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1st Session, 45th Parliament
Volume 154, Issue 20

Wednesday, October 1, 2025
The Honourable René Cormier, Speaker pro tempore

Business of the Senate

SENATORS’ STATEMENTS
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
QUESTION PERIOD
ORDERS OF THE DAY

THE SENATE

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker pro tempore in the chair.

Prayers.

Business of the Senate

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Honourable senators, you will have noticed that the bells were not ringing. This problem will be fixed, and if you all agree, we will continue our deliberations. Honourable senators, is it agreed?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

SENATORS’ STATEMENTS

Autism Awareness Month

Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I rise today in recognition of Autism Awareness Month — a moment each year when we pause to reflect on the experiences of autistic Canadians, the realities that their families and caregivers face and the responsibilities we carry as legislators to support a more inclusive and responsive society.

For many in this chamber and across the country, this conversation is not new. It is part of an ongoing effort that has been shaped by years of advocacy, by community-driven work and by listening closely to those living this reality every day.

Allow me to start with this, colleagues: Autism is not a deficit. It is not a burden. It is part of the full range of human diversity: complex, nuanced and often misunderstood. Across this country, neurodivergent Canadians are contributing in ways that our institutions and our public discourse are only beginning to appreciate.

I was reminded of that recently during a conversation I had with a young man named Drew who very kindly invited me onto his podcast. His thoughtful questions challenged me to listen more deeply. Once again, it was a reminder that neurodivergent Canadians are creators, thinkers and innovators. They see the world differently, and that difference is not just valuable; it is essential.

Of course, this is rarely a solo achievement. Many of these individuals are given the chance to flourish thanks to the tireless efforts of families, caregivers, educators and advocates — most of whom never sought recognition, only fairness. They shoulder extraordinary demands, often with inadequate support, and they do so with incredible dignity.

In my hometown of Montreal, I’ve had the privilege of seeing first-hand the remarkable work of Giant Steps, an organization that nurtures the talents of autistic individuals and demonstrates the power of tailored support.

Colleagues, in this chamber, we have a duty to do more than just admire their efforts. We must meet them with resolve.

In 2023, Parliament passed Bill S-203 — a bill I was proud to introduce — which received Royal Assent with unanimous support from both houses. That bill called for the creation of the national Framework for Autism in Canada, a practical road map to address gaps in diagnosis, education, employment and long-term care for autistic Canadians. It’s nothing controversial. It’s just common sense. And many senators in this chamber, including Senator Boehm and many more, helped craft it and put it together.

Shamefully, over two years later, the government has failed to deliver on its basic obligation of implementation. You’ll agree with me, colleagues, that a framework that sits on a shelf is not a framework; it’s a broken promise.

Autistic Canadians and their families don’t need more consultations. They don’t need more vague commitments. They need leadership. They need access to services regardless of where they live in this country. They need recognition that inclusion is not a box to be ticked — it is a standard to be upheld.

This October, as we recognize Autism Awareness Month, I urge the Carney government to do what its predecessor failed to do, which is to move forward beyond symbolic gestures. Let us honour neurodivergent Canadians not only in our words but also in our policy. Let’s do the work we said we would do.

Because awareness is the beginning. Action is the measure.

Thank you, colleagues.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, yesterday we marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an annual opportunity to honour all the children who died or disappeared at residential schools and associated sites as well as those who continue to grapple with the resulting intergenerational trauma.

Colleagues, September 30 is not just a day on the calendar, but a call to listen, learn and act. I hope that you paused on or around the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to dive deeper into our shared past and present, including by participating in educational and commemorative activities.

On Sunday, I joined Senator Boyer and Senator White in this chamber to honour nine remarkable First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals nominated for the King Charles III Coronation Medal by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. They were Dorene Bernard, Jacquie Bouvier, Levinia Brown, Edna Elias, Richard Ejinagosi Kistabish, Laurie McDonald, Brian Normand, Dennis Saddleman and Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux.

This prestigious honour is a fitting recognition of the work this group has done — and continues to do — to advance reconciliation in Canada.

Without the unwavering strength, courage and determination shown by Survivors and intergenerational Survivors like them, Canada would not have entered into the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, created the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation or observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which I am incredibly proud to have helped become a reality back in 2021.

Colleagues, as we mark the tenth anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, this September 30 offers a significant moment of national reflection on the progress made and the work still ahead.

With most of the 94 Calls to Action yet to be meaningfully answered, Canada must resist the pull of competing pressures at home and abroad and demonstrate a renewed focus on advancing truth before lasting reconciliation.

Wela’lin. Meegwetch. Thank you.

Korean Heritage Month

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I rise today in celebration of the second annual Korean Heritage Month in Canada. Thanks to the co‑sponsors, Senators Amina Gerba, Rebecca Patterson and Hassan Yussuff, and to all honourable senators for the unanimous adoption of our Senate motion — which was on June 4, 2024 — October 2024 marked the official launch of the inaugural Korean Heritage Month in Canada.

(1410)

In continuation of this important recognition, we will gather once again this year for the second annual Korea Day on the Hill flag-raising ceremony on Parliament Hill, taking place next Wednesday, October 8, at 12:30 p.m. It will be followed by an evening reception of K-food, K-culture and K-spirit in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building. I invite all honourable colleagues to attend both events.

The month of October also holds deep cultural and historical significance for the Korean-Canadian community. October 3, known as Gaecheonjeol, or National Foundation Day, is a day that celebrates the origin and thousands of years of history of Korea. October 6 will be Chuseok, or Korean Thanksgiving, one of the most important family traditions in Korea, across Canada and around the world.

It is fitting that this deeply rooted heritage is honoured during a month in which we also reflect on the evolving and dynamic Canada-Korea relationship. This year we mark two significant milestones in that relationship. First, we begin the observance of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Korean War years, a time to honour the courage and sacrifice of all those who fought in the Korean War. Second, we mark the tenth anniversary of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement, a landmark accord that has not only strengthened our economic ties, but also deepened cultural, educational and person-to-person connections. What began as a trade agreement has grown into a comprehensive, strategic partnership that reflects mutual respect, shared prosperity and cultural exchange.

Across the globe, the Korean diaspora has flourished, and Canada is home to a dynamic, diverse and growing Korean-Canadian population. The community has made exceptional contributions across a wide range of sectors from business, technology and academia to arts, culture and public service. Korean-Canadian entrepreneurs, creators and leaders continue to help shape Canada’s future, fuelling innovation, strengthening communities and enhancing our national identity.

Honourable senators, I stand before you today as a proud daughter of Korea and Canada. I am humbled to celebrate the community that raised me, shaped me and continues to inspire me. So, happy Korean Heritage Month.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

Autism Awareness Month

Hon. Peter M. Boehm: Honourable senators, as we have heard, October is Autism Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month in Canada.

For autistic and neurodiverse individuals, their families and caregivers, autism is their prevailing thought every minute of every month. I know this. I have a son with autism.

I speak today in response to new and alarming mis- and disinformation on autism spectrum disorder, also known as ASD, that is currently circulating, not just in the toxic environment that increasingly characterizes social media, but through uninformed expressions at the highest political levels south of the border.

It is as if a paternalistic social media post has come to life to fulfill a political promise made to find both a cause and a cure for autism within six months.

Oversimplified statements implying certainty where there is none can lead to misunderstanding, guilt, stigma and anxiety among autistic individuals and their loved ones.

According to numerous medical associations and scientists all over the world, the pain reliever Tylenol and its active ingredient acetaminophen — also present in other medications — does not cause autism and, in fact, remains the safest option to treat fever and pain during pregnancy.

Multiple larger-scale studies and systematic reviews have not established a causal link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism. Wellness grifters and pseudo-scientific ideologues clearly have the ear of certain politicians.

We are indeed fortunate in this Senate to have women and men with medical backgrounds who are tireless in their efforts to educate Canadians about the science behind modern medicine and its practice, as well as to counter medical mis- and disinformation as it increases in negative tone and intensity.

Colleagues, the Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act — ably sponsored by another passionate advocate, Senator Housakos — received Royal Assent in March 2023. Among its provisions were the establishment of a national research network and public awareness campaigns.

In response, the government launched a national autism strategy that was based on one conference and did not provide funding for the implementation of the act.

Autism associations and self-advocates had higher expectations, and so did those of us with a vested interest in the outcomes.

The entire idea behind this legislation was to give the federal government the legal basis to create federal autism initiatives.

Amidst swirling mis- and disinformation, it seems to me, as a parent of an autistic son in his mid-thirties, that the need for governments — including our own — to act to increase public awareness with science-based factual campaigns and to decry medical mis- and disinformation, has never been greater.

In short, individuals, families and pregnant women should continue to follow the advice of their health care providers, not politicians with dubious intentions.

Thank you.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

[Translation]

Visitors in the Gallery

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada, and Robert Peck, former Canadian Ambassador to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Henkel.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

[English]

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I rise in the Senate today to pay tribute to Maggie, Hannah, Cameron, Peter and the countless others affected by childhood cancer. As we begin the month of October, I want to highlight that the end of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month was September 30.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children in Canada, with almost 1,000 children being diagnosed with cancer each and every year. This September, Canadians across the country wore the gold ribbon pin to honour all the children and families impacted by pediatric cancer, as well as those dedicated health care workers and researchers committed to curing this disease.

Honourable colleagues, this August, I sent letters to each of you with a gold ribbon pin to wear in support of, and to help raise awareness for, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. As I mentioned in my letter, gold is a precious metal, just as our children are our most precious treasure.

I want to thank each of you who wore this pin during the month of September to show your support of, and raise awareness for, these children and their families. I would like to share a note of thanks I received earlier this month from Childcan: “Your support helps to shine a light on their experience and reminds them that they are not alone.”

Throughout all the hardships these children face, they embody remarkable strength, resilience and an unwavering hope for their future. They are the real superheroes, and I am inspired by the bravery and courage they exhibit in the face of this adversity.

Every year, the lives of these children and their families are turned upside down. Without warning, their days become filled with hospital stays, appointments and procedures. Thankfully, numerous organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities, or RMHC, and Childcan are doing selfless work to support these children and their families — from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

Ronald McDonald House Charities helps families who have to travel to receive treatment for their sick child, ensuring that families can stay together to support each other during this time of need. Other organizations like Childcan specifically help families and children fighting cancer, starting at diagnosis. They fund research, provide financial assistance, emotional support and social programming to remove some of the burden from these families’ shoulders so they can focus on their child’s care.

Thank you to all the passionate workers across our country who are making a significant impact on these families’ lives. We need to ensure that organizations like Childcan and RMHC continue to be supported so they can continue to empower children and give families the ability to focus on their sick child.

September has come to a close, marking the end of another Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, but pediatric cancer does not stop with the end of the month. We must continue raising awareness for this disease to promote more investment in research in order to reduce the number of children lost far too soon to childhood cancer.

Thank you. Meegwetch.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

RCMP Investigation in Montreal

Hon. Yuen Pau Woo: Honourable senators, I have an update for you on the situation concerning Chinese police stations in Montreal: They don’t exist.

Last week, the RCMP concluded its investigation into Chinese Family Services of Greater Montreal, or CFSGM, and the Centre Sino-Québec de la Rive-Sud, or CSQ, without recommending charges.

For more than two years, CFSGM and CSQ were publicly cast under suspicion because of reckless claims by the RCMP. These claims led to funding cuts, drastic staff reductions and even the threat of foreclosure on their community facility. Beyond the immediate operational impact, the reputational damage created fear, mistrust and stigma within racialized communities, who saw how easily long-standing institutions could be undermined by accusations and innuendo from powerful government agencies — and not just government agencies, but parliamentarians as well.

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In this chamber and in the other place, we had senators and MPs speaking about the two organizations as if they were guilty, when no charges had even been laid. In the frenzy of foreign interference hysteria that has gripped this country over the past 5 years — and 103 years after the Chinese Exclusion Act — we are again allowing a kind of discrimination. It is not directed at all Chinese people, but at Chinese Canadians who have the wrong backgrounds, views and affiliations. This, honourable colleagues, is modern exclusion.

It is not only that the RCMP never laid charges and dragged out its investigation for more than two years; it is also that the police never explained what they believed were the objectionable activities taking place in Montreal. The shame of it is that even now, with the investigation completed and no charges laid, the RCMP has not offered an apology to the two organizations, let alone restitution.

The great irony in this case is that the so-called intelligence that led to the investigation into foreign interference came from an NGO in Spain with dodgy provenance. Will the RCMP now investigate Safeguard Defenders for its foreign interference in Canada and the harm it has done to the Chinese community in Montreal?

In the aftermath of Bill C-70 and the impending appointment of a commissioner of the foreign influence transparency registry, we must be more vigilant than ever about discrimination, stigmatization and prejudice on the grounds of foreign interference hysteria and national security overreach.

This is not an issue that affects just Chinese Canadians. Recently, Senator Patterson organized a fireside chat with Huda Mukbil, who reflected on her groundbreaking role as the first Black Arab-Canadian Muslim woman to serve as an intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, and how she witnessed systemic discrimination first-hand in the aftermath of the “war on terror” following 9/11.

Thank you.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Adjournment

Notice of Motion

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 2 p.m.

[Translation]

Bill to Amend the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights and to Establish a Framework for Implementing the Rights of Victims of Crime

First Reading

Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition) introduced Bill S-236, An Act to amend the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights and to establish a framework for implementing the rights of victims of crime.

(Bill read first time.)

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator Housakos, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)

[English]

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to Legal and Constitutional Matters Generally

Hon. David M. Arnot: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, in accordance with rule 12-7(9), be authorized to examine and report on such issues as may arise from time to time relating to legal and constitutional matters generally; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than October 10, 2027.

Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Matters Related to the Impact of Artificial Intelligence

Hon. Rosemary Moodie: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on matters related to the impact of artificial intelligence in Canada, highlighting issues including:

(a)data governance and sovereignty;

(b)ethics, privacy and safety; and

(c)the risks, benefits and social impact;

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate; and

That the committee submit its final report no later than December 31, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

[Translation]

Banking, Commerce and the Economy

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Housing Crisis and Challenges Currently Facing Homebuilders and Refer Papers and Evidence from First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament to Current Session

Hon. Clément Gignac: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(a), I move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy be authorized to examine and report on Canada’s housing crisis and the challenges currently facing Canadian homebuilders, with a particular focus on government taxes, fees and levies;

That the papers and evidence received and taken and the work accomplished by the committee on this subject, between October 5, 2023, and November 23, 2023, during the First Session of the Forty-fourth Parliament under its order of reference relating to banking and commerce generally, be referred to the committee; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than March 31, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Honourable senators, is leave granted?

Hon. Hassan Yussuff: Your Honour, I accept my colleague’s report, but with all due respect, I believe there is a mistake in the reference that he just cited before the chamber. He said “Canadian homebuilders,” but as I understand it, as a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy, the word “homebuilders” is not part of the study that we’re conducting.

[Translation]

Senator Gignac: With all due respect for my colleague, Senator Yussuff, the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure met on Monday, and the exact wording of the order of reference was presented and approved by my subcommittee colleagues. We then sent out the specific order of reference that all of you received. All of the committee members also received it.

I am therefore tabling what was approved by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. No one on the Banking Committee told me that there was a problem until this morning. I am therefore tabling what was approved by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

Some Hon. Senators: No.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Leave is not granted.

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[English]

Hon. Percy E. Downe: I thought we already agreed to that prior to the supplementary intervention.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: From what I heard, senator, because Senator Yussuff stood up and asked for questions, it was not clear that it was granted.

Senator Gignac: The steering committee had an in camera session about what to study, and the committee decided we would do a study on housing. According to the best practices of the Senate, we have a general order of reference, but we have a specific order of reference on housing.

So the steering committee, with the clerk, had a meeting on Monday. We shared the exact same order of reference that has been tabled today. The clerk confirmed to me a few minutes ago that it is exactly the same. The steering committee agreed. We shared it with all our colleagues on the Banking Committee on Monday. Everything was okay until suddenly at noon today, one of our colleagues wasn’t comfortable with some of the wording. Personally, I think that we should go ahead, but it’s up to the Senate to decide.

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Gignac, would you like to give notice for the next sitting of the Senate?

[English]

Senator Gignac: I have no problem with that. Just bear in mind that the Banking Committee will be cancelled today if we do not accept this specific order of reference because we already have witnesses, and we thought the order of reference was accepted before we sent out the details of our meeting today.

Worse than that, tomorrow’s meeting will also be cancelled because it is before the Senate sitting. It’s up to the Senate to decide, but we will lose two meetings this week to study housing if the wording of the order has to be changed today.

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Therefore, honourable senators, the text that you read constitutes notice for the next sitting of the Senate. I will read it again for your benefit.

[English]

[Translation]

That was the notice for the next sitting of the Senate.

[English]

Fisheries and Oceans

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to Federal Government’s Current and Evolving Policy Framework for Managing Fisheries and Oceans

Hon. Fabian Manning: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans be authorized, in accordance with rule 12-7(13), to examine and report on issues relating to the federal government’s current and evolving policy framework for managing Canada’s fisheries and oceans, including maritime safety; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2027, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to National Security and Defence Generally

Hon. Hassan Yussuff: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, in accordance with rule 12-7(17), be authorized to examine and report on such issues as may arise from time to time relating to national security and defence generally, including veterans’ affairs; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than October 10, 2027, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

QUESTION PERIOD

Finance

Support for Seniors

Hon. Leo Housakos (Leader of the Opposition): Government leader, today is National Seniors Day, a day to pay tribute to older Canadians who helped shape this great country, yet a new report shows that many of them are struggling more than ever with rising living costs. One in three elderly people continue to have to support their daughters, sons and grandchildren. Seventy-six per cent are claiming their life savings are being eroded because of this, which is an 11% increase this year compared to last year. More than half of these Canadian hero senior citizens are claiming that they will not be able to survive retirement.

Government leader, on this National Seniors Day, can you assure Canadians and this chamber that your government is doing enough to ensure seniors can retire with dignity and security rather than continue to face this growing anxiety?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. Senior citizens need to be reassured that the government is taking action to make sure that all Canadians remain safe and have what they need to lead a good life.

The government will be tabling a budget on November 4, and I am confident that these issues will be taken into consideration at that time. That being said, it is very important that the government be there for all Canadians — senior citizens in particular — because they are the ones who built our country, and we owe it to them to make them safe and secure.

Senator Housakos: Senator Moreau, when we have two thirds of senior citizens who are suffering in their retirement because they are obligated to support their children, it is because the government has failed them over the last few years. We all acknowledge that.

I’m hopeful, like you are, that in the next budget we will see action. You seem to be very hopeful, but can we have a guarantee that the budget will include action to secure and tackle the problem of the cost of living and particularly allow these Canadian senior citizens who have earned their retirement to be able to profit by enjoying a decent retirement rather than being obligated to support children and grandchildren?

Senator Moreau: You were referring to housing, for instance. The government has launched Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency that will build affordable housing at a scale of an initial $13 billion in capital to bolster industry, other orders of government, Indigenous communities and elderly persons as well. The government is committed to helping all Canadians, including the elderly. Elderly persons should be safe and secure, and the government is very aware of that.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Canadian Entrepreneurs

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Government leader, a recent study shows that only 32% of Canadian-founded, high-potential start-ups last year were actually based in Canada, compared to over 67% in the late 2010s. Many of our homegrown entrepreneurs are leaving for the United States, creating what some in the sector call “a lost generation of talent.” These are not just companies, Senator Moreau; they represent Canada’s prosperity.

After a decade of Liberal policies stifling growth and driving away investment, how can Canadians trust your government to take concrete actions to keep our best innovators and their businesses here at home?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): It is my understanding that the government has a plan to build the strongest economy in the G7. By doing so, it will help not only Canadians but also Canadian industries and Canadian entrepreneurs as well by investing in productivity and innovation and bringing more Canadians into the workforce. Entrepreneurs in general should be aware of the fact that the government has a plan that is serious and aimed at building the strongest economy in the G7.

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Senator Martin: Senator Moreau, your government often speaks of attracting global talent, and the recent hike in the United States H-1B visa fees could be an opening for Canada.

How can Canadians trust your government to draw innovators from abroad when our own entrepreneurs are burdened with red tape and uncompetitive policies here at home?

Senator Moreau: Building a strong economy for Canada helps entrepreneurs, and that is the reason why Canadian entrepreneurs should be reassured that the government is looking forward. Building a strong economy helps Canadians and helps Canadian industry, and that’s exactly what the government is doing. Therefore, they will be able to recruit a workforce here in Canada and elsewhere in the world.

Crown-Indigenous Relations

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

Hon. Nancy Karetak-Lindell: Good afternoon.

Since 2015, the Government of Canada has committed to working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to advance reconciliation. Although a decade has passed, long-term investments in food security, infrastructure, housing and mental health supports remain critical, especially to those living in remote communities. This is not just about policy; this is about upholding Indigenous rights, equity and Canada’s commitments under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

With time-limited programs like the Inuit Child First Initiative set to end in March 2026 and growing pressures on federal spending, what are the Government of Canada’s plans to ensure that Indigenous communities are not left behind?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question.

For Indigenous Peoples, Métis and Inuit, practical solutions emerge when the government creates meaningful partnerships with communities and stakeholders to truly move projects and priorities forward. This government has signed a historic 10-year agreement with the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association. This agreement puts $5 million toward strengthening Indigenous business and entrepreneurs, especially women and youth. The government will continue working to dismantle barriers to economic participation in order to create a future where everyone has a fair chance to succeed.

That’s a commitment toward Indigenous Peoples in this country.

Senator Karetak-Lindell: How will this government ensure these supports are sustained beyond temporary funding cycles and in a way that truly and meaningfully advances the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action in a timely manner?

Senator Moreau: The government has made it be very important to work with Aboriginal and Indigenous Peoples and all communities in Canada.

The government has completed or is advancing 85% of those involving the federal government for the national council for reconciliation, and they have set up the conditions supporting Calls to Action 54 to 56. The government is working with Indigenous Peoples. It is committed to economic reconciliation as well.

Public Safety

Disproportionality of Indigenous People in Incarceration

Hon. Kim Pate: Thank you, Government Representative.

On the last National Indigenous Peoples Day, the former government representative reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in prisons. Through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 30, the government committed to eliminating overrepresentation by this year — yesterday, actually.

Mass incarceration remains one of the starkest legacies of residential schools and other colonial policies of forced separation and institutionalization. What urgent steps will the government be taking to end the current incarceration rates of Indigenous Peoples, and how will these efforts differ from the approaches of the past 10 years, including those in the Indigenous Justice Strategy, which have only perpetuated and exacerbated overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in prison such that one in two women and one in three men in federal prisons are Indigenous?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, Senator Pate, for the question. I appreciate the question, and I thank you for your advocacy on this important issue. I know you are always raising this issue for those affected.

I do want to be clear: The overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the criminal justice system as both victims and offenders is a serious and complex issue rooted in systemic racism and the legacy of colonialism, and the government is committed to addressing this issue.

I will certainly raise this concern with the relevant minister, and I thank you for raising the issue here at the Senate.

Senator Pate: Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

At a time when the government is focused on efficient public spending, how is it evaluating the financial costs and public safety outcomes of mass incarceration of Indigenous Peoples versus what could be achieved by refocusing resources toward Indigenous communities on health care, housing, education, social and income supports and other measures that address marginalization, thereby preventing victimization and criminalization?

Senator Moreau: Senator Pate, if you will allow me to reiterate the Prime Minister’s words from yesterday, he said particularly that the government is:

. . . building together — in health care, housing, education, and economic opportunity — upholding Indigenous rights and empowering communities with security and prosperity.

The Prime Minister’s words are a commitment to working on these important issues. Thank you for raising the question.

Environment and Climate Change

Canada Water Agency

Hon. Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler: Senator Moreau, fresh water is fundamental to the survival of species and societies. Fresh water is a limited resource, and with 20% of the world’s supply, Canada carries a special responsibility to protect it.

The Canada Water Agency was created to provide national leadership on freshwater protection, management and conservation. Scientists and experts are warning that rumoured budget cuts to the Canada Water Agency would jeopardize restoration work on vulnerable waters, putting clean drinking water, ecosystems and local economies at risk.

Senator Moreau, can the government assure Canadians that the Canada Water Agency will have the resources it needs to keep our fresh water clean and well managed for current and future generations?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator Osler, thank you for the question. You know — as do all senators — that I cannot comment on any future potential spending or cuts.

Having said that, I have every confidence that this government will always protect our water. It is one of Canada’s important resources, and the commitment of the government to protect our water is there for sure.

Senator Osler: The Canada Water Agency’s mandate covers management of our freshwater systems, but it does not specifically address water security within the broader context of national security.

Shifting U.S. policies and funding cuts will put pressure on long-standing cross-border water treaties, such as the Columbia River Treaty and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

What is the government’s plan to safeguard Canada’s freshwater supplies to ensure their abundance and security?

Senator Moreau: Canadians don’t just share a border with the U.S. — we also share much of the same environment.

The government remains focused on what it can control. This includes delicate management of a number of shared issues ranging from transboundary water management to air pollution to wildlife protection. Canada remains committed to working with American partners to advance our shared environmental and economic prosperity goals while also proceeding in areas where our priorities are not aligned in a way that is clear-eyed and aligned with what Canadians expect. And Canadians expect the government to protect our water.

Finance

Job Creation

Hon. Andrew Cardozo: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

First, sir, my congratulations to you on assuming this role.

My question is regarding federal expenditures and job creation.

(1450)

With $9 billion in defence spending over this and the next few years, how can the government ensure that we are spending as much as possible to develop the defence industry and create jobs in Canada rather than buying equipment off the shelves of other countries?

And when we do buy from other countries, can we ensure that they make substantial purchases from Canada in the near term in a reciprocal agreement? So, for example, if we buy $1 billion of their defence equipment, they buy $1 billion of canola from us.

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): I appreciate the question. The government will not compromise when it comes to protecting Canadian workers and businesses, and that means buying Canadian.

The government is doing this by ensuring Canadian suppliers and their products are prioritized in all federal spending, not just defence spending. This new buy-Canadian policy builds on sector-specific measures to protect our sovereignty, grow our industries, support our workers and build one strong Canadian economy.

At this transformative moment, the government is shifting from reliance to resilience. The government will use all the tools at its disposal to build big, build boldly and build the strongest economy in the G7, which is where Canadians want the government to be.

Senator Cardozo: Thank you. That is encouraging. I have a supplementary question. Last week, the government announced a $500-million loan to Algoma Steel. There are many examples of the federal and provincial governments providing major grants or loans to big corporations that, in the end, either did not complete their investment or ended up giving their executives huge bonuses within months. If they are desperate enough to take federal assistance, should they not be desperate enough to forgo executive bonuses? How will the government ensure that the money goes to creating jobs for ordinary workers?

Senator Moreau: Senator Cardozo, the Canadian steel industry is vital to Canada’s economy and security, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and driving growth across the manufacturing, construction and energy sectors.

That is why the government has introduced targeted measures, such as this loan, to support Canada’s steel industry, protect Canadian jobs and strengthen domestic industrial capacity. When we are protecting jobs, we are protecting workers, their families and the Canadian economy as a whole.

Privy Council Office

Office of the Government Representative

Hon. Denise Batters: Senator Moreau, your Carney government has expanded taxpayer-funded positions in the Government Representative’s Office. What you call the government liaison now has a deputy government liaison. What do these people do?

According to the Senate Rules, the government liaison ensures adequate votes from government party senators, substitutes government senators at committees and does some kind of undefined outreach. But you, and GRO, insist there are no government senators, so your liaison doesn’t actually need to count votes, and she’s the only government member of a committee, so I suppose she substitutes herself.

Also, no one in your Liberal government group seems able to define what “outreach” means. Your former deputy leader said, “We have discussions with different senators on different subjects. Do I have a definition? No.” With such limited prescribed duties for the government liaison, why do you now need not one but two people to do that job?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): I have explained very explicitly why we are increasing the GRO to five members. First, we want to represent all regions of Canada: Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada and Northern Canada. This is the main reason why we are going from three to five members. Then, it will be possible for all senators in this chamber to reach the GRO more effectively and rapidly, and — most importantly — it will be possible for the GRO to get its business done.

We are not only the representative of the government here in the Senate, but also the representative of the Senate to the government. Increasing the capacity of the GRO is very good news for all senators in this chamber.

Senator Batters: Your GRO website says the government liaison “. . . works to ensure that all senators have the information they require in anticipation of votes.” Yet in June, the GRO team couldn’t tell me what the Liberal government spent $73 billion on in Parliament’s absence. Only Conservative senators voted “no” to that spending.

The GRO website also shows a Prime Minister’s Office photo of you on the same day with Prime Minister Carney and Minister MacKinnon. Was that beaming photo taken before or after you voted “yes” to that unexplained $73 billion?

Senator Moreau: We will have to agree to disagree on what the GRO is and should be.

I explained very clearly what I have in mind by going from three to five members at the GRO: to make it possible to best represent the Senate to the government and to best represent the government in the Senate.

Regarding the picture, you know we have people taking pictures every day. As far as I’m concerned, when and where the picture was taken are questions that are not as important. My main —

[Translation]

Global Affairs

Supply Management

Hon. Claude Carignan: Leader, the issue of dairy farmer quotas is back in the spotlight following an article published in The Globe and Mail, which references anonymous sources claiming that the government was considering the possibility of offering U.S. dairy farmers greater access to the Canadian market in an effort to ease tensions with the United States.

What is this government plotting behind dairy farmers’ backs?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): To begin with, as you know, Senator Carignan, you must never give credence to rumours. Rumours can lead to a lot of places.

The Prime Minister was absolutely clear during the election campaign, and the government’s position remains firm. When it comes to quotas and supply management, the Government of Canada will stand shoulder to shoulder with dairy, poultry and egg farmers to protect supply management.

I have no backroom information and my answers are definitely not based on rumours.

Senator Carignan: Well, that is good to hear. That makes me feel better. In fact, it is precisely because I don’t trust rumours that I am asking the Government Representative these questions.

This government has changed its mind several times, and there is a difference between what it said during the election campaign and what it is actually doing today. How can dairy farmers in Canada and Quebec be reassured by your response when several anonymous sources suggest that the government is putting quotas on the negotiating table?

Senator Moreau: Presumably, if the sources were reliable, they would not be anonymous. I was born on a dairy farm in Quebec. I know how important supply management is, not only for dairy farmers in Quebec, but also for all other supply-managed farmers in Canada.

The government has been very clear that it will protect supply management, and I have no reason to believe that it will change its position for any reason.

[English]

Crown-Indigenous Relations

Access to Safe Drinking Water

Hon. Bernadette Clement: Senator Moreau, yesterday I honoured Truth and Reconciliation Day with friends from Akwesasne and Cornwall. But we know truth and reconciliation is not just about education, celebration and community; it’s also about action.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé was recently in Neskantaga First Nation. He said that children are growing up never having known safe tap water. Because of insufficient housing, families crowd into houses with basements with dangerous black mould. He described the reality as “heartbreaking.” What is the government doing to honour its commitments to Neskantaga and communities like it facing similar challenges?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): The government’s commitments to Indigenous People are very important. I don’t have a specific answer to the question you raised today, but one thing is certain: When we work together with First Nations, with Indigenous People, we do so with open minds in order to provide those First Nations with what they need to have clean water and take care of their children.

The government is working very hard on that issue. Reconciliation is an ongoing process that should only proceed through discussion and by working with Indigenous families and their children.

Senator Clement: Thank you. I plan to travel to northern Ontario soon. There are senators with connections and relationships to this massive part of our province, and they advocate for remote Indigenous communities as well.

(1500)

Ontario’s large urban centres are well represented here, but there are voices missing. Senator Moreau, is this government committed to appointing a senator from Treaty 9, from James Bay Treaty territory, so that they can be better represented in this place?

Senator Moreau: I’m sorry. I can’t answer that question because the appointment of senators is the privilege of the Prime Minister. Certainly, if we have discussions concerning appointments to the Senate, I will raise the question with the Prime Minister.

Privy Council Office

Major Projects Office

Hon. Krista Ross: Senator Moreau, congratulations on taking your new role. It is nice to see you working across the aisle.

My first question to you as Government Representative is about New Brunswick. In the list of five nation-building projects to be referred to the Major Projects Office that the Prime Minister announced two weeks ago, none were in New Brunswick. The only mention of Atlantic Canada was Wind West Atlantic Energy, which was listed under “Transformative Strategies.”

New Brunswick stands at the ready and has resources that already align with the government’s priorities. For example, New Brunswick has 21 out of 34 of Canada’s critical minerals and two deepwater ports. My question is this: Are any New Brunswick projects under consideration to be included in the next batch of projects referred to the Major Projects Office?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Well, I’m afraid I don’t have the answer to that question, but one thing is for sure. Last week, I mentioned that the list of projects of national interest is only the first. There will be more to come, and I am confident that there will be projects across Canada, including in New Brunswick, for sure.

To answer your question directly, I don’t have any information concerning a specific project on the future lists that concerns New Brunswick, but I am quite sure that the members of Parliament from New Brunswick will discuss the situation with the ministers. I’m confident that there will be a project of national interest in New Brunswick as well.

Senator Ross: Thank you, Senator Moreau. I would appreciate it if you could look into the answer and let us know, when you can, when you think the next batch of announcements for projects will be made. I know that my New Brunswick Senate colleagues, along with our New Brunswick leaders, many of whom visited us here in Ottawa last week with our premier, will be keen to hear these details.

Senator Moreau: I understand the importance of having an answer to that question. I will certainly raise the issue with the minister, and when it is possible to tell you when the next list will be available or when a project concerning New Brunswick will be available, I will gladly give you that answer.

Canadian Heritage

Rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ People

Hon. Kristopher Wells: Honourable senators, in his first statement in his new role, the Government Representative spoke powerfully about the need to ensure that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Charter are not under attack. This, of course, includes the right to equality for all Canadians, including 2SLGBTQI+ people. Disturbing reports have indicated the Government of Alberta is preparing to pre-emptively use the “notwithstanding” clause to override these critical protections.

What actions will the federal government take to protect the integrity and purpose of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and ensure that 2SLGBTQI+ Albertans are not stripped of their fundamental rights?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you, senator, for raising this important issue. I want to be clear that the government will always stand up for the rights of all Canadians, including the 2SLGBTQI+ community. In fact, the Government of Canada has the responsibility to defend the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is an integral part of our Constitution, throughout Canada. The constitutional issues raised using the “notwithstanding” clause are before the Supreme Court of Canada, in other instances, and it would not be appropriate to comment further, but I’m sure that the Supreme Court of Canada will give an answer in the near future.

Senator K. Wells: Thank you. I remain deeply concerned by the Alberta government’s unprecedented attack on 2SLGBTQI+ rights. Our community is looking to this new federal government to continue to be an ally and a champion of human rights. The federal government’s recent filing at the Supreme Court is a strong first step in defending the Charter. But what additional and concrete steps — legal, political or otherwise — will the government take to support our minority communities, particularly if the Government of Alberta invokes the “notwithstanding” clause to override the Charter rights of 2SLGBTQI+ Albertans?

Senator Moreau: I repeat that the government will always stand up for the rights of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, as it will for all Canadians, and to defend the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, as this is before the courts — and it is the Supreme Court of Canada, which is the highest court in this country — and there will be a judgment rendered by the court concerning the “notwithstanding” clause, at this moment, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

[Translation]

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Speech from the Throne

Motion for Address in Reply—Debate Continued

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gold, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson:

That the following Address be presented to His Majesty the King:

To His Most Excellent Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY:

We, Your Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both houses of Parliament.

Hon. Danièle Henkel: Honourable senators, allow me to start by thanking you for the warmth and kindness you’ve shown me since I first arrived. I want you to know that I’m proud and honoured to share this chamber with you.

When I crossed the threshold of the Senate for the first time, I was not alone. With me came my immigrant self who had to start over with nothing, my father who disappeared before I was born, my courageous, self-sacrificing mother, my grief for a husband who did so much to support me, and the memory of a country left behind in fear. In front of me, up there in the gallery, were my children and grandchildren, a living reminder that I was here to help build a fairer, more equitable Canada.

I did not come to Canada looking for adventure. On January 8, 1990, I bought a one-way ticket. I fled in fear, my suitcases almost empty. In my heart, however, there was one thing I knew for certain: My children deserved a future. I had faith in a promise, a promise called Canada.

[English]

But when we arrived, another reality awaited us. Behind the generous welcome, there were closed doors. Canada seemed to be telling us, “Wait. Start over. Prove yourselves again and again.” For example, my ex-husband, Ahmed, had two engineering diplomas, one in meteorology and the other in water treatment. Despite the fact that he was chosen as the expert for the World Health Organization to run its office in Lausanne, in Canada, he saw his diplomas swept aside as worthless pieces of paper. He ended up selling curtains for minimum wage. For a man of his generation, who had always seen himself as the pillar of the family, it was a deep wound to his dignity that never healed.

[Translation]

As for me, I spoke four languages, had studied international relations and had served in a number of leadership roles. I worked at the U.S. Consulate General in Algeria for 10 years. In 1989, the U.S. State Department named me employee of the year out of all the embassies around the world.

Still, when I arrived here, all I had access to were odd jobs: door-to-door sales, cleaning and secretarial work. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing dishonourable about those jobs. They were just a huge waste of my skills.

(1510)

After 35 years, one question still haunts me, and that is, why does this country allow much-needed talent to wither away?

[English]

This issue of credentials recognition cannot wait any longer. We all know of cab drivers who used to be surgeons and shoe salesmen who used to be engineers. This skilled workforce, which our economy desperately needs, is right here, but we are still overlooking it.

According to Statistics Canada, among recent immigrants with a university degree, one in four holds a job that falls short of their qualifications. This is more than double the rate for Canadians born here. Even after 10 years of residency, one in five is still stuck in a job they are overqualified for. It makes no sense.

In the Speech from the Throne, the King himself reaffirmed the government’s determination to attract talent from all over the world to support our economy. However, if such talent is met with closed doors once they arrive, why even bother?

[Translation]

We are creating our own roadblocks. As the OECD has pointed out, the patchwork of professional orders and administrative barriers limits mobility, reduces competition and hampers innovation. All of that stifles and slows down our economy.

When I had to start all over again, I discovered a simple truth: Dignity depends on having a place to live and a job. Without a place to live, every night is worrying. Without a job, every morning is humiliating. That’s why I will always support policies that meet these basic needs.

When others refused to recognize my skills, I was forced to create my own job. I became an entrepreneur not to realize a dream, but out of necessity.

That’s why I plan to continue to speak up here, with my trademark passion, on behalf of small and medium-sized businesses, because they’re the lifeblood of our economy. They account for 98% of all businesses, half of all jobs and half of our GDP. However, they are still too often left out of major projects, held back by bureaucracy and a lack of funding.

For businesses run by women, the obstacles are even greater. I know because I have experienced them first-hand. Even today, a man is still asked about his vision for growth, while a woman is asked if she has a guarantor or how she’ll balance work and family. How humiliating, in a country that claims to champion inclusion, equity and diversity.

That’s why, for the past 30 years, I’ve been active across Canada and internationally as a speaker and strategic adviser, sharing my experience and tools, particularly with women and marginalized populations, to encourage them to persevere and continue to believe, learn and innovate.

[English]

A great country like ours should never leave anyone behind, because everyone matters and deserves a place in our society. Being responsible citizens can only make us stronger and prouder.

It was in this same spirit that I have been chosen as the first female honorary lieutenant-colonel of Le Régiment de Maisonneuve. These reservists are citizen soldiers. They are crucial for our civil protection, responding to situations such as floods, fires and pandemics. However, they receive little recognition or support. Behind every reservist is a family that must adapt and a company that must deal with this dual reality. I salute these employers and call for rewarding and supporting their societal commitments.

[Translation]

The army represents much more than that for me. It is the only tangible connection I have to my military father, whom I never knew but searched for all my life. His absence has left a lasting void.

When I agreed to become the first female honorary captain of the Canadian Coast Guard in June 2025, I wanted to send another message, particularly to women: They can and must continue to break glass ceilings and take on the roles they aspire to.

I am grateful every day for the dedication of these men and women who keep us safe, and I thank them for that.

However, that is not the only way we need to be kept safe, honourable colleagues. Online safety is also an issue.

Threats such as identity theft, foreign interference, cyberattacks and data theft, are skyrocketing. In July, I was the victim of an AI-generated deepfake video. An almost perfect imitation of my image and voice were used to promote an investment scam. That is when I realized how big of a legal vacuum there is in this area in Canada and how weak our safeguards for individuals and businesses are.

As the Auditor General pointed out in 2024, when it comes to cybersecurity and the fight against fraud, Canada is lagging behind at a strategic and operational level, and yet we have no shortage of experts or talent.

What we are lacking is coordination, political will and a quick response time. Former Bills C-26, C-27 and C-63 must be updated and urgently reintroduced. The European Union, the United Kingdom and Australia have already put successful models in place. Why not us? What are we waiting for? This is not just about technical issues; it’s about political and economic sovereignty.

[English]

When it comes to economic sovereignty, we should have the courage to look at our own inconsistencies. How can we talk about sovereignty when there are fewer restrictions for trade with the United States than there are between our own provinces and territories? The European Union has managed to build a single market between 27 countries and 24 languages, and we Canadians have divided our common home into 13 small, narrow markets. Recent studies show that it is as if we were imposing a 7% tariff on our own businesses to trade among our own provinces and territories. Again, it makes no sense.

It is high time that the federal, provincial and territorial governments put their partisan allegiances aside and unleash the potential of our economy.

[Translation]

Opening up our domestic markets is not enough. We also need to deploy economic diplomacy. La Francophonie, for example, is an unparalleled gateway to new markets, from Quebec to the Prairies, from Acadia to the northern territories — and internationally. Let’s stop making the Francophonie about folklore.

(1520)

Having been an ambassador for the economic Francophonie for three years, I have seen this potential, which represents access to a market of 320 million people where our entrepreneurs can prosper.

[English]

None of these assets will bear fruit if we do not make education a national priority. We need to stay at the forefront of technology and invest heavily in re-skilling. As John F. Kennedy said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.” He also said, “The human mind is our fundamental resource.”

Governments, businesses, citizens — everyone has to pull in the same direction. We must also send a clear message to the next generation: Your talent is our greatest asset. We need you and we believe in you.

Dear colleagues, the path that led me here was a long one. Leaving my country was a painful choice, but one I have never regretted. Canada welcomed me, but it also put me to the test. Here, I experienced insecurity, doubt and internal exile. But little by little, with resilience, sacrifices, failures and successes, I regained my dignity and earned the trust of communities and peers. I thank them. I will humbly continue to do my best in carrying their voices.

[Translation]

Let’s be clear about the challenges of today and tomorrow. It’s up to all of us — citizens, governments, businesses — whatever our allegiances, to face them together.

Colleagues, all my actions, however different they may seem, are but branches of the same tree, nourished by the same sap, the sap of a Canada that allows everyone to contribute to a common endeavour that is greater than ourselves.

With your help, I hope to make it grow.

Thank you.

(On motion of Senator LaBoucane-Benson, debate adjourned.)

[English]

Ukrainian Heritage Month Bill

Third Reading

Hon. Stan Kutcher moved third reading of Bill S-210, An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month.

He said: Honourable senators, I rise to begin our third reading debate on this bill. Let me start by acknowledging all the support I have felt from the members of this chamber as this bill has made its way through the Senate.

I also acknowledge the contributions that those who have spoken have made toward our better understanding of the importance of recognizing a Ukrainian heritage month.

I want to make a special note of thanks to Senator Batters in her role as the friendly critic. Senator Batters, your second reading speech last week was a masterful address of the many aspects of Ukrainian heritage.

I will be brief: I have had conversations with Ukrainians in both Canada and Ukraine about this bill. Both the long-standing Ukrainian diaspora and Ukrainian newcomers to Canada thank the Senate for taking this initiative. Many Ukrainians who are experiencing the horrors of war see this bill as a beacon of hope — a signal that Canada can be counted on to help end this war with a victory for Ukraine and to assist in the rebuilding that will be necessary when peace returns.

Serendipitously, today is Ukraine’s Defenders Day, a public holiday that honours veterans and fallen members of the Ukrainian armed forces. It is also a reminder to us that Ukraine is not only fighting for itself but also to uphold the values that the democracies of this world hold dear.

Senator Batters was right; I should have added the word “freedom” to the preamble. In Ukrainian, the word “freedom” is cvoboda. It has a historic legacy reaching back to the Cossacks and their fight for independence.

In Ukrainian, “independence” is nezalezhnist. In Ukrainian, nezalezhnist also means freedom from the tyranny of Russia. It means sovereignty, democracy and upholding the rule of law internally and internationally; it means taking a place as a valued member of the EU and NATO, and it means closer ties with like-minded nations such as Canada. Canada is ready to strengthen those ties through enhanced business-to-business relationships supported by the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement framework, increasing cultural diplomacy, supporting the military necessity and working to ramp up the success of returning the children that Russia has stolen.

Speaking of children, I would like to end my speech with a few remarks about children, specifically the Ottawa Ukrainian Children’s Choir which sang in the Senate last week. Colleagues, did you know that Senator Ataullahjan received so many warm hugs from them she is still glowing today? Just look at her.

Senator McBean enthralled them with her Olympic story about losing a race to Ukraine, but winning so many medals that all of them lost count.

Senator Ravalia made them laugh as he took countless selfies with them.

Senator Dasko gave them a warm welcome.

Senator Patterson took them into the chamber where they recreated Harry Potter stories and learned how the Senate works. Colleagues, I understand some of their debates were of better quality than ours.

This was a night these children will never forget. As they grow up, however, there are things seared in their minds that they also will never forget.

These children are from many different cities, towns and villages in Ukraine, including Bucha and Irpin. One of the young choir members from Bucha arrived a few years ago, mute because of the horrors they witnessed. Now that youngster is singing their heart out here in Canada — a place of safety and a place to heal.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Kutcher: Honourable colleagues, these children are some of those who will help carry on the heritage of Ukraine here in Canada. These children are as they sang to us: “We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day.” These children are amongst those whom you recognize and honour with this bill.

Thank you, d’akuju.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Hon. Donna Dasko: Honourable senators, I rise today to make a few short remarks at third reading in support of Senator Kutcher’s Bill S-210, which designates the month of September as Ukrainian heritage month.

This bill is identical to Bill S-276 which passed the Senate in the Forty-fourth Parliament and then died on the Order Paper earlier this year.

(1530)

I am pleased that Senator Kutcher has reintroduced this bill.

I want to thank all honourable colleagues who attended our historic event last week celebrating Ukrainian Heritage Day in the Senate. I also thank my co-hosts of the event, Senator Kutcher and Senator Patterson. We three were delighted to showcase Ukrainian music, dance and food.

The Ukrainian community in Canada has roots that are over a century old, going back to the first large wave of immigrants to Canada before 1914, when over 170,000 Ukrainians arrived on our shores, including my own grandparents. It is remarkable that Ukrainian culture and heritage remain so strong after so long.

I have learned a lot from studying Bill S-210 and Bill S-276, from the remarkable speeches of our colleagues — Senators Simons, Batters and Kutcher — as well as from the historical record, which includes stories of hardship and exclusion, as well as stories of integration and success.

This bill will recognize the significant contributions that Ukrainian Canadians have made and continue to make to Canada’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric. Let me give you just one example: Ukrainian Canadians tenaciously embraced and promoted a vision of Canada as a multicultural society at a critical time in Canadian history when Canada was described by sociologist John Porter as a “vertical mosaic,” a rigid hierarchy of ethnic groups, and when diversity was not accepted as a goal. The community pushed forward, and their more inclusive view was eventually adopted and embraced. In 1971, brought forward by prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada became the first country in the world to adopt a multicultural policy. Ukrainian Canadians can be justly proud of their pivotal role in bringing this about.

As we recognize Ukrainian heritage through this bill, we also affirm the worth of all communities and the respect and recognition that all communities seek for their contributions to this country as we continue to build a better and more inclusive society for all.

In Ukraine today, Putin’s brutal and ongoing war has resulted in untold hardship and needless loss of life. And as we think about Ukrainian heritage, we must understand that Ukrainian culture, art, language, libraries, museums and other cultural institutions are essential targets of what the Russians are destroying today in Ukraine. For Putin, Ukrainian heritage and identity must be stamped out.

Our support of this bill sends a message to the world that we Canadians care about this community, that we will remain resilient in supporting Ukraine and its aspirations as long as it takes.

I am pleased and proud to support Bill S-210, An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month, and I hope that you, too, will support it. Let’s now send it to the other place.

Thank you, d’akuju.

Hon. Paula Simons: Honourable senators, in my part of Alberta, Ukrainian heritage is everywhere.

