Senator Gold: Once again, the government wants to see Mr. Badawi reunited with his family. I’m sure that the restoration of diplomatic relations will result in increased advocacy on his behalf. That is certainly our hope.

[English]

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. I don’t believe that it would be necessary or appropriate — in this case — to send it to another committee in addition to the Official Languages Committee.

There are clearly committee members with expertise who have studied the issues. It is also the case that any senator can participate in those meetings, and, therefore, those with a legal background who have an interest in this can be present either as a senator or as a substitute for members in their group. Equally important, the committee will have the ability to bring those experts to testify.

I am not one to exaggerate; when I say with certainty that these are factual references and do not incorporate, in any respect, the provisions, I speak from a lifetime of experience in law and in legal texts — and that will be the testimony I fully expect to hear before the committee.

Senator Gold: Of course.

Senator Omidvar: Thank you, Senator Gold.

I am not a member of the Official Languages Committee. I don’t have the deep knowledge of the bill that my colleagues — who have spoken — have.

I understand what you have said: The reference to Quebec’s Charter of the French Language in the bill is not a political accommodation or a substantive accommodation; it’s a reference to fact and context. So far, I think I interpreted you correctly. I’m not a lawyer — I’m trying to explain it to myself in plain language.

My question is as follows: Does this set a precedent for future legislation to reference a provincial law that applies only to one province within a federal law that applies to all others?

Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. I would be surprised if there weren’t examples of this in other federal statutes, but I don’t want to assert that’s the case because I haven’t done that kind of research.

The important point, Senator Omidvar, is that this is, as you correctly point out, simply a factual reference so as to provide the proper context. It has no legal force or effect. Therefore, it is not setting any kind of precedent that has legislative significance. It responds to the unique circumstances that gave rise to this bill, as well as the need to modernize the legislation.

As well, colleagues, it was also a product of a legislative process in the other place that involved not only the government, but also all of the opposition parties that participated, over many years, in the elaboration and drafting of this legislation.

I date myself by quoting Alfred E. Neuman from MAD magazine to say, “What, me worry?”

In my respectful opinion, there is nothing to be concerned about juridically, legally and legislatively here.

I understand; I come from the English-speaking community in Quebec. I have family members who are challenging me on this bill and, indeed, who are involved in public advocacy — taking a position different from the position of the government — and I feel it very well.

I understand what is triggered by the references, but, in fact, the law is clear — and as legislators, we have to be clear. The law preserves and protects English rights in Quebec to the fullest extent that the federal Parliament has jurisdiction to do so. The references are simply to provide the proper context for the linguistic regimes within which minorities have to live, whether it’s in provinces with no official recognition of constitutional bilingualism, as in New Brunswick, or in provinces like Quebec where there is an official language legislated in law through Quebec’s Charter of the French Language.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of a group of students from the “Centre régional d’éducation des adultes Kitci Amik.” They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Audette.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Claude Carignan: Colleagues, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to one of Quebec’s greatest actors. Michel Côté passed away yesterday at the age of 72.

People are sometimes described as giants, and this description is especially true of Michel Côté. His career spanned nearly 50 years during which he played a variety of grandiose, touching, zany and inspiring roles.

On stage, on television and in film, this pillar of the performing arts embodied every possible version of a man from Quebec over the years, and he did so with authenticity, diligence and integrity. Michel Côté said he loved his characters as a mother loves her children. He cared for them with love and kindness, which is likely one reason why he was so adored by all Quebecers.

His impressive filmography, both in terms of volume and box‑office success, reveals the full extent of his talent. He has often been called a chameleon actor. As he did in the well-known film Cruising Bar, in which he played the four main characters, Michel Côté was easily able to take on a wide range of characters in just a moment’s time.

In the renowned play Broue, in which he portrayed five different customers of the famous Chez Willy tavern, Michel Côté changed clothes in front of more than three million Quebecers for over 38 years. He used to say, with a broad smile, that one day, while shooting the film Cruising Bar and performing Broue in the evening, he played seven different characters in one day. This anecdote perfectly illustrates why he truly was a chameleon actor.

United since the announcement of his passing, his former peers are praising his great skills as an actor, but also — and unanimously — his great skills as a human. On a sound stage, Michel Côté made sure to learn everyone’s first name, from the director to the sound mixer, the entire crew, and he tried to acknowledge each one individually every day.

Six years ago, this great Quebec artist chose to slow down a little so he could spend more time with his dear Véronique, his two sons and his grandchildren. In an unfortunate turn of events, illness was waiting for him and despite his determination and desire to fight it, Michel Côté succumbed this past Monday, May 29.

To Véronique Le Flaguais, his long-time partner, his sons Charles and Maxime, his grandchildren and extended family, including his many friends, I wish to express my compassion and offer my sincere condolences. I also wish to express my real sympathy to the many Quebecers who today are grieving a man they claimed as their own and who they cherished with tender affection.

Goodbye, Michel.

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of a group of students from the “Centre régional d’éducation des adultes Kitci Amik.” They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Audette.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Tetiana Popil and Arsen Senyshyn. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Kutcher.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. René Cormier: Colleagues, getting to know the Far North, the people who live there and the languages they speak has always been a dream of mine.

Knowing that we can’t understand our country without meeting the First Peoples who have inhabited these lands for millennia, and with that dream in mind, I embarked on a three-day trip to Nunavut, the land of the Inuit. It was a fascinating and transformative journey, made possible thanks to the support and help of our colleague Senator Dennis Patterson, whom I sincerely thank for his invaluable assistance.

