THE SENATE — New Senators
Congratulations on Appointments
September 19, 2023
Honourable senators, I would like to welcome our newest senators, starting with Senator Judy White. She is a Mi’kmaq member of the Flat Bay Band in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. She completed a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University with an emphasis on Aboriginal law. She also completed the Intensive Program in Indigenous Lands, Resources, and Governments at Osgoode Hall Law School, the Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities certificate program at Harvard Business School, and the Chartered Director program at McMaster University.
Senator White has extensive board and governance experience and has served many agencies in a variety of capacities.
She served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and, through an interchange arrangement, served as Director of Engagement for Distinctions-based Legislation with the Government of Canada.
She served as the Chairperson of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission, Chair of the Inuvialuit Arbitration Board, as well as Co-Chair Indigenous of Equal Voice — Newfoundland and Labrador. This organization brings men and women together in order to elect and support women at all levels of political office.
In 2022, Senator White received the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the advancement of gender equality. More importantly, she is a proud grandmother.
Senator, the Senate is very fortunate to benefit from your knowledge and experience. On behalf of the Government Representative Office, or GRO, I am pleased to welcome you.
Honourable senators, on behalf of the GRO, I’m also pleased to welcome Senator Paul Prosper from Nova Scotia to our chamber.
Senator Prosper was regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations, representing the Mi’kmaw chiefs of Nova Scotia after having served as chief of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation from 2013 to 2020. He is a proud graduate of the IB&M Initiative at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. In 2020, he was inducted as a member of the Bertha Wilson Honour Society at the Schulich School in recognition of his exceptional service to the legal profession and his community.
Senator Prosper has a wealth of experience in Indigenous legal issues, whether in the areas of research, disputes or negotiation. His main focus has been advocating for the rights of the Mi’kmaw people. He taught Mi’kmaw history, Indigenous and treaty rights, and Mi’kmaw governance at Cape Breton University. Over the years, he has worked for various Mi’kmaw organizations in areas such as oral history, studies on the use and occupation of land by the Mi’kmaw people, and research on claims, citizenship, consultation, First Nations governance, justice, community development and nation membership.
Senator Prosper, your background and experience make you a very welcome addition to the Senate of Canada. We all look forward to working with you and, indeed, benefiting from your great experience.
Honourable senators, on behalf of the opposition and the Senate Conservative caucus, I’m pleased to rise in this chamber to welcome our new colleagues, the Honourable Paul Prosper of Nova Scotia and the Honourable Judy White of Newfoundland and Labrador. I’m truly pleased to extend to both of you a very warm welcome to the Senate of Canada.
Senator Prosper, as a Mi’kmaw lawyer with over 25 years of experience in Indigenous legal issues as well as the former chief of the Paqtnkek — Afton Station — Mi’kmaw Nation, I am certain that your knowledge and expertise will be beneficial in this chamber and at committees. Your advocacy work and leadership will continue in this next chapter as a senator of Nova Scotia.
Senator White, as a member of the King’s Counsel and a lawyer with experience in human rights issues and Indigenous governance, as well as with your previous role as Assistant Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I am certain that your knowledge and experience will contribute greatly to your work as a senator. Your work on the advancement of gender equality and dedication to ensuring that all persons are given an equal voice apply directly to our role as senators to be the voice of the voiceless.
Canadians have increasingly been looking to the Senate to not only bring sober second thought and due diligence, they are looking at the Senate for hope — hope that their voices are heard and that the severity of the affordability issues faced by Canadians are a priority for all parliamentarians. Canadians across our beautiful country need reassurance right now. They need to see common sense in Ottawa. They need to see parliamentarians take on their duty to work and fight for their very best interests.
Senators Prosper and White, please know that Conservatives look forward to working in collaboration with you both on ways to improve the lives of Canadians. On behalf of the opposition and the Conservative caucus, I want to warmly welcome you to the Senate of Canada.
Honourable senators, it is with great pleasure that I join my colleagues in extending a warm welcome to our two new senators, the Honourable Paul Prosper and the Honourable Judy A. White.
As we move together toward a fairer and more equitable future for everyone, and given the challenges we face, I can only applaud the appointment of two more distinguished Indigenous colleagues.
Senators Prosper and White are respected lawyers who have fought for the rights of individuals and groups that have too often been overlooked, and they are also dedicated to social justice. Their commitment to ensuring that the voices of the unheard are heard aligns perfectly with the values we hold dear in this chamber.
Senator Prosper, you have devoted your life to serving your community of the Mi’kmaw Nation. As a lawyer, you provided legal support on Indigenous treaty rights and taught Mi’kmaw governance along with Aboriginal and treaty rights at Cape Breton University. In an interview following your nomination as regional chief, you said that your election to this position was bittersweet. You were ecstatic to have gained the trust of the other leaders who voted for you, but accepting your new role meant giving up your leadership role in your own community. My intuition tells me you may be feeling the same way about your nomination to the Senate.
Senator White, your journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, empathy and a commitment to making a positive impact. As you take your seat in the chamber, know that you will still be able to live by your passion for public service and your determination to create a just and equitable society. Your dedication to serving the people of Newfoundland and Labrador is evident in every aspect of your career. From your work advocating for justice and equality to your efforts in empowering marginalized communities, your firm commitment to the betterment of society shines brightly.
