Debates of the Senate 1st SESSION . 42nd PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 150 . NUMBER 91 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, February 1, 2017 The Honourable GEORGE J. FUREY Speaker This issue contains the latest listing of Senators, Officers of the Senate and the Ministry. 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 2215 THE SENATE Wednesday, February 1, 2017 The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. Honourable senators, I would like to conclude by reading a passage from the Quran that fits this tragedy: Prayers. O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most SENATORS' STATEMENTS honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware. LE CENTRE CULTUREL ISLAMIQUE DE QUÉBEC— VICTIMS OF TRAGEDY Thank you. May their souls rest in peace. Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, I rise today in deep sadness as I, along with the rest of our country, mourn the GENOMICS loss of six Canadians and many others who were injured in a deadly act of terror targeted at the Muslim community in Quebec. Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie: Honourable senators, today I These are the Canadians who died that day: Khaled Belkacemi, would like to bring your attention to a marvelous opportunity to 60 years old, survived by three children; Azzedine Soufiane, interact with Canada's world-leading scientists and discuss the 57 years old, survived by three children; Aboubaker Thabti, most recent exciting developments and applications in genomics. 44 years old, survived by two children; Abdelkrim Hassane, 41 years old, survived by three children; Tanou Barry, 42 years old; Ibrahima Barry, 39 years old, survived by four children. Genomics is the science that helps us read and understand the ``code of life,'' the ``DNA'' or the ``genes'' within all living things. I would like to express my deepest condolences to their families. Canada is a recognized global leader in this field, thanks to sustained federal investment in the science through Genome Honourable senators, when Muslims go to the mosque to pray, Canada and the co-funding of large-scale Canadian genomics they place their head on the ground to humble themselves before research by key partners, including provinces, industry and God. They submit themselves by taking the most vulnerable and not-for-profit organizations within Canada and internationally. peaceful position imaginable. It was in that vulnerable state that this terrorist shot at our fellow Canadians. Genome Canada, along with six regional genome centres, is the catalyst for Canada's genomic enterprise. Their work is Honourable senators, last year this same mosque was the victim transformative. of hate crime. A pig's head was left at the doors of the mosque. Yesterday the president of the mosque said, ``They left us a pig's Genomic breakthroughs are saving lives, revolutionizing head. We were told that it was an isolated act, but today we have agriculture and forestry, and delivering novel approaches to deaths.'' address challenges facing the extraction industries. They are driving innovations across many sectors and growing Canada's Honourable senators, Islamophobia, xenophobia, hateful bioeconomy. rhetoric and policy, no matter where it comes from, cannot go unchecked. Today we see the consequences. On February 6, some of Canada's best and brightest genome scientists will be right here on the Hill to showcase how genomic technologies are being applied in Canada today to solve big My heart is breaking for the victims' families and the people of challenges, specifically in the areas of precision health and climate Quebec City. I mourn with them, and I mourn with every other change. Canadian who is feeling this loss and the effects of Islamophobia. They will be joined by end-users, such as rare disease patients I pledge to all those Canadians that I will meet hatred with love. whose lives have been changed due to research breakthroughs, I will call out hateful and hurtful targeted policies and rhetoric, and organizations that are using genomics to advance clean and I will stand up for the most vulnerable in our society. technology, reduce pollution, protect Arctic marine life and improve the yield of Canada's most important crops. I ask that my honourable colleagues and Canadians around the country stand up as well. It is the only acceptable way to honour Genome Canada and representatives from all the regional these innocent Canadians who were lost in this act of terror. genome centres will be present. 2216 SENATE DEBATES February 1, 2017 I invite you and encourage you to join me between 4 and appointed to the Senate of Canada and the first Black female 7 p.m., Monday, February 6 — that's next week — in senator in North America. room 256-S, just around the corner out here, in Centre Block, to experience the 2017 edition of Genomics on the Hill. I assure I stand on the shoulders of these stalwarts. Their invaluable you, you won't want to miss it. contributions will live in the annals of our nation. BLACK HISTORY MONTH Today, in 2017, we have the honour of serving with more African-Canadians in the upper chamber. In our most recent elections, we welcomed yet more African-Canadian members to Hon. Don Meredith: Honourable senators, February has been Parliament. We applaud the Honourable Ahmed Hussen — an officially designated by Parliament as Black History Month African-Canadian — our Minister of Immigration, Refugees and across Canada. Citizenship, who began his Canadian journey as a Somalian refugee. As our country celebrates its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, we have a unique opportunity to recognize the iconic men and women of colour who have weaved the tapestry of I thank all the great Black men and women who have made an diversity which helps to define the course of our nation. indelible mark upon our national identity, personifying multiculturalism at its best — like Viola Desmond, who will grace our Canadian currency very soon. In this hallowed chamber, as I celebrate the sixth anniversary of being sworn into the Senate on this very day, I take the time to acknowledge that the journey in becoming the first senator of The history of Black Canadians is rich and full of extraordinary Jamaican descent was paved by great patriots who accepted the individuals. While the challenges have been many, I am proud of call to serve, pioneers who courageously challenged the status the progress we have made and look forward to the future we will quo, by presenting perspectives from citizens with journeys unlike create. that of any honourable senator prior. I wish you all a very happy Black History Month, filled with the I pay tribute to the Honourable Senator Mobina Jaffer, the celebration of African-Canadian culture and people. Ugandan native appointed in 2001, simultaneously becoming the first African-born and first Muslim in the Senate. Her passion and dedication to this institution are evident to all, and we owe UPPER BIG TRACADIE TRAGEDY her our utmost respect. Hon. Jane Cordy: Honourable senators, the community of I pay tribute to Senator Calvin Ruck, born in Sydney, Nova Upper Big Tracadie in Nova Scotia continues to grieve for the Scotia, to Barbadian parents. He worked as a porter with the Desmond family. Their lives were taken in an unfathomable Canadian National Railway, a post also held by the father of tragedy on January 3, 2017. RCMP confirmed that retired soldier another remarkable African-Canadian, the Honourable Lincoln Lionel Desmond shot his wife Shanna Desmond, their 10-year-old Alexander, Canada's first Black member of Parliament, cabinet daughter Aaliyah and his mother Brenda Desmond before minister, and Lieutenant-Governor. Ruck, a Dalhousie turning the gun on himself. University graduate, served on the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. His efforts to preserve and commemorate the Shanna Desmond was only 31 and had recently completed her history of Black World War I veterans resulted in a permanent nursing degree at St. Francis Xavier University and was just memorial being erected at Pictou, Nova Scotia, in honour of the beginning her nursing career in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. By all ``No. 2 Construction Battalion.'' Appointed in 1998, Calvin Ruck accounts, 10-year-old Aaliyah was a typical, happy and active girl became Canada's third African-Canadian senator. who enjoyed horseback riding, skating and singing. She dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. (1410) Through the outpouring of love from family and neighbours, I pay tribute to Senator Donald Oliver. The Acadia University we heard that the Desmond family was a very close family. alumnus earned his law degree from Dalhousie University and However, honourable senators, what was hidden from view from was called to the bar in 1965. He began working with the many of those family members and neighbours was the suffering Progressive Conservative Party in 1972, remaining involved for that too many of our Armed Forces personnel carry with them over three decades. Donald Oliver became Canada's second when they return home from the battlefield. Lionel Desmond was African-Canadian senator, being appointed in 1990. Senator diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after two tours in Oliver leaves a lasting legacy as our Speaker pro tempore. Afghanistan, and it has been reported he did receive some treatment for his PTSD.