Senator Ringuette: In the interest of efficiency and to give other senators a chance to make their statements, I will be brief and will not repeat all of the good things that were said about you today.

Madam Speaker, as the Speaker pro tempore, I want to reiterate my support for you in this chamber so that we can fulfill our mandate of sober second thought for the well-being of all Canadians.

In short, Madam Speaker, as usual, we need to roll up our sleeves, particularly on Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts, which I believe is necessary for our communities.

I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Senator LaBoucane-Benson for her promotion to the position of Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate my support in ensuring the proper functioning of the Senate and respect for our individual and collective responsibilities in this chamber.

Thank you very much.

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Please be brief.

Senator Ringuette: Thank you. However, today, most of us carry digital devices that we, and only we, choose to gather the content of our wallets, our handbags and our briefcases. It is one’s choice. You choose this device. You choose what you put on this device knowing that these devices are subject to hacking, among other things.

The only difference today is that all that information is contained in one device. I repeat, what you put on that device is your choice. But, honourable senators, a purchase receipt on your electronic device is no different than a paper receipt you carried in 1982 in your wallet. It is then and now the same information, different container. You have to realize that.

Now let me, without naming anyone, give you two different scenarios at a small border crossing in northern New Brunswick and the State of Maine. You can judge for yourself.

The first scenario: A senior gentleman arrives at that border in a big black truck, wearing military garb, shows his U.S. passport and says he is a former U.S. general — he says that to the officer. The officer asks, “Where are you from and where are you going to in Canada?” The answer is, “I’m from New York and I’m going to Montreal.” To which the officer asks, “Are you visiting family or friends in this area?” “No,” he replies. So, instantly — it’s a fraction of a second that you have to react — in the officer’s head is the question: Why would he travel all of those additