Hon. Marilou McPhedran: Honourable senators, just a quick clarification for those who have been wondering about the bruises on my face. I did not walk into a door. I spent a lot of time in a dental chair this week.

Colleagues, about two hours ago, I received a call from Senator David Wells, who offered me his statement time for today, because he knows of my work in solidarity with Ukrainian parliamentarians and other human rights defenders.

As a non-affiliated senator, it’s close to impossible to get such an opportunity, and I thank Senator Wells for this generous gesture. Today, with gratitude, I’m going to try to share with you some direct messages from Ukrainian women parliamentarians.

As many here know, after the Euromaidan, or Revolution of Dignity, that erupted in 2013 over the government rejection of a European Union trade agreement, and concerns of corruption and weakening ties to Europe, then-president Yanukovych fled Ukraine. Shortly thereafter, Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula. Women were leaders in the Euromaidan Revolution and made some notable gains in the political sphere and security sector, including gender quotas for elections.

Senators active in interparliamentary associations such as IPU and OSCE know that Ukraine has one of the youngest parliaments in the world and is often represented by young parliamentarians, and often they are impressive, articulate women. About two weeks ago at the UN in New York, the Inter‑Parliamentary Union held its parliamentary hearing in person at about the same time as the OSCE held its similar event online. Attending both was MP Alona Shkrum — with a master’s in law from Cambridge, by the way — who returned to her country knowing that Russia was going to invade.

About an hour ago, I spoke with my colleague Darcia for an update from a call that Manitobans Dr. Kawser Ahmed and lawyers Darcia and Gary Senft had with MP Sophia Fedyna in her home city of Lviv, under siege.

Sophia calls upon Canada to ensure there is a no-fly zone over Ukraine and to increase humanitarian aid, especially medical aid and medical supplies. There are no tourniquets to be had right now in Ukraine. Women MPs like Sophia are carrying AK-47s, while other Ukrainians — unarmed — are kneeling in front of tanks, blocking them from their villages.

Honourable colleagues, we are in dark days that are getting darker. This war against Ukraine as well as ongoing crises in Afghanistan, Myanmar, China and Yemen are grinding out victim after victim and grinding down democracies the world over. Please, let’s remember the brave, principled actions we take today are essential to build a future for all. Thank you, meegwetch.

Hon. Marilou McPhedran: I wanted to ask Senator Plett if he would be willing to accept a question? Thank you.

On the theme of you don’t always get what you want, my question is: Do you interpret, in particular, Senator Gold’s reference to the former Minister Beatty, at the time of the act, and whether you interpret the current situation as excluding any possibility of an independent, non-affiliated senator to be considered for membership on this committee?