While it is true that you will both be spending more time in Ottawa away from your respective communities and families, just keep in mind that the work you will be doing will have a direct impact on them, as well as on all Canadians, and that you have the honour to be here representing them.
Together we stand on the cusp of meaningful change, and your presence among us adds depth to the conversations we will have and the decisions we will make. Your experiences will help us better understand the challenges faced by the people of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and beyond. Furthermore, your contributions will help shape policies that reflect the needs of our diverse population.
As we welcome our two new colleagues, we also acknowledge the responsibility that comes with the position we all hold. The Senate of Canada is a place where diverse perspectives come together to shape legislation that impacts the lives of all Canadians.
Honourable Senator Prosper and Honourable Senator White, in my name and in the name of all of your colleagues from the Independent Senators Group, I wish you a warm welcome to the Senate of Canada. Thank you, meegwetch, wela’lin.
Honourable senators, it is with great pleasure that we welcome two new senators to this chamber: Senators Prosper and White.
First, we have Senator Prosper, who is a Mi’kmaw lawyer with vast experience in the field of Indigenous law. He’s a former chief, regional chief and, more importantly, a teacher. He taught governance and treaty rights at Cape Breton University. To share knowledge and wisdom is a noble gift and a great responsibility.
Senator Prosper, your appointment to this place was greatly celebrated. The current chief of the Paqtnkek, Cory Jullian, said that you are a “role model for [your] community.” He said that they are proud of you for assuming this new role. The praise is felt across the country with Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs adding:
Regional Chief Prosper’s appointment to the Senate is a testament to his remarkable leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of First Nations Peoples across Turtle Island.
These comments are a tribute to your impact on your community, and we hope that you will have the same impact here.
We also welcome Senator White. As a King’s Counsel lawyer with a background in human rights issues and Indigenous governance, the Senate will greatly benefit from your experiences in government and with Newfoundland and Labrador’s Human Rights Commission.
I read — with great interest — the article in iPolitics about your appointment, and your desire to change the face of the Senate and to be a voice for Indigenous people, visible minorities and women. The challenge that you have set up for yourself in that interview, I believe, is both lofty and honourable, and I am confident that you will be successful. You mentioned that you only have 15 years to make your mark. You had better not waste a moment because time does go by very fast in politics.
Senator Prosper and Senator White, your professional and personal experiences are most welcome and needed here. As a colleague, and in the service of all of Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Senators Group, I welcome you to the Senate, and my colleagues look forward to working with you.
Honourable senators, it’s wonderful to be back with you all, and particularly so as we witness another swearing-in ceremony. On behalf of the Progressive Senate Group, I’m delighted to join the other leaders in welcoming our newest senators: Senator Paul Prosper — better known as PJ — from Nova Scotia; and Senator Judy White from Newfoundland and Labrador.
As a former teacher, it’s difficult for me to resist my teaching roots, and September will always feel like back-to-school season and the freedom for a fresh start. We may not be starting a new session, but it still feels as if we have an opportunity to take a moment to reflect on what we have already accomplished and what we still intend to do.
These swearing-in ceremonies inevitably remind us of our own first days and how we each felt — with such possibility before us. It’s intimidating, certainly, to be the new kid in class, but I want to echo the voices of the other leaders and tell you both — Senator Prosper and Senator White — that we are all looking forward to having your voices added to our debates here in the Senate.
You have both spoken about the importance of representation. Seeing Senator Christmas, for example, as the first Mi’kmaw senator helped inspire you — I know — Senator Prosper, and your appointment will now be the inspiration for other Mi’kmaw youth.
Senator White, you have said that representation is a way to effect change from within and help “. . . ensure that colonialism is a thing of the past . . . .”
That brings us to this moment: seeing not one but two Mi’kmaw lawyers take their seats in the Senate Chamber. I welcome you both to the other side of the federal legislative process.
We have heard your impressive résumés and accolades that have shaped you into the people you are today. It’s time for you both to take these experiences and wisdom, and forge new paths as you establish yourselves here.
Like school, you’ll find different classes to join — here in the Senate, we call them “committees” — and you may be surprised to discover that sometimes we end up working on issues that we hadn’t even previously considered. I encourage you both to keep an open mind as you navigate your roles here.
Having such a diverse and varied group of senators serves Canadians well, but it remains crucial that we continue to seek out and listen to the voices that are still missing. Our committees help us do that. And as we’ve seen with a few other senators, including Senator Prosper, some of those important voices make the change from Senate committee witness to Senate committee member.
Less than 10 years ago, there had been no Mi’kmaw voices in this chamber. We now have three provinces who each have a Mi’kmaw senator, including — with Senator White — the first woman. Change has been slow to get started, but I’m so pleased to see how quickly it can grow.
On behalf of my colleagues in the Progressive Senate Group — and with some help from our caucus chair, Senator Francis, for pronunciation — it is my pleasure, Senator White and Senator Prosper, to welcome you both to the Senate of Canada. Pjila’si. Thank you.