[English]

Nunavut, Canada’s largest territory, is governed by a consensus-based legislative assembly, whose members are not attached to any political party — it’s a very inspiring mode of governance for an independent senator. Thank you, Speaker Tony Akoak and Pamela Hakongak Gross, Minister of Culture and Heritage, for your warm welcome to this chamber where respect prevails.

[Translation]

As I toured this land almost entirely made up of Arctic tundra, I was guided by Languages Commissioner Karliin Aariak, who works passionately and determinedly to ensure compliance with Nunavut’s Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act. This is a monumental task that the governments of Nunavut and Canada absolutely must support.

In the land of the Qimmiq, one of world’s oldest dog breeds, languages and cultures travel to and for. They coexist, enriching this majestic land with their extraordinary sounds. Inuktut in its many forms, French and English resonate throughout the territory, representing the diversity of our country and our ability to live together.

[English]

In the land of the qulliq, the traditional Inuit lamp, I met the inspiring Leena Evic, owner of the Pirurvik Centre, which is a language training company that offers Inuktut language learning through a process that is both spiritual and restorative. It is an eloquent example of the inseparable link between language, culture and identity.

In the small community of Apex, Ann Meekitjuk Hanson spoke to me about the future of the Inuktitut language which she imagines with optimism and kindness.

In the land of inukshuk, I also met young artists who use throat singing to express their love of the land.

[Translation]

I also met with members of the Francophonie in Nunavut, people from all over, from Acadia, Quebec, Cameroon and more, people who embrace this land with passion and devotion, a community with the wonderful Trois-Soleils school at its heart.

Esteemed colleagues, as you can tell, I fell in love with Nunavut and its people, who draw creative energy, strength and spirituality from the land to steward, heal, repair and build the future.

[English]

Today, I dream of flying away again on the wings of the great steel bird to meet up with these people and learn more because this trip was just the beginning — the beginning of a journey that will transform me forever.

Qujannamiik, Nunavut.

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Tetiana Popil and Arsen Senyshyn. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Kutcher.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Harry Flaherty, President of the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation in Nunavut. He is the guest of the Honourable Senator Patterson (Nunavut).

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question.

The Prime Minister’s prerogative is to choose the members of NSICOP, which he has done, having taken input from all recognized parties and caucuses.

The NSICOP membership currently comprises representatives from all parties in the other place. Indeed, there are two vacancies, and when the Prime Minister has made the decision and is ready to announce it, he will.

Hon. Leo Housakos: Honourable senators, in recent years, I’ve had the honour and pleasure of working with an extraordinary group of people who have fully committed themselves to defending the freedom and human rights of others. They do so not for their own benefit, but because it’s the right thing to do. As a matter of fact, at times, it has come at a personal cost, including threats and intimidation of not only themselves but also their loved ones.

Although based in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong Watch has done an extraordinary job reaching across global borders, including right here in Canada. Through their advocacy and community-engagement work, they strive to bridge the gap between newcomers from Hong Kong and the Canadian government and parliamentarians. They also publish original research and regularly update parliamentarians and government officials on the human rights situation.

In the past year, Hong Kong Watch has launched the Youth Initiative program, successfully advocated for Canada’s Hong Kong open work permit pathway, drawn attention to and asked for Canadian pension funds to divest from Chinese companies linked to human rights violations and advocated for Canada to hold accountable Hong Kong and Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses.

Hong Kong Watch also continues to urge the government to expand and extend the “lifeboat” scheme Stream B path to permanent residency and waive police certificate requirements that continue to create obstacles for Hong Kongers wishing to move to Canada.

When it comes to the safety of the growing Hong Kong community in Canada, Hong Kong Watch continues to raise cases of threats and intimidation by the Chinese Communist Party, including urging the government to adopt a foreign agent registry and a reporting hotline.

With an estimated 50,000 Hong Kongers having landed in Canada over the past two years, including Hong Kong Canadians returning home to Canada, and with many more expected to arrive in the coming months and years, Hong Kong Watch is expanding its mission of defending fundamental freedoms and human rights, and speaking up for Hong Kong Canadians who face intimidation and threats from the Chinese Communist Party right here on Canadian soil.

With that, it’s my honour to announce the launch of Hong Kong Watch Canada. The official launch is happening at a parliamentary reception this evening, to which you’re all invited. I really encourage you to come by and say hello. It’s an opportunity to meet the Hong Kong Watch team, including our friends from across the pond, Ben Rogers and Sam Goodman, who are here today; as well as the members of the new Canadian chapter: Max Wu; Katherine Leung; Aileen Calverley; and former Miss World Canada, Anastasia Lin.

Colleagues, I again encourage you to join us this evening. Until then, I will close my remarks today with a quote from one of this evening’s hosts, Ms. Calverley:

Our fight against authoritarianism is not only advocacy work for a faraway place done from a distance. It has reached the shores of Canada and is impacting the lives of Canadians. I am tremendously grateful for the support from parliamentarians from all sides in our work. I am pleased and excited to officially launch the Canadian chapter of Hong Kong Watch – it is important work and it is time to do so.

Thank you, colleagues.

Hon. Pamela Wallin: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate a report relating to its study on business investment in Canada, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.

Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate an interim report relating to its study on the constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples, no later than June 13, 2023, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.

Hon. Tony Dean: Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit with the Clerk of the Senate a report related to its study on issues relating to security and defence in the Arctic, including Canada’s military infrastructure and security capabilities, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Benedict Rogers and Sam Goodman. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Housakos.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024;

That, for the purpose of this study, the committee have the power to meet, even though the Senate may then be sitting or adjourned, and that rules 12-18(1) and 12-18(2) be suspended in relation thereto; and

That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate.