CANADA Debates of the Senate 2nd SESSION . 37th PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 140 . NUMBER 77 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, September 24, 2003 ^ THE HONOURABLE DAN HAYS SPEAKER CONTENTS (Daily index of proceedings appears at back of this issue). Debates and Publications: Chambers Building, Room 943, Tel. 996-0193 Published by the Senate Available from Communication Canada ± Canadian Government Publishing, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S9. Also available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1883 THE SENATE Wednesday, September 24, 2003 The Senate met at 1:30 p.m., the Speaker in the Chair. It is in this place that the Coady International Institute established a training centre for adult education for people from Prayers. around the world. It is to this place that over 4,000 community leaders from 120 countries have come to learn about education, which brings hope to little people across the planet. VISITORS IN THE GALLERY The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, before proceeding Honourable senators, I have one footnote from the weekend: to Senators' Statements, I would draw to your attention the Congratulations to the new University of Montreal football team, presence in our gallery of a group headed by Mr. Shamsh which came to town and spoiled the celebrations just a little bit by Kassim-Lakha, President of the Aga Khan University of upsetting the X-Men 14-9 in the equally new Quebec-Atlantic Pakistan. He is a guest of the Honourable Senator Jaffer. interlocking intercollegiate football schedule. On behalf of all senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada. GOVERNOR GENERAL Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! STATE VISITS SENATORS' STATEMENTS Hon. Donald H. Oliver: Honourable senators, I rise to draw to your attention a letter to the editor from a distinguished Canadian, Milton Wong, Chairman of HSBC Asset Management ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY Canada, which appeared in the weekend National Post by Mr. Wong is also chancellor of Simon Fraser University in FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF CANADIAN FOOTBALL Vancouver. He was one of the delegates who accompanied the Governor General in the South American tour in 2001. With all Hon. B. Alasdair Graham: Honourable senators, last weekend, the commentaries in the media about the current state visits, it I had the honour of co-hosting the fiftieth anniversary of was refreshing to read a first-hand account by someone who has Canadian football at St. Francis Xavier University. Well over been there. 100 former players covering the last half-century came back to relive memories, renew bonds and friendships and to replay, for yet another time, those incredible years of triumph as well as the Mr. Wong noted that the delegates worked extremely hard for games and seasons that were not as successful as most. two weeks representing Canada, participating in round table discussions and debates, and challenging one another They were all heroes on the weekend. We were especially intellectually. He said the trip was about building trust with pleased to have with us as special star guests Russ Jackson, other nations and establishing the foundation for greater undoubtedly the greatest Canadian football player of all time, and understanding among people of the world, and no one does this former coach Don Loney, the man who is regarded in many any better than our current representative, Governor General circles as the father of Canadian football in Atlantic Canada. Clarkson. These people, honourable senators, have not only had huge individual and team successes but have also, by example, helped so many sons and grandsons with some of the great lessons of life Mr. Wong said they ``visited universities, participated in panel that come from playing as a team. discussions and met other leaders representing those countries.'' Mr. Wong further noted that he ``counted at least 35 speeches The weekend activities proved to be yet another highlight in the made by Ms. Clarkson, who worked harder than anyone else and year-long celebrations observing the 150th anniversary of the was impressively knowledgeable about the histories and cultures founding of St. Francis Xavier, which has already been marked of the countries we were visiting.'' By any standards, that is by the issuance of a beautiful, new, commemorative stamp by impressive. Canada Post. I had the honour of assisting in the unveiling of the stamp in April. Honourable senators, I personally admire the work our For a century and a half, St. Francis Xavier has been home to Governor General does in Canada by visiting and bringing to extraordinary leaders who believed in the power of individuals — the fore various ethnic groups that would otherwise be ignored. no matter what their state in life — to become masters in their own house. Mr. Wong's letter said this trip is about ``supporting intellectual It was in this place that Monsignor Coady began to spread his discussion, global cooperation and the exchange of ideas,'' and message about liberation and empowerment, giving new hope to ``for discovering ways to make the world a better place for uneducated young men and women throughout Atlantic Canada. everyone.'' Mr. Wong said that he and other delegates: 1884 SENATE DEBATES September 24, 2003 ... returned to Canada with a much deeper understanding of He also made a significant contribution to this country in so the problems and issues, the achievements and goals, the many ways, as well as through his dedicated service as a cultural identities, of the countries we visited as well as the volunteer. He served as National Commissioner of Boy Scouts common challenges and opportunities we share with them. of Canada. He served with the Red Cross on its national board of governors and was recognized for that service by being named Honourable senators, that is what these state visits are all Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year. about. This year is no exception. The delegates on this trip are not just business people; they are a selection of leaders from Among his many other community involvements, he served on disciplines as wide-ranging as fine arts, science and politics. the board of governors of Mount Allison University. He was a founding co-chair of the national Katimavik youth movement. The Governor General has consistently emphasized the He was a director of the national Trans Canada Trail Foundation centrality of the North in Canada's identity, not only with and was the founding president of the Confederation Trail in Canadians here at home but while abroad on previous state visits Prince Edward Island. and in discussions with foreign leaders visiting Canada. The visits to countries of the circumpolar north will further reinforce the For these and his many other contributions, Mr. Deacon was image and understanding of Canada abroad and give strong recently promoted to the rank of officer in the Order of Canada. support to the northern dimension of Canada's foreign policy. Prince Edward Island was fortunate, in that Mr. Deacon chose . (1340) to retire there, although retirement hardly describes his continued and active participation in so many activities. He made an Governor General Clarkson will take part in the second Quest enormous impact on his adopted province, where his work was an for the Modern North seminars in the circumpolar tour. During inspiration to many. the seminars in Iceland, panellists will exchange ideas on culture and long-term community viability. These seminars will later be Donald Deacon has given us a legacy of public service that will available online to students undertaking circumpolar studies at a be long remembered. I extend my sincere sympathies to his wife, virtual university. Florence, and to his family, by whom he will be greatly missed. In conclusion, honourable senators, those who accompany Her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson will no doubt come back to THE RIGHTS OF THE METIS Canada with a much deeper appreciation and understanding of AS DISTINCT ABORIGINAL PEOPLE the unique culture enjoyed by people in circumpolar nations. SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT Honourable senators, I am deeply honoured to be one of those Canadians able to participate in this historic dialogue. Hon. Gérald-A. Beaudoin: Honourable senators, the Supreme Court of Canada, last Friday, September 19, rendered unanimously an interesting and important decision on the rights THE LATE DONALD DEACON, O.C. of the Metis people. TRIBUTE It is a landmark case. Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck: Honourable senators, I rise to pay [Translation] tribute to an outstanding Canadian, a highly respected individual and an exceptional human being. Today, I pay tribute to the life of the late Donald Deacon, who passed away on September 16. The court has recognized the Metis' ancestral hunting rights for His life was filled with accomplishment, purpose, dignity and subsistence purposes. integrity. The court concluded that section 35 of the Constitution While people have achieved much in certain fields of endeavour, Act, 1982, which recognizes native Amerindians' ancestral Mr. Deacon achieved much in many fields. He provided hunting, trapping, fishing and harvesting rights also allows the exemplary service to Canada during the Second World War and Metis to hunt without a licence and out of season for subsistence was awarded the Military Cross. purposes. These, as we know, are collective rights, of which there are very few in our Constitution. He had a successful business career as chair of a Toronto brokerage firm. He went on to an illustrious political career, first To date, the only recognition of collective rights has been for in municipal politics and, later, as a Liberal member of the the Aboriginal peoples, and the denominational rights relating Ontario Legislature. to education. Mr. Justice Bastarache, however, made reference to language rights in the Arsenault-Cameron case as being collective Mr. Deacon excelled in fields as varied as the military, business rights.