Canada’s first Ukrainian pioneers arrived in Edmonton in June of 1892, and for all the years that the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union tried to wipe out Ukrainian national and cultural identity, Alberta’s Ukrainian diaspora kept the faith, literally. But they didn’t just build traditional churches. They preserved Ukrainian food, Ukrainian dance, Ukrainian poetry, Ukrainian music, Ukrainian embroidery. They created a living time capsule, nurturing and protecting Ukrainian culture, waiting for the day Ukraine would be free again.

Far from being assimilated, they co-opted everyone else into Ukrainian culture. But Ukrainian Canadians didn’t just teach us all to dance and eat dumplings and colour fancy eggs. They taught lessons in courage, in fidelity, in passion, in pride. They kept alive a dream — a dream of a free country — and convinced all of us to dream with them.

As Senator Dasko just explained, they gave Canada the gift of multiculturalism, pushing us beyond an anglophone-francophone binary, to embrace true cultural diversity. They showed us you could be a passionate, loyal Canadian while remaining passionately loyal to your ancestral culture.

It wasn’t always easy. People may know about the famous statues in Alberta that celebrate Ukrainian heritage: the giant perogy, the giant pysanka, the giant Mundare sausage. But the most important Ukrainian-Canadian statue is very different. It’s called Endurance. It’s a memorial to the 8,600 Ukrainians and other Eastern Europeans, immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who were interned as suspected enemy aliens during the First World War. Most were young men, but 81 women and 156 children were also imprisoned in what were then actually called concentration camps, 24 of them across Canada, including 3 in Alberta.

Many of these people were, in fact, refugees from the Austro-Hungarian regime, but Canada, afraid of traitors within, locked them up and forced them to do hard labour, working on farms, building places such as Banff and Jasper national parks.

The monument to the Ukrainian internment sits on the grounds of the Alberta legislature, where it has two equally striking neighbours: a memorial to the victims and Survivors of Canada’s Indian residential schools and a monument to the Shoah and the victims of the Nazi Holocaust. The triad stand together to remind us and our political leaders of the horrors wrought by prejudice and racial hate, paranoia and propaganda.

Today, Ukraine is once again under siege. Vladimir Putin, aided by his North Korean allies, seeks to destroy the valiant democracy on his doorstep. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and his masked minions are forcing suspect “aliens” into modern internment camps, while here in Canada, most especially in Alberta, craven politicians whip up anti-immigrant sentiment.

And so, in this dark hour, I thank the generations of Ukrainian Canadians who have fought for freedom, for community and for inclusion, exemplars for generations of how to be true Canadians.

Ukrainian heritage month should remind us all to stand vigilant against oppression and xenophobia, to stand on guard against those who would divide us and to stand up for our allies and for an international order in which might does not make right.

Thank you, hiy hiy.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(Motion agreed to and bill read third time and passed.)

Criminal Code

Bill to Amend—Third Reading—Debate Adjourned

Hon. Yvonne Boyer moved third reading of Bill S-228, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sterilization procedures).

[Translation]

Hon. Amina Gerba: Honourable senators, I rise today with deep emotion and a keen sense of responsibility at third reading stage of Bill S-228, introduced with courage and determination by our colleague, Senator Yvonne Boyer.

This bill is much more than a legal text. It is a cry for justice. It is a response to decades of silent suffering. It is a clear recognition of the systemic racism that has infected our health care institutions.

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As a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, I had the honour of participating in the study on forced and coerced sterilization in Canada. We held many meetings and heard heartbreaking testimony from dozens of women. They deserve our utmost respect for having the courage to share their unspeakable experiences with us.

[English]

We are not here to protect the powerful. We are here to defend the vulnerable.

[Translation]

Our duty in the Senate is clear: to represent minorities and ensure that the laws we pass are equitable, inclusive and non‑discriminatory. We stand with others as guardians of human dignity.

However, our study revealed a chilling truth: Forced sterilization is not a thing of the past. It remains a concrete sign of systemic racism within our health care institutions.

That racism is not limited to Indigenous communities. It also affects racialized women, marginalized women and women with disabilities.

Today, I am going to tell you a story that left a lasting impression on me. It might cause some offence, but it needs to heard. It’s the story of a well-educated, well-established businesswoman. For years, she suffered from horrific menstrual pain and profuse bleeding. One day, she almost fainted in an international airport. When she got back to Canada, she decided to consult her gynecologist. The diagnosis was endometriosis.

[English]

She was told there was a solution — a surgery, a relief. She trusted the system.

[Translation]

She was offered surgery to remove endometrial tissue. She agreed to it. The surgery went well. Her life, travel and business activities resumed as before.

Eleven years later, during a routine examination, her doctor prescribed a pelvic ultrasound. Then came the shocking news. The ultrasound revealed that her uterus had been removed. She was stunned. She’d never been told. She’d thought the procedure was a simple endometrial ablation. The hospital sent her written confirmation that her uterus had indeed been removed. According to the documents she received, she had given consent to any procedure necessary.

[English]

Necessary for whom? Necessary for what? She was sterilized without her consent, without her knowledge and without being informed.

[Translation]

Honourable senators, that woman is me. It was through the committee’s study that I came to understand what I had been through. I realized that I had been the victim of forced sterilization. I had never talked about it before.

I realized that systemic racism does not differentiate between educated and uneducated women or wealthy and poor women. It affects all Indigenous and racialized women, because when we enter the health care system or the justice system, we are viewed in one and the same way: with suspicion, indifference and too little consideration. This attitude in health care services has a name: misogynoir. Have you heard about that before? It is a form of dual discrimination, both sexist and racist, experienced only by Black women. This little-known term was coined by the American academic Moya Bailey in 2008.

According to Agnès Berthelot-Raffard, an associate professor in the Faculty of Health at York University, one of the consequences of misogynoir is the assumption that Black women can handle pain better than others. This kind of discrimination is unacceptable.

I have chosen to speak out in this chamber today to stand up for real equality for everyone in our health care systems. I am speaking out to break the silence and to put an end to this systemic racism. I am speaking out so that no woman, ever again, has to discover by chance that her uterus has been removed.

Bill S-228 is an essential step towards justice. It recognizes that sterilization without consent is mutilation. These acts will be enshrined in the Criminal Code as crimes, period.

[English]

Honourable senators, this bill is not just about law; it is about dignity, truth and healing. Bill S-228 is fighting systemic racism in our health system. Let us be the voice they were denied. Let us be the justice they deserve.

[Translation]

Colleagues, I urge you to vote in favour of this bill so that it can be sent to the other place very quickly, for the sake of Indigenous women, racialized women and all those who have been silenced.

[English]

Vote “yes” to justice. Vote “yes” to dignity. Vote “yes” to Bill S-228.

[Translation]

Thank you.

[English]

Hon. Yvonne Boyer: Honourable senators, I speak today as the sponsor of Bill S-228, a bill to amend the Criminal Code to make explicit that sterilization procedures performed without consent constitute aggravated assault.

I first want to acknowledge Senator Gerba and her devastating experience. I thank you for your courage to speak up and share your experience with all of us today. It is clear that this bill is not only important but necessary for our children and for generations to come.

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Honourable senators, this bill is before us today because of the careful and thorough work of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Over two separate parliaments, the committee studied this issue with diligence and compassion. We heard from survivors, legal experts, doctors, midwives and representatives of national organizations. The testimony was at times heartbreaking, but it was also clear and consistent: Forced and coerced sterilization is still happening in Canada, it must stop and the law must be strengthened to prevent it.

The committee’s study transformed Bill S-250 into the simplified, targeted legislation we now see as Bill S-228, and it is thanks to that work that we can proceed with clarity and purpose today.

This bill is the continuation of work that began years ago, work that has already been studied, debated and unanimously endorsed in this very chamber. In 2024, the Senate passed the amended Bill S-250, before it died on the Order Paper in the other place when the election was called.

When I speak of sterilization without consent, many people still ask me, “But isn’t that something from the past?” The answer is no. This is not only a part of our past. It is happening in Canada today. It is happening more often than most Canadians would ever want to believe, and to people to whom you wouldn’t believe it could happen — as we just witnessed.

My office has become a place of refuge for survivors. Women call me in tears. Some only discover decades later that they were sterilized. Others call me days after giving birth. Over the past seven years, I have spoken with hundreds of women. This is not a relic of the past. It is happening here and now.

Let me share with you some of the human faces behind these stories.

