Non-affiliated Senator Marilou McPhedran congratulated the United Kingdom’s new Labour government for its bold decision to expand the national voting age to include youth aged 16 and 17 yrs, calling it a “historic and hopeful step” toward strengthening democratic participation among youth. The UK’s announcement—effective for the next general election—comes as Canada continues to debate the … Read more
Non-affiliated Senator Marilou McPhedran reintroduced her bill to expand federal voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds today, in support of a growing movement to strengthen and modernize Canada’s democracy. Bill S-222, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum (voting age), reaffirms her … Read more
Speaker of the Senate Raymonde Gagné announced that she has presented King Charles III Coronation Medals to 30 Canadians in recognition of their outstanding contributions. Contact julie.labelle-morissette2@sen.parl.gc.ca.
ISG Senators Mobina Jaffer, Beverly Busson, and Yuen Pau Woo hosted a special ceremony on Feb. 2, to present King Charles III Coronation Medals to 45 outstanding recipients from across British Columbia. Contact Dylan.Odd@sen.parl.gc.ca.
Following a study on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission this fall, the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans is urging Global Affairs Canada to fix “unacceptable” problems with the commission’s funding and administration as the department assumes responsibility for the binational authority. During its study, the committee learned the Great Lakes Fishery Commission over the last two … Read more
The federal government has more work to do to ensure that its intake caps on international students do not disproportionately affect French-language post-secondary institutions outside Quebec, francophone international students, and Canada’s francophone immigration objectives, said the Senate Committee on Official Languages. While it does not yet have data on the effects of the study permit cap … Read more
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights (RIDR) condemns “the refusal of the government to stop prison practices that courts have found to be ‘draconian’ and ‘cruel and unusual’ despite a Senate report on federal prison conditions and another scathing review from the federal government’s own advisors.” RIDR Chair, Conservative Senator Salma Ataullahjan (Ontario), stated, “It is … Read more
ISG Senator Iris Petten is taking over the role of Government Liaison in the Senate. “As I take on this new role as Government Liaison, I want to reaffirm my belief in the Senate as a vital space for thoughtful, independent deliberation. I remain committed to upholding the Senate’s essential role in our democratic process while serving … Read more
Indigenous peoples continue to lack complete and timely access to historical records about Indian Residential Schools, despite legal obligations for those documents to be turned over, the Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples has found. The committee’s report, Missing Records, Missing Children, highlights the barriers to locating, accessing and reviewing records that may contain key information about the lives … Read more
Non-affiliated Senator Mary Jane McCallum served as the Senate sponsor for Bill C-226, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice. Initially introduced in the House of Commons by Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C.) this legislation has been working its way through … Read more
