Debates of the Senate

CANADA Debates of the Senate 1st SESSION . 38th PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 142 . NUMBER 38 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, February 22, 2005 ^ THE HONOURABLE FERNAND ROBICHAUD ACTING 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 PWGSC ± Publishing and Depository Services, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S5. Also available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 744 THE SENATE Tuesday, February 22, 2005 The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Honourable Fernand Robichaud, in his statement, to provide a background of the career and Acting Speaker, in the chair. qualifications of Mr. Fournier to this high office. Prayers. Hon. Noël A. Kinsella (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, Jean T. Fournier is the former High Commissioner of Canada to Australia. SENATORS' STATEMENTS . (1410) THE SENATE Mr. Fournier is also the former Deputy Solicitor General of Canada. He is being recommended to this chamber as the first APPOINTMENT OF ETHICS OFFICER, person to fill the new position of Senate Ethics Officer, following JEAN T. FOURNIER extensive consultations with the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, beginning with my predecessor, the Honourable John Hon. Jack Austin (Leader of the Government): Honourable Lynch-Staunton. senators, later this day, I will give notice of a motion the purpose of which is to approve the appointment of Jean Taschereau Jean Fournier comes to the post with an outstanding Fournier as the Senate Ethics Officer. This motion, which I will background, one that should engender confidence in his formally move on Thursday, will be seconded by my colleague the impartiality and his wisdom, both here in this chamber and Leader of the Opposition, Senator Noël Kinsella. among all Canadians. His career in the civil service of Canada has spanned 35 years and seven prime ministers, most recently serving Honourable senators, this appointment is a key step in the with distinction as High Commissioner to Australia. In that post, process initiated by the ministerial undertaking that I gave on he had an opportunity to learn of the work in the area of ethics February 24, 2004. By following this process, the Senate will be undertaken by members of the Senate of Australia and also to taking the initiative of recommending to the Governor-in-Council become familiar with the approach being taken by our the name of the individual who would be appointed Senate counterparts in the House of Lords at Westminster. Ethics Officer. At the time of my undertaking, the government clearly recognized the validity of the views of honourable senators Jean Fournier worked on diverse projects through the years, that the Senate Ethics Officer would function in relation to the including the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, responsibilities of senators under a code of conduct to be helping with the work associated with putting the Canada developed by the Senate itself. Accordingly, the Governor-in- Pension Plan on a sound financial footing, the Japanese Council agreed to await the recommendation of the Senate. Canadian Redress Agreement, the establishment of Canada's DNA data bank, and the establishment of FINTRAC, Canada's In that undertaking, I also committed to consult and obtain a national agency for attacking the financial roots of organized consensus among senators on both sides of the chamber. In that crime and terrorism. regard, this motion expresses the consensus of government supporters in this chamber and the seconding of the motion We have in Jean Fournier a very senior and experienced deputy represents the consensus of the official opposition. Both Senator minister who served as Deputy Solicitor General of Canada for Kinsella and I have consulted with independent senators. seven years and as the Under Secretary of State for Canada for five years. At the core of the Canadian public's confidence in government and in the political process is the ethics and integrity of its Honourable senators who are acquainted with him will know institutions and their members. Canadians expect and demand that I have just touched on a few highlights of a truly remarkable that all their institutions of governance set the highest objective career. Individuals with such a long and distinguished track for the performance of public duty by those who hold the public record are few and far between, and I am confident that this trust. chamber will recognize the rare gem that has been turned up in the quest for a Senate Ethics Officer. I am also confident that the Senate will give serious consideration in its resolution dealing with The Senate Ethics Officer is an officer of the Senate who shall this matter. perform the duties and functions assigned by the Senate for governing the conduct of members of the Senate when carrying out the duties and functions of their office. The duties and NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR functions of the Senate Ethics Officer are carried out within the institution of the Senate under the general direction of a OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS AGREEMENT committee of the Senate that may be designated or established by the Senate for that purpose. Hon. Joan Cook: Honourable senators, last Monday, February 14 was a monumental day for the people of my home Honourable senators, with this background in mind, I am province and for future generations of Newfoundlanders and pleased to join with Senator Kinsella in introducing Jean Labradorians. The signing of the Atlantic Accord was the Taschereau Fournier. I will ask my colleague Senator Kinsella, culmination of a period of passionate and, at times, trying February 22, 2005 SENATE DEBATES 745 negotiations between the Governments of Canada and Honourable senators, these awards recognize businesses and Newfoundland and Labrador. However, with a guarantee of business people who exemplify the best the city of Halifax has to $2 billion over eight years and the opportunity to become a offer, innovators willing to take chances, push the boundaries and self-sustaining province, the outcome was well worth the effort stretch the limits of success. Honourable senators, I wish to take invested. All of those involved, especially Premier Danny the opportunity to honour not just the winners but all the Williams and Prime Minister Martin, should be proud of the businesses and business people in Nova Scotia whose hard work hard work that brought this accord to fruition. and ingenuity help to make our province a leader in enterprise and innovation. Economic prosperity has eluded Newfoundland and Labrador for far too many years, in spite of its wealth of natural and human [Translation] resources. This agreement will go a long way in allowing the province to fully maximize its resources and grow into a have province. However, as Premier Danny Williams stated, JUTRA AWARDS this deal is about more than money. As a proud and resource-rich member of the federation, Newfoundland and Labrador's success CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HONOURABLE JEAN will be Canada's success. LAPOINTE AND MR. MICHEL BRAULT This day will live on in the collective memory of my province, Hon. Viola Léger: Honourable senators, I am extremely proud not only because of the well-deserved economic prosperity it will to have this opportunity to congratulate and applaud our bring but also because of the cooperation that was realized by the colleague Senator Jean Lapointe, who has been awarded the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. Jutra for best actor in a supporting role for his work in the film Le dernier tunnel/The Last Tunnel. When Sir Cavendish Boyle wrote Ode to Newfoundland, he described the province as a ``smiling,'' ``frozen'' and ``wind-swept'' Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! land. Honourable senators, on February 14, in that proud moment, we dared to add the word ``prosperous,'' for the Jean Lapointe embodies immense sensitivity to everyone he signing of the accord is a first step toward that end. meets and everything he touches. His love of humanity in all its forms is evident in all his songs and all the characters he plays on stage, or on the small or large screen. Senator Lapointe has but METRO HALIFAX BUSINESS AWARDS one role in life: to love his fellow humans. Hon. Donald H. Oliver: Honourable senators, on February 3, Jean, I add my voice to all the thousands who make up your the Halifax Chamber of Commerce celebrated the success of some adoring audience: We all love you. of its members when it held the Metro Halifax Business Awards. More than 600 business leaders filled the Westin Hotel to capacity Michel Brault, another of Quebec cinema's greats, also received to celebrate all that is good about doing business in the Halifax well-deserved honours at the Jutra Awards ceremonies. metro region. The Metro Halifax Business Awards is the only award ceremony that recognizes all types and sizes of business, celebrating the drive, passion and ingenuity that characterizes the As a cameraman, cinematographer, director and producer, business enterprise in the Halifax metro region. Michel Brault has been associated with nearly 200 productions. His film Les Ordres won the best director award at the Cannes Film Festival and four Genies. Michel Brault's personality and This year's sponsors included The Globe and Mail, the Business talent are an integral part of the evolution of Quebec cinema since Development Bank of Canada, Grant Thornton LLP chartered the end of the 1950s. According to director Denys Arcand, Michel accountants, and my former law firm, Stewart McKelvey Stirling Brault is ``the father of Quebec cinema.'' Scales. The importance of Quebec cinema to Canadian culture is The year 2005 marked the fifth anniversary of the awards. Over recognized the world over.

Load more