DEBATES OF THE SENATE 1st SESSION • 42nd PARLIAMENT • VOLUME 150 • NUMBER 172 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, December 13, 2017 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. 613-947-0609 Published by the Senate Available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 4482 THE SENATE Wednesday, December 13, 2017 The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. • (1410) Prayers. CONGRATULATIONS ON APPOINTMENTS Hon. Peter Harder (Government Representative in the BUSINESS OF THE SENATE Senate): Honourable senators, it is my pleasure, as the Government Representative in the Senate, to welcome our newest colleagues to this chamber, Mary Jane McCallum of Manitoba MOTION TO PHOTOGRAPH THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW and Mary Coyle of Nova Scotia. SENATORS ADOPTED Senator McCallum has spent her career serving and healing in The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, there have been First Nations, northern and indigenous communities across consultations and there is agreement to allow a photographer in Manitoba. From dental services, to prenatal health and diabetes the Senate Chamber to photograph the introduction of new programs, to housing and education, Senator McCallum has senators. demonstrated a holistic approach to community well-being that is truly inspirational. Her attention to social determinants of health Is it agreed, honourable senators? will add to our collective understanding of this important issue. In committee and in this chamber, I have no doubt that Hon. Senators: Agreed. Manitobans, those living in remote and rural areas across Canada, and those who need a brave voice to speak on their behalf will find a strong representative in Senator McCallum. NEW SENATORS Welcome. The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the [Translation] honour to inform the Senate that the Clerk has received certificates from the Registrar General of Canada showing that Moving on to Nova Scotia, I would like to welcome Mary the following persons, respectively, have been summoned to the Coyle. From a young age, Senator Coyle displayed an interest in Senate: learning languages and the kind of curiosity that inspired her to live in communities around the world. Mary Jane McCallum Mary Coyle [English] From Botswana, to Indonesia, to Bolivia, and to First Nations INTRODUCTION and Metis communities across Canada, Senator Coyle has devoted her career to helping people — especially women, youth and indigenous peoples — acquire tools and resources to lead The Hon. the Speaker having informed the Senate that there and succeed. She brings together a perspective that incorporates a were senators without, waiting to be introduced: macro world view with an understanding of how support and engagement at the grassroots, even the micro level, can help The following honourable senators were introduced; presented build change for the better. Her Majesty’s writs of summons; took the oath prescribed by law, which was administered by the Clerk; and were seated: [Translation] Hon. Mary Jane McCallum, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thank you both for accepting the tremendous challenge of introduced between Hon. Peter Harder, P.C., and Hon. Lillian being senators. I know my colleagues will join me in offering Eva Dyck; and you our friendship and help as you begin this new chapter of your lives and careers. Hon. Mary Coyle, of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, introduced [English] between Hon. Peter Harder, P.C., and Hon. Wanda Elaine Thomas Bernard. Welcome to the Senate of Canada. The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that each of the Hon. Larry W. Smith (Leader of the Opposition): honourable senators named above had made and subscribed the Honourable senators, I would also like to provide some words of Declaration of Qualification required by the Constitution welcome to our two new senators who are taking their seats for Act, 1867, in the presence of the Clerk of the Senate, the the first time in the chamber this afternoon: Senator Mary Jane Commissioner appointed to receive and witness the said McCallum, who represents Manitoba; and Senator Mary Coyle, declaration. who represents Nova Scotia. December 13, 2017 SENATE DEBATES 4483 [Translation] I hope that you both, Senator Coyle and Senator McCallum, will take in your new surroundings and learn all you can about I am sure that Senator Coyle’s and Senator McCallum’s the Senate and the people working in it. personal and professional experience will inform their work here in the Senate, just as it has for everyone who has had the honour I encourage you both to find your niche and use your of being appointed to this place. experiences to add to what we do here. I, in fact, have no doubt that each of you will put your talents and expertise to good use as [English] we go forward together. All honourable senators are provided with the opportunity to Welcome to the Senate of Canada. Enjoy every minute of it. debate legislation that impacts Canadians of all walks of life right across this great country. This is a serious duty and one that I Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! believe all senators, on all sides of the chamber, will treat seriously, whether we are proponents or opponents in any given debate. [Translation] On behalf of all senators — senators from this side of the table and hopefully all senators within our house — we wish you to begin this new chapter of your lives here in the Senate, and we SENATORS’ STATEMENTS look forward to meeting you and working with you in the future. Congratulations. ACADIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY Hon. Yuen Pau Woo: Honourable colleagues, on behalf of the Hon. René Cormier: Honourable senators, a few days from Independent Senators Group, allow me to add my words of now, we will all be returning home for the holidays. We will welcome to our new colleagues, Senator Mary McCallum and leave this chamber with the confidence of those who know their Senator Mary Coyle. It is a proud day for Manitoba and Nova destination. We will have the pleasure of being able to say, “I am Scotia and Canada. going home to be with the people I love.” Both of you have dedicated your life’s work to helping others, [English] especially those who are marginalized because of who they are or where they live. You have contributed your knowledge Just Home and Love! as the British-Canadian poet and writer unselfishly to your communities and served as an advocate for Robert William Service said in his poem: those who lack status, power or voice. You have joined us at a particularly important time in the evolution of the Senate to be a Just Home and Love! (…). body of independent sober second thought in Canada’s And if you’ve both, well then I’m sure. Parliament. We are so lucky to have you here as our colleagues, You ought to sing the whole day long; and we look forward to working with you to advance the interests It doesn’t matter if you’re poor of all Canadians, especially those who you represent in Manitoba With these to make divine your song. and Nova Scotia. Welcome. And so I praisefully repeat, When angels talk in Heaven above, • (1420) There are no words more simply sweet Than Home and Love. Hon. Terry M. Mercer (Acting Leader of the Senate Liberals): Honourable senators, on behalf of the independent [Translation] Senate Liberals, I would like to welcome our two new colleagues: Mary Coyle, from my home province of Nova Scotia; The reason I am quoting these lines today is to commemorate and Mary Jane McCallum, from Manitoba. one of the darkest days in the history of one of our peoples. Senator Mary Coyle has had an eminent career in the post- Since 2003, we have been marking December 13 as Acadian secondary education and non-profit sectors, notably serving as Remembrance Day, in commemoration of the countless lives lost Vice-President and Director of St. Francis Xavier’s Coady in the Great Upheaval. December 13, 1758, was the deadliest day International Institute and as Executive Director of the Frank of the ethnocide. On that day, a staggering number of families, McKenna Centre for Leadership. men, women and children disappeared, separated from one another and deported from Isle Saint-Jean, present-day Prince The Honourable Mary Jane McCallum, who is believed to be Edward Island. the first female indigenous dentist accredited in Canada, is a strong advocate for social justice who has, amongst many other In the days following that fateful day, of the 4,250 Acadians things, provided dental care to First Nations communities across living on the island, 3,000 were deported, and more than half Manitoba. succumbed to illness or drowned. This place is full of dedicated, experienced and hard-working [English] senators on all sides of the chamber. We are proud to serve in the Senate, trying to make our provinces, our regions and the country Those who survived could not say “I am going home” because a better place for everyone. they had no home to return to. 4484 SENATE DEBATES December 13, 2017 [Translation] very moving to have traditional Inuit performances by throat- singers Tamara Takpannie — who, incidentally, is also my Honourable senators, the reason I bring up this tragic event intern — and Janice Oolayou, as well as drum dancing and today is to shine a light on what is happening now. According to singing by Nunavut Sivuniksavut. statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 65 million people were forced from their homes in As Premier Quassa said today, Nunavut plays an important 2016 — the largest number the world has ever seen.