Today, you heard from Senator Amina Gerba and her harrowing story that hits close to home. If that can happen to a senator, it can certainly happen to our daughters and granddaughters.

Nicole Rabbit, her mother and her niece were all sterilized without consent. She told us plainly:

You took generations from us. I could have had more kids. My daughter could have had more siblings . . . . It’s like you wiped out a generation.

Katy Bear, a young First Nations woman from Saskatchewan, was sterilized at 21. Years later, despite being sterilized, she had an ectopic pregnancy and was rushed to emergency surgery. She had that fallopian tube removed. She later paid for surgery to have her remaining tube put back together with the scar tissue removed.

With little chance of conceiving, she became pregnant again. Just this past March — six months ago — as an experienced mother, she was worried that her full-term baby was not moving enough. She went to the ER, and while in an examining room at the very hospital where she had been sterilized 21 years before, the attending obstetrician, who is also a professor of medicine, asked her for her consent to be re-sterilized during her impending Caesarean section. Imagine the re-traumatization that she had to go through.

Louise Delisle was only 15 when she gave birth in Nova Scotia. Without her knowledge or her mother’s consent, the doctor performed a partial hysterectomy. She only discovered the truth years later when she and her husband tried to start a family. The decision to deny her the ability to have more children was made without her consent, without her knowledge and without any regard for her future.

We also heard from Sylvia Tuckanow, who described being wheeled into an operating room after giving birth, restrained and sterilized as she cried uncontrollably, begging them to stop.

Honourable senators, I want to recognize the Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice. This circle was born out of the determination of women who had endured forced or coerced sterilization, yet they refused to let their voices be silenced. For too long, survivors were spoken about but not spoken with.

The Survivors Circle has changed that. It now provides a safe space where women can share their experiences, support one another and lead the call for justice. The Survivors Circle is not only a gathering of those who have suffered harm; it is a powerful force for change. By coming together, survivors have built a unified voice that governments and institutions can no longer ignore. Their testimony before Senate committees has moved us all — not only because of the pain they carry, but because of the strength and clarity with which they call for action. These are powerful Indigenous women.

As a board member of the Survivors Circle, Nicole Rabbit told us that when survivors stand together, they carry the wisdom and strength of their mothers and grandmothers, ensuring that their stories cannot be erased.

The Survivors Circle reminds us that this legislation is not abstract. It is about real people, real families and generations that were forever altered. Bill S-228 is their bill. It exists because they demanded it, and we owe them nothing less than to see it through.

The Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice is working to build a registry of those who have been subjected to this horrific procedure. Their membership is over 300 and is growing every day, as countless more come forward. Many will not come forward because they are too traumatized, or worse yet, they do not know it was done and won’t find out for years to come.

Instances of forced and coerced sterilization are not isolated. They are echoes of a system that has consistently devalued the bodies of Indigenous women, Black women, marginalized women, persons with disabilities and others who find themselves vulnerable in the hands of authority. It is the powerful versus the powerless.

Bill S-228 will give the power back to those who have been ignored for far too long, and it will provide an opportunity for the health care profession and Indigenous communities to work together to develop new approaches to trauma-informed culturally appropriate care.

I must highlight that the harm is not in the past. I was asked to investigate and stop an informal policy in a northern health care system called “Nipples to Knees” – where any Indigenous woman who had surgery on her body, ranging from her nipples to her knees, was sterilized without consent.

Then we have Dr. Andrew Kotaska, a prominent obstetrician in Yellowknife and former president of the Northwest Territories Medical Association, who, in 2019, removed both fallopian tubes of a 37-year-old Inuk woman without her consent. During the operation, he even remarked, “Let’s see if I can find a reason to take the left tube.” For this violation, he received a five-month suspension, was ordered to take an ethics course and was fined $20,000. He continues to practise medicine. What message does that send? That sterilizing an Indigenous woman without consent is a lapse in judgment rather than a crime.

Some will ask why this new legislation is necessary when the Criminal Code already contains assault provisions. In theory, those provisions could apply. In practice, they haven’t. Not one doctor in Canada has ever been criminally convicted for forced sterilization, despite thousands of cases. Civil lawsuits are ongoing, but civil justice alone cannot prevent the next sterilization.

Survivors themselves have told us, unanimously and with one voice, that they want and need this to be a criminal offence. That is why the Senate Human Rights Committee issued its first recommendation: to amend the Criminal Code to specifically prohibit forced sterilization. Bill S-228 is a direct response to that call.

The bill is simple and clear. It inserts a “for greater certainty” clause into section 268 of the Criminal Code, the aggravated assault provision, affirming that sterilization without consent is a form of wounding or maiming. It streamlines the former Bill S-250 from 55 lines down to 14; it ensures that doctors acting in emergencies remain protected under section 45; and it does not interfere with voluntary access to sterilization, gender-affirming care or reproductive choice. This bill is not about politics. It is about consent and human dignity.

We have already done the homework. The Senate has studied this issue exhaustively, through two major Human Rights Committee reports, through the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, through the testimony of survivors, experts, doctors, midwives, lawyers and through one of our own. The evidence is overwhelming. The message from survivors is consistent and urgent: We need this law, we need accountability and we need this to stop.

I want to take a moment to thank the members of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, both in this Parliament and in the last. You examined Bill S-250 with care, you heard difficult testimony and you worked collaboratively to refine the legislation into the clear and effective form we now see before us as Bill S-228. Your work ensured that the concerns of survivors, experts and colleagues were fully considered, and that this bill emerged stronger as a result.

I also want to recognize Senator Wells, who has been a strong supporter of this legislation throughout. His willingness to speak plainly about the need for action, and his insistence that Parliament send an unambiguous message, has been instrumental in carrying this bill forward.

Colleagues, every day that passes without this bill becoming law is another day when someone in Canada may be sterilized against their will. This is not theoretical. This is not symbolic. It is necessary.

We have listened. Now Bill S-228 is our chance to act and to ensure that never again will someone in this country be robbed of the right to decide if, when and how to have children. Let us honour the survivors; let us heed the recommendations of our own committees; and let us finally move this bill forward.

All my relations, meegwetch, thank you.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): I first want to thank Senator Gerba for having the courage to share her personal story and thank Senator Boyer for her leadership and passion for ensuring that we correct what is wrong.

(On motion of Senator Martin, for Senator Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador), debate adjourned.)

(At 4 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on June 4, 2025, the Senate adjourned until 1:30 p.m., tomorrow.)

Appendix—Senators List

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

1st Session, 45th ParliamentVolume 154, Issue 20

Wednesday, October 1, 2025The Honourable René Cormier, Speaker pro tempore

THE SENATE

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Business of the Senate

SENATORS’ STATEMENTS

Autism Awareness Month

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Korean Heritage Month

Autism Awareness Month

Visitors in the Gallery

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

RCMP Investigation in Montreal

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Adjournment

Notice of Motion

Bill to Amend the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights and to Establish a Framework for Implementing the Rights of Victims of Crime

First Reading

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to Legal and Constitutional Matters Generally

Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Matters Related to the Impact of Artificial Intelligence

Banking, Commerce and the Economy

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Housing Crisis and Challenges Currently Facing Homebuilders and Refer Papers and Evidence from First Session of Forty-fourth Parliament to Current Session

Fisheries and Oceans

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to Federal Government’s Current and Evolving Policy Framework for Managing Fisheries and Oceans

National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

Notice of Motion to Authorize Committee to Study Issues Relating to National Security and Defence Generally

QUESTION PERIOD

Finance

Support for Seniors

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Canadian Entrepreneurs

Crown-Indigenous Relations

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

Public Safety

Disproportionality of Indigenous People in Incarceration

Environment and Climate Change

Canada Water Agency

Finance

Job Creation

Privy Council Office

Office of the Government Representative

Global Affairs

Supply Management

Crown-Indigenous Relations

Access to Safe Drinking Water

Privy Council Office

Major Projects Office

Canadian Heritage

Rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ People

ORDERS OF THE DAY

Speech from the Throne

Motion for Address in Reply—Debate Continued

Ukrainian Heritage Month Bill

Third Reading

Criminal Code

Bill to Amend—Third Reading—Debate Adjourned

1st Session, 45th Parliament
Volume 154, Issue 20

Wednesday, October 1, 2025
The Honourable René Cormier, Speaker pro tempore