CANADA Debates of the Senate 1st SESSION . 38th PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 142 . NUMBER 61 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, May 17, 2005 ^ THE HONOURABLE DANIEL 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 PWGSC ± Publishing and Depository Services, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S5. Also available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1279 THE SENATE Tuesday, May 17, 2005 The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. Her interest in our country is shared by other members of the Royal Family who have been in attendance with her and have Prayers. undertaken their own visits to significant cultural and historical events in Canada. From May 31 to June 8, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, will also be visiting Canada. VISITORS IN THE GALLERY The Canadian people have always held the Queen in the highest The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, before proceeding regard for her continued personal interest in our welfare and to Senators' Statements, I would like to draw your attention to prosperity. We have close ties with this monarchy that have been the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Dr. Saleh Abdullah strengthened by the hardship of war endured by both countries Bin Hemeid, President of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of and the shared values that are so integral to our nation. It should Saudi Arabia. He is accompanied by seven members of the Majlis be noted that Prince Philip was an active member of the military Al Shura, and by the Saudi ambassador to Canada, Mohammed during World War II. Both Prince Charles and Prince Andrew Al-Hussaini. have military training, and with Prince Harry the tradition continues. This is particularly significant as Canada celebrates Welcome to the Senate of Canada. this year as the Year of the Veteran. Hon. Noël A. Kinsella (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, on behalf of the opposition in the Senate of Canada, I wish to associate my colleagues and myself with the words of SENATORS' STATEMENTS welcome expressed by the Leader of the Government in the Senate to Her Majesty and Prince Philip on their visit to Canada. HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE PHILIP, Our country has been blessed by having Her Majesty and other DUKE OF EDINBURGH members of the Royal Family always prepared to demonstrate in such exemplary fashion what duty and public service is all about and to do so with great dignity. WELCOME TO CANADA Hon. Jack Austin (Leader of the Government): Honourable I know that my colleagues from the other place, particularly the senators, on behalf of the Senate of Canada, I am pleased to members of Parliament from the province of Saskatchewan and welcome to Canada today Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, will also be in His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Saskatchewan to more personally welcome Her Majesty. The Royal Party will arrive in Regina, Saskatchewan this ATLANTIC INSTITUTE FOR MARKET STUDIES afternoon and will be met by Prime Minister Paul Martin and Ms. Martin. The Royal Party will visit Saskatchewan and Alberta from May 17 to May 25 in order to take part in events to CONGRATULATIONS ON RECEIVING THE TEMPLETON celebrate the centennial of the two provinces' entry into FREEDOM AWARD FOR INSTITUTE EXCELLENCE Confederation. This is the third visit of Her Majesty and Prince Philip to Saskatchewan and Alberta. They also toured the Hon. Terry M. Mercer: Honourable senators, the Atlantic provinces in 1973 and 1977. Institute for Market Studies, AIMS, is an independent economic and social policy think tank based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. As the first dominion within the British Empire and the first As a federally incorporated non-profit organization, it is country to join the Commonwealth in 1867, Canada has been supported by contributions from individuals, corporations, especially fortunate to benefit from the traditions of the British foundations and other organizations. AIMS embodies a monarchy. The history of Canada has evolved under the aegis of distinctive Atlantic Canadian voice by initiating and conducting the British monarchy, which has bequeathed us a gift of research on emerging economic and public policy issues facing incalculable value, the Westminster model of Parliament, Atlantic Canadians and indeed all Canadians. perhaps the most successful form of government for providing effective democracy and accommodating civil debate. Honourable senators, AIMS is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. It is fitting that it has again received international The Queen has been in attendance at celebrations marking the recognition for the excellence of its work with the awarding of the centenary of the entry into Confederation by Manitoba, British 2005 Templeton Freedom Award for Institute Excellence. Columbia and Prince Edward Island, as well as the centennial of the Northwest Territories. As Princess Elizabeth, she and Prince The Templeton Freedom Awards Program celebrates the Philip first came to Canada in October 1951 and have since outstanding work of the top non-profit research institutes and returned over 20 times. She has presided over the opening of the their contribution to policy issues. More than 200 think tanks in St. Lawrence Seaway, the patriation of our Constitution and the 67 countries are eligible for the Templeton Awards, and AIMS is creation of Nunavut. the only institute in North America to be honoured this year. 1280 SENATE DEBATES May 17, 2005 The award includes a grant of US $10,000 and was presented at Honourable senators, I welcome my dear friend to the Senate the end of April in Miami, Florida during the Liberty Forum of chamber. I am very happy that he has at long last come to visit us the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. This forum is an in Canada. annual event that attracts influential policy and thought leaders from around the world. BRITISH COLUMBIA Honourable senators, I take this opportunity to extend my VANCOUVER—ST. JAMES COMMUNITY SERVICES sincere congratulations to AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley, as SOCIETY ART PROGRAM—EXHIBIT IN SENATE FOYER well as to the members of the board of directors, including such distinguished Haligonians as David Mann, George Cooper, Dr. Colin Dodds and Bill Mingo. I am sure all senators will Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, I rise to tell join me in celebrating the ongoing domestic and international you about an art exhibition, entitled ``Moving Beyond our success of an important voice for Atlantic Canada. Challenges,'' that I am honoured to be hosting today and tomorrow in the Senate foyer. (1410) As an honorary patron of St. James Community Services Society, I have personally seen the challenges faced by many of the artists and individuals helped by St. James. RELATIONS WITH SAUDI ARABIA St. James is an organization in the downtown east side of Hon. Marcel Prud'homme: Honourable senators, I would like to Vancouver that strives to provide support for people who face join with the Leader of the Government in the Senate in multiple challenges in life, including mental illnesses such as welcoming Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, schizophrenia, while recognizing the need to help each individual and Prince Philip. I have pledged allegiance to her 16 times. I am they serve to see their own value as a person. The art program still very happy to show my loyalty by repeating that she is at allows these individuals to overcome their challenges and express home here. I hope Canadians will treat her as she deserves. themselves in art. Honourable senators, I know you are firm believers that a little I was made a member of the Queen's Privy Council by her own recognition goes a long way in helping people to overcome their hand. Not many senators in this chamber can claim that challenges. We all face challenges, but many of the artists featured distinction. Having said that, I wish her a good time and here have and continue to overcome more than their share of happiness. challenges. Earlier, His Honour introduced the Saudi Arabian delegation To help honourable senators understand the challenges faced, of the Shura and the head of the Shura Council. Theirs is a return I would like to share with you the story of Carmen. She moved visit, at long last, following a trip to Saudi Arabia made by into Victory House, a safe home for 48 residents with chronic a delegation of this chamber from January 18 to 25, 2001, mental illness, in 1998. She had been living on the streets and in accompanied by our beloved former Speaker Gildas Molgat. various downtown east side hotels in the worst part of Vancouver. Her diagnosis was schizophrenia and her symptoms were self- neglect, belligerence, poor compliance with medications and I had the honour of visiting Saudi Arabia in 1993, 2000 and yelling at night. For these reasons, she was constantly being 2001. I believe strongly that we must continue the dialogue with kicked out of her accommodations. our friends from around the world, Saudi Arabia being one such friend. We must share with them our own experiences, not tell In her first days at Victory House, Carmen would walk the them what to do. streets during the day, waiting for bread and soup in the food line-ups. She would refuse to take her medication and would not I remember the inception of the Shura in 1980 with its 30 seats, socialize. It took about two years to slowly build up a relationship and since then it has grown in stature.