Press Release Department: Federal - Senate of Canada

Liberal Senator Grant Mitchell (Alberta) tabled legislation that will create a federal underground infrastructure notification system which is consistent with most other provincial jurisdictions across Canada. The legislation will require owners and operators of federally regulated underground infrastructure to register with a provincial notification system. It also requires federally regulated entities to inform a notification centre if work results in … Read more

The Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources tabled its latest report entitled “Powering Canada’s Territories”. The 60-page report examines existing territorial energy systems and identifies obstacles and opportunities facing each territory in making energy affordable, reliable and sustainable for its residents and businesses. The report outlines five recommendations. “Only a strong commitment from our federal, … Read more

The Senate of Canada has unanimously adopted a motion encouraging parliamentarians around the world to lead in upholding the rights of persons with albinism. Albinism is a rare, genetic difference present at birth, which causes a lack of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes. It occurs in members of both sexes, all ethnicities and … Read more

The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages tabled its most recent report, Aiming Higher: Increasing Bilingualism of our Canadian Youth. The report contains 10 recommendations focusing on four specific areas: active promotion of bilingualism; increased fluency in both official languages; innovative practices; and funding. The Senate Committee believes that the federal government has a leadership role … Read more

Liberal Senator Joseph Day (New Brunswick) responded to the auditor general’s report on Senate spending. “The points raised by the Auditor General relate to my own personal funds I spent on public business for which I sought re-payment from Senate Finance according to Senate rules,” said Day. “The Auditor General does not suggest any wrong doing,” said … Read more

Leo Housakos, Speaker of the Senate, tabled in the Senate Chamber, the Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Senate of Canada − Senators’ Expenses. The report is the result of a comprehensive, two-year audit of the Senate’s expenses including Senators’ expenses. “The Auditor General’s process was rigorous and the resulting report is sweeping … Read more

Senator Claude Carignan, Leader of the Government in the Senate, issued a statement to congratulate Senator Nicole Eaton on her appointment as speaker pro tempore of the Senate of Canada. Senator Eaton, who was elected unanimously by her peers, takes over as successor to the Honourable Senator Leo Housakos following his appointment as Speaker of the Senate … Read more

Conservative Senator Bob Runicman (Ontario) called on the Senate to pass Conservative MP Michael Chong’s (Wellington — Halton Hills, Ont.) Bill C-586 Reform Act without amendment as soon as possible. “This bill is primarily concerned with empowering individual Members of Parliament and I think it would be a travesty if the Senate stood in the way of these modest measures … Read more

Senate Committee on National Security and Defence tabled its report to the Senate on Bill C-51 on May 27. The committee approved the bill and unanimously adopted a number of observations. “Over the six weeks of hearings that the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence studied Bill C-51, many important questions were raised, and … Read more

The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry tabled its latest report entitled: “The Importance of Bee Health to Sustainable Food Production in Canada”, providing a roadmap of nine recommendations the committee believes are necessary to improve bee health. “Given the importance of bees to the environment and food production in Canada, our Senate Committee strongly believes … Read more