’re sure there will be many more senators in the chamber, and we can use technology, like we have at other times when the Senate has met in Committee of the Whole right here. Thank you.

Thank you, senator. You know that this is all because of COVID-19. Many committees have managed to work virtually, and I don’t see why we should wait until the fall. In the fall, there won’t be an emergency anymore. As you know, social media being what it is, it’s all about tomorrow’s news, not yesterday’s. We can do it on Tuesday at the latest. However, I am sure we will be dealing with the same situation, and I think our fellow senators will understand that. Regardless of the situation or the subject of the vote, there will still be fewer of us. We are not denying them their privilege as senators, because we can always make arrangements, but I don’t think we should put it off until the fall.

I appreciate the opportunity, if you will take a question. Thank you.

Senator Mégie’s time has expired. I know there are at least two other senators who want to ask questions. Are you asking for five minutes, Senator Mégie?

Yes, please.

Is leave granted, honourable senators?

Let me say how much I appreciate the efforts you and other members of the Parliamentary Black Caucus have put into bringing these issues before us in a way in which we can, side by side with you, delve into and explore them. I would agree with you that the sense of urgency in the context we are in today calls for us to move now and not to leave this until the fall.

I also agree with Senator Tannas that it should be absolutely possible. I’m sure if there is a reason why it isn’t, it would be really helpful for all of us to understand it. I know the Senate administration has been working on this, and there should be an ability to have a virtual sitting of Committee of the Whole to allow all senators to participate.

I wanted to ask you about the end of your comments. You asked for leave to table a document. I understand from what you’ve said that this document is the letter that was sent to the government from members of the Parliamentary Black Caucus, which consists of both MPs and senators, and that there were a number of other MPs and senators who signed that letter in support. You referenced six or seven points. I have had the opportunity to see the letter, because I agreed to sign on to the letter, and there is a lot of additional, in-depth instructive information for all of us. As we come to prepare questions for ministers or for debates, and as there are other proposals coming forward, or Senator Plett’s inquiry, it would be most beneficial for us all to have it.

I don’t understand why members of the official opposition across the floor said “no” to your tabling that. Could you confirm for us what you see as the benefit of this being on the record in this chamber and for all senators to have in hand? Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Lankin. I would like to know what should go on the record in the event of a refusal to allow the document to be tabled. I believe it’s already been entered in the transcript. I attempted to table it once and was refused. I attempted to table it a second time and was refused again. I believe it is recorded in the Senate Hansard.

As for why it’s important, we have been submitting proposals for improving the situation with regard to racism, and other related issues, for quite some time. Every time there is a death or tragedy, everybody offers tears and sympathy, but nothing gets done. This document explores different areas that we could address. It is a very well-researched document that could be tabled. It could help the government develop its plan. We want a plan and action. We want more than just talk. With such a document, we are sure to get the government’s attention so it can take real action with proper guidelines. Thank you.

May I also ask a question of Senator Mégie?

Senator, there was mention of the opposition saying “no” to tabling the statement. Would you confirm that yesterday I wrote to you explaining that, in spirit, what is being articulated in the statement is undeniable and something important that we must take notice of? However, the timing of your asking for leave — it will be entered into the records of the Senate — by sending the letter in the morning meant that we hadn’t had time to look at it carefully. It’s very substantive. I wanted to ask you some other questions as well.

Would you confirm that I communicated with you and also indicated the same today? You are asking again during this debate, but it’s more procedural; it’s not saying “no” to the statement itself. Would you confirm that I had done that? Thank you.

A few minutes before His Honour the Speaker called my name so I could table the document, I received a note that a page may have brought to me, but I didn’t recognize your signature. I didn’t know who had sent it. The note just said, “Stop, it’s happening too fast, I can’t vote in favour of tabling this.”

This is not a vote. This is the tabling of a document. I agreed. I figured that 24 hours would give you enough time to read it. Please enlighten me. When a document is tabled, do senators have to vote on it? Not as far as I know. We table a document, and you can read it with the members of your caucus at an appropriate time. Am I mistaken?

Is there still time?

Unfortunately there is not, because we are going to adjourn shortly.

I want to remind Senator Tannas that he rose to ask a question with respect to a possible amendment, but no amendment has been put on the floor. When we return to this matter, Senator Tannas, if you want an amendment you will have to rise to debate and propose it.