Debates of the Senate
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Debates of the Senate 2nd SESSION . 41st PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 149 . NUMBER 75 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, June 19, 2014 The Honourable NOËL A. KINSELLA Speaker CONTENTS (Daily index of proceedings appears at back of this issue). Debates Services: D'Arcy McPherson, National Press Building, Room 906, Tel. 613-995-5756 Publications Centre: David Reeves, National Press Building, Room 926, Tel. 613-947-0609 Published by the Senate Available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1995 THE SENATE Thursday, June 19, 2014 The Senate met at 1:30 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. accident, technical rescue, medical emergency or hazardous materials incident. These exceptional first responders are on the front lines of public safety in this country. At all times and at all Prayers. places, firefighters are prepared to put themselves in harm's way and make sometimes, unfortunately, even the ultimate sacrifice [Translation] for duty when called upon. On April 29, I had the honour and the privilege of meeting with ROYAL ASSENT eight representatives of the International Association of Fire Fighters to discuss some of the most important issues facing NOTICE firefighters in Canada. The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that the following Canada currently provides a $250,000 benefit for families of communication had been received: members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP who have been killed in the line of duty. When I spoke to RIDEAU HALL representatives of the International Association of Fire Fighters, they emphasized that firefighters and their families need to be recognized and supported in the same way. June 19th, 2014 While we currently recognize the tremendous service provided Mr. Speaker, by volunteer firefighters through the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Benefit, the IAFF feels we must go further to ensure that families of deceased firefighters are adequately supported. I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will proceed to the Senate Chamber today, the In their words, ``The financial security of the family of a fire 19th day of June, 2014, at 5:30 p.m., for the purpose of fighter who is killed or permanently disabled on behalf of giving Royal Assent to certain bills of law. Canadians . should not depend on the uncertainties of the collective bargaining process . .'' Yours sincerely, The IAFF, therefore, seeks the establishment of a national Patricia Jaton public safety officer compensation program in Canada, one that Deputy Secretary recognizes the indispensable and heroic service that these individuals render to Canadians. The Honourable The Speaker of the Senate Canadian firefighters also want to be as proactive as possible Ottawa when it comes to their safety and the safety of all Canadians. This is why the IAFF is seeking recognition for firefighter safety in the National Building Code of Canada. They told me that modern, lightweight building materials often burn hotter, faster and with more lethal fumes than ever before, putting the lives of firefighters at even greater risk and giving rise to uncontrollable fires that can [English] spread faster than they can keep up with. What they want is to be able to rely on benchmarks of SENATORS' STATEMENTS firefighter safety — which is also our safety — as a basis for building code policy and amendments. Firefighters need their concerns taken into consideration. Therefore, when the National Building Code of Canada is reviewed, they need a stake in this FIREFIGHTERS policy process in order to do their job. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS The organization of firefighters remains a municipal priority to be sure, but what these eight representatives of the IAFF came to speak to me about was the need to acknowledge at the national Hon. Grant Mitchell: Colleagues, firefighters in Canada protect level the crucial role that firefighters play in our lives. These issues the population from some of the most devastating events a person affect all Canadians, and I encourage us all to continue to address can experience in their lifetime — whether it be a fire, car the serious challenges that firefighters face on a daily basis. 1996 SENATE DEBATES June 19, 2014 THE HONOURABLE JOANNE L. BUTH not only provides a livelihood to a large portion of our population through employment, it also provides nutritious and safe food for Canadians and others around the world. EXPRESSION OF THANKS ON DEPARTURE FROM SENATE I want to end with a quote from Brenda Schoepp, who said: ``My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a Hon. JoAnne L. Buth: It is with great humility that I rise to doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher, but every day, three speak in this chamber one final time. I would first like to thank all times a day, you need a farmer.'' my colleagues in the Senate. It has been a pleasure and an honour working with you. If I named all of the individuals that have helped me or befriended me, I would use up all of my time. Colleagues, thank you very much for a remarkable two and a half years. Needless to say, I'm grateful to all of you that have reached out, whether personally or on an issue of mutual interest. To my Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! colleagues on the standing committees of Agriculture and Forestry and National Finance, I will certainly miss our discussion and debates. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR IN GALLERY My special thanks go to our Clerk and all of his staff. Your clerks Jodi Turner and Kevin Pittman are fine examples of the The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw excellence of your staff. your attention to the presence in the upper Governor General's Gallery of the Honourable Jim Ross, who served with distinction in this place representing the province of New Brunswick. Thank you to our security service for keeping us safe. To former Senator Ross, we welcome you back to the Senate of I would like to thank my staff, Loren Cicchini and Zachary Canada. Potashner. You have provided me with exceptional work and have generally kept me out of trouble. I know both of you will continue to have much success in the future. Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! I have never planned a career path. I have just worked hard, . (1340) tried to work smart, and been open to new opportunities. I have always said when a door closes, another one opens. VISITORS IN THE GALLERY I would like to thank Senator Marjory LeBreton, who identified agriculture as an area of interest in this place. That resulted in a The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to take the very unexpected phone call from Prime Minister Stephen Harper opportunity to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery two and a half years ago that changed my life. A door opened. of Dr. Tasleem Damji Budhwani, who is a clinical psychologist and a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa; This is a rare opportunity that only a handful of Canadians are Adam Joiner, Senior Manager of the Boys and Girls Club of fortunate enough to experience, and I will never take my time here Ottawa and previous alumnus; and Achan Akwai Cham, Boys for granted. Fewer than 1,000 senators have served in this place and Girls Club alumna and part-time intermediate youth worker. since Confederation. I am number 916. What a privilege and an They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Jaffer. honour this has been. On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Honourable senators, I would like to say to you that another Senate of Canada. door could open for you, many doors could open for you in terms of the modernization of this place. I would like to encourage you to go through those doors. Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! Honourable senators, if there is one thing I have tried to MS. ACHAN AKWAI CHAM accomplish here, it was to bring agriculture to the forefront, to remind Canadians that the agriculture sector should not and cannot be taken for granted. OTTAWA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ALUMNA I want to leave you with one statistic to think about and to put Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, I rise today to on the record one final time. One in eight jobs in Canada is linked speak about the great work of the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. to the agricultural sector. I hope you remember that agriculture The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa serves more than [ Senator Mitchell ] June 19, 2014 SENATE DEBATES 1997 4,500 children and youth every year. I would like to share with ALBERTA you a story of one of those children. Before I do that, I want to thank my friend Tasleem Budhwani, a director of Boys and Girls FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF FLOODS Club, for introducing me to the club, and for Adam Joiner, who is IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA here today. Achan Akwai Cham was born in Sudan in 1993. In 2000, her Hon. Scott Tannas: Honourable senators, tomorrow is the parents fled Khartoum, taking themselves and their nine children anniversary of the floods of southern Alberta, the costliest natural out of the civil war and into a refugee camp in Ethiopia. They disaster in Canadian history, with more than $5 billion of would spend the next year there before moving to Ottawa. Not damage. While flooding affected many communities, including long after the family left the camp, it was attacked. Over a three- Calgary, Canmore and Lethbridge, the small town of High River, day period, more than 400 people were killed.