Senator Frances Lankin, an independent senator from Ontario, says she was thinking about senators who had recently retired from the Red Chamber: “I decided to take a look at the number of current senators and was surprised to see there were 94 Senators and 11 vacancies. A bigger surprise however was that of the 94 … Read more
The Senate of Canada has adopted the motion introduced by independent New Brunswick Senator René Cormier urging the Government of Canada to assess the cost of implementing its Five-Year Action Plan on Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (hereinafter “Action Plan”), to set national targets for HIV/AIDS and to commit to increasing funding for the Federal … Read more
Senator Rosa Galvez made the following statements this morning in reaction to the introduction of Bill C-12, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada’s efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050: “I am very happy that as a country we are taking this first step to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions … Read more
Members of the Senate Committee on National Finance urged quick passage of the federal government’s latest COVID-19 relief bill in a report released Tuesday — but they also highlighted many areas where the government could strengthen support for Canada’s beleaguered businesses. Some new and cash-strapped businesses risk being excluded from support measures in Bill C-9, An … Read more
Dr. Jane Goodall and Senator Murray Sinclair have teamed up to protect captive great apes, elephants and other wild animals in captivity, and to ban the import of elephant ivory and hunting trophies into Canada. On Tuesday, November 17, Sinclair will introduce the Jane Goodall Act in the Senate of Canada. “Jane Goodall is a hero who inspires … Read more
ISG Senator Marilou McPhedran moved second reading of her Bill S-209 to lower the federal voting age from 18 to 16. This is another step forward in her push to re-establish a parliamentary process that engages supporters across party lines toward a revitalized and more age-inclusive democracy in Canada. McPhedran stated “We already know that young people are leaders of … Read more
A report of the Parliamentary Budget Office reveals that Bill S-207, introduced by Senator Kim Pate, is not only a more just alternative to the current punitive system of mandatory minimum penalties, it could help achieve better public safety outcomes, in a more cost-effective manner. “Over 50 years of evidence, including findings of the Supreme Court of Canada, make clear that … Read more
Senator Judith Seidman, Opposition Whip in the Senate of Canada, called the attention of the Senate to the existing weaknesses within Canada’s long-term care system, which have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I launched this inquiry to emphasize, with great urgency, the need to implement real solutions to the issues that have plagued our most … Read more
Senators Wanda Thomas Bernard, Mary Coyle, Jane Cordy, Colin Deacon, Stanley Kutcher and Terry Mercer issued the following statement: “As Senators representing the Province of Nova Scotia, we, in the strongest terms possible, condemn and decry the escalating violence that is currently being directed at Mi’kmaw fishers. Regardless of whatever concerns individuals or groups may … Read more
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration released the report of the independent evaluator who assessed claims of staff who experienced harassment — including, in some cases, sexual harassment — while working in the office of former senator Don Meredith. The committee has accepted all recommendations in the report by Louise Otis, including that her report … Read more
