DEBATES OF THE SENATE 1st SESSION • 42nd PARLIAMENT • VOLUME 150 • NUMBER 301 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, June 12, 2019 The Honourable GEORGE J. FUREY, 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: Kim Laughren, National Press Building, Room 926, Tel. 343-550-5002 Published by the Senate Available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 8526 THE SENATE Wednesday, June 12, 2019 The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. FINLAND Prayers. HIS EXCELLENCY VESA ILMARI LEHTONEN— DR. PIRJETTA MANNINEN TRIBUTES TO DEPARTING PAGES Hon. Marilou McPhedran: Honourable senators, I rise today The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, as I informed to recognize and to thank the Finnish ambassador to Canada, His you yesterday, this week we will be paying tribute to the Senate Excellency Ambassador Vesa Ilmari Lehtonen, and his spouse, pages who will be leaving us this summer. Dr. Pirjetta Manninen, for her distinguished career in geriatric medicine and for his many contributions to diplomacy here in our [Translation] capital and many other parts of Canada. Sarah Boukhouali is a proud Franco-Columbian from Victoria As they near the end of their time in Canada, they will be who’s beginning her third year at the University of Ottawa in welcoming their successor to Ottawa next week. As conflict studies and human rights. She hopes to continue on that representatives of Finland, I would like to recognize their work path and eventually get a master’s degree in international and share some key highlights that, for me, tell us more about relations. their leadership in Canada-Finland relations. She has very much appreciated her experience in the Senate, where her interest in international relations and Canadian politics The Arctic is an important field of cooperation for Canada and has only grown and where she’s had the opportunity to forge new Finland. We share the objective of sustainable development in friendships with her fellow pages. the Arctic, with Indigenous people at the centre. Canada and Finland work together closely in the Arctic Council. The priorities of Finland — environment, connectivity, meteorology [English] and education — are good examples of our common goals, which are environmental stewardship and mitigation of climate change, She would like to thank all senators and Senate staff for scientific and technological advancement and facilities for the making the past two years an amazing experience. To you, Sarah, peoples of the Arctic to sustain traditional livelihoods and our very best. develop new ones in a sustainable way. Ceanray Harris-Read represents Winnipeg, Manitoba. She just [Translation] finished her second year of a joint honours bachelor degree in history and political science. She feels privileged to have represented Winnipeg and wishes to thank all senators and staff Just last week, Canada sent a large delegation to the second for this incredible learning experience. She hopes to pursue a Arctic Arts Summit, which was held in Finland. Furthermore, career in academia. To you, Ceanray, our very best. Canada and Finland are actively involved in collaborative efforts with the University of the Arctic. Bilateral cooperation is vital to Canadian-Finnish relations. In fact, we have partnered on some interesting projects for the development of bioenergy solutions that will benefit remote northern and Arctic communities. SENATORS’ STATEMENTS [English] VISITORS IN THE GALLERY The Sami people, with approximately 10,000 residing in Finland, have strong similarities with the Indigenous peoples of The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw Canada. I have seen them working together with our Indigenous your attention to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency leaders at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Again, Vesa Ilmari Lehtonen, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland. we have similarities, such as constitutional recognition, urban He is accompanied by his spouse, Dr. Pirjetta Manninen. They living challenges for Indigenous peoples, and language are the guests of the Honourable Senator McPhedran. protection. We look forward to continuing to work to make equality for Indigenous people across the globe a reality. On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada. When he returns to Finland, the ambassador will have responsibility for North America, so of course, the new Canada- Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! U.S.-Mexico agreement becomes particularly relevant. June 12, 2019 SENATE DEBATES 8527 Canada and Finland can be examples of the United Nations Honourable senators, their generosity goes beyond sports. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its effective They know how to fundraise the old-fashioned way of bingos to implementation. In the July 2017 Human Rights Council report modern-day golf tournaments. At sports banquets, education of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, bursaries are handed out to male and female sports award the report clearly highlights Finland’s work and gave them an recipients. “A”. In recent years, the club has touched my heart by buying In closing, I’ve been told that Ambassador Lehtonen is hopeful hockey and soccer equipment for a Syrian family. The first real to continue what has become a passion for Canadian hockey, and English phrase from that Syrian family, one of the boys told me Dr. Manninen plans to continue her new promising career as a after he learned how to skate on the canal he says, “He shoots, he snowboard instructor and perhaps also as a medical doctor when scores.” they return. Then there is helping out families that need a little extra to Wishing you all the best from all of us here in the Senate. help pay medical bills in a time of need, a young aspiring Meegwetch. Thank you. basketball player struck by cancer. This is what community service is all about. That is why the VISITORS IN THE GALLERY community sports icons like former Ottawa 67s coach Brian Kilrea, Tim Murray and Jeff Hunt have supported the work of the The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw Ottawa Nepean Canadians Sports Club. your attention to the presence in the gallery of members of the Ottawa Nepean Canadians Sports Club. They are the guests of Honourable senators, I believe and I know you believe it is the Honourable Senator Munson. important to acknowledge the volunteer organizations like the Ottawa Nepean Canadians Sports Club. They are the backbone of On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the a community and it’s more than sports. It’s about lending a Senate of Canada. helping hand. The names continuing on Rob Clouthier, Derek Barnes, Jack Cloutier, John Goold and Steve Boston. Who would Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! have thought 40 years ago that a conversation over a few pints of beer would have led to was important to every community, giving back. Thank you. OTTAWA NEPEAN CANADIANS SPORTS CLUB Hon. Jim Munson: Senator Dawson asked if you are the guys VISITOR IN THE GALLERY I play hockey with. No, they’re the guys I have a beer with. The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw Honourable senators, somewhere someplace in Ottawa, your attention to the presence in the gallery of Charles Ferris, someone is having a cold, refreshing beer on a hot June day. I former Legal Counsel and Assistant Ombudsman for the want to talk about a special organization where having a pint Province of New Brunswick. He is the guest of the Honourable goes hand in hand with giving back to your community. It’s Senator McIntyre. called the Ottawa Nepean Canadians Sports Club. On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Forty years ago, a group of men had an idea over a few cold Senate of Canada. ones: They wanted to help the Ottawa sporting community. Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! Playing sports wasn’t on a level playing field for everyone. Those of us who live and breathe Parliament Hill are sometimes [Translation] unaware of what takes place just steps away from politics. • (1410) ACADIAN WORLD CONGRESS 2019 Honourable senators, today I want to salute the Ottawa Nepean Hon. Rose-May Poirier: Honourable senators, before we bid Canadians Sports Club and the vision of a few buddies back in each other farewell for the summer, I would like to invite you to 1979. They wanted to do something for amateur sport, especially the sixth Congrès mondial acadien in Prince Edward Island and children and organizations who loved baseball but didn’t have New Brunswick from August 10 to 24. This is the event’s enough money to play or operate a team. Bruce Hamilton, twenty-fifth anniversary. Gordon Hamilton, Brian Boston, Fred Whitney, Bob Elliott, Ray Fortier and Ken Neirenhausen were the founding members. Little First, some history. Back in 1988, some friends were chatting did they know, in 1979, just what they would accomplish, but and came up with the idea of organizing a gathering of Acadians. they wanted to give back to their community. They did that and André Boudreau accepted the challenge. more. The first congress was held in 1994. The mission of that first In the first 30 years, the club donated $3 million dollars to congress was to reinforce ties among all Acadians and invite amateur sports groups and individuals. In the last 10 years, the others to discover Acadia. Over 300,000 people attended club continues to give and give and give. discussions, concerts and other activities. 8528 SENATE DEBATES June 12, 2019 On National Acadian Day, August 15, 1994, the Acadian flag Last Thursday, June 6, was the seventy-fifth anniversary of was raised in my village, Saint-Louis-de-Kent.