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Inaugural Newsletter I N A U G U R A L N E W S L E T T E R : O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 SENATOR PETER M. BOEHM A NOTE FROM SENATOR BOEHM This newsletter is a look back at my first year as a senator. I was appointed to the Senate, to represent Ontario, on October 3, 2018, and joined the Independent Senators Group. I have been impressed by the dedication and hard work shown by senators and staff of all parties and groups. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the important work of the Senate in the 43rd Parliament, especially on matters which are particularly dear to me, including foreign affairs, advocating for Canada's public servants, mental health, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and the environment. Thanks for reading! ON THE HILL - 42N D PARLIAMENT IN THE CHAMBER I had planned on my first Senate speech being a strong show of support for Bill C-262, which outlined the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It ended up being my second speech; the first was on C-89, which resulted from nation-wide strikes by Canada Post carriers. Along with reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples I also take language rights very seriously. In 2018, when the Government of Ontario threatened to cut French-language services, I showed my support as an Anglophone for Franco-Ontarians. I was also proud to support Bill S-259 which sought to seize assets in Canada owned by foreign officials who acquired these assets illegally, by stealing from their own people. Budget 2019 I was the Senate sponsor of Bill C-97 which implemented the Government's 2019 federal budget. As sponsor I introduced the Bill in the Senate and spoke at Second Reading about key points of the Government's economic plan, and at Third Reading to address specific concerns with measures on journalism, Canada's asylum system, and relations with Indigenous Peoples. C-97 received Royal Assent on June 21. SENATE COMMITTEES Foreign Affairs and International Trade National Finance Given my pre-Senate career in our Foreign Service, I was As a former senior public servant, I understand how budgetary excited to be a member of this committee. processes work so it was a great new experience to My colleagues and I studied and released reports on important participate from the legislative side. issues, including: cultural diplomacy; security at Canadian Along with reviewing standard legislation such as government missions abroad; and the situation in Venezuela. We also estimates and budgets, my colleagues and I also studied the reviewed legislation on, among others, base erosion and profit important issue of Canada's system of defence procurement. shifting (C-82) and a free trade agreement with Israel (C-85). CUSMA: "THE NEW NAFTA" CUSMA is a modernized NAFTA, which served Canada well for 25 years, but the new deal is one with which all Canadians I am the senator responsible for guiding Bill C-4 through the can be pleased. Once CUSMA enters into force, Canadian Senate. Once it receives Royal Assent, this legislation will businesses and workers will be able to count on reliable, implement CUSMA - also known as "the new NAFTA", which was predictable trade for years to come with our North American signed by Canada, the United States, and Mexico last year. neighbours. SENATE OF CANADA, OTTAWA, ON K1A 0A4 | [email protected] | (613) 943-8226 @SENBOEHM HTTPS://SENCANADA.CA/EN/SENATORS/BOEHM-PETER/ OFF THE HILL Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor 50th Pacific Islands Forum 74th Session of the UN General Assembly NATO Parliamentary Assembly August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 I led the Canadian delegation to Tuvalu I represented Canada in New York City, I was a member of the Canadian where I shared Canada's views on issues where crucial issues for Canada and the delegation to London, where I such as climate change, the state of our entire world were discussed, including participated in the Economic and oceans, and women's empowerment in climate change and migration, economic Security Committee and the Political meetings with the leaders of the nations development, and environmental Committee. of the Pacific Islands. sustainability. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT As a public servant for most of my life, and now as a parliamentarian, I believe strongly in the importance of young people engaging in public service and the democratic process. I have made it a priority as a senator to dedicate much of my time talking about this with young Canadians. From elementary school students learning the basics of Canada's system of government to university students asking insightful questions about our foreign policy priorities, I have been deeply impressed, and encouraged, by the young Canadians with whom I have had the privilege of speaking. Canada's future is in good hands! November 22, 2019: University of Ottawa Discussion with Comparative Politics class on the future of the Senate and Canadian politics MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES Senate Mental Health Advisory Committee I am proud to be part of a group, comprised of senators and staff, dedicated to working together to end the stigma around mental February 15, 2019: UN Association in Canada, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals health and to ensure mental health is a Pre-Departure Training for Junior Professional Consultants priority for everyone at the Senate. Statements "THE VALUE OF THE G7: REFLECTIONS OF A SHERPA" I spoke in the Senate for both Autism Awareness Day and Mental Health Week in In this article I wrote in 2019 for the French international affairs journal, Politique 2019. I have a duty as a senator, and especially étrangère, I explained my belief in the utility and necessity of the G7 after serving as the father of a son with autism, to use my as the Deputy Minister responsible for organizing the 2018 summit held in voice to advocate for all Canadians dealing Charlevoix, Quebec. with mental health issues or mental illness. SENATE OF CANADA, OTTAWA, ON K1A 0A4 | [email protected] | (613) 943-8226 @SENBOEHM HTTPS://SENCANADA.CA/EN/SENATORS/BOEHM-PETER/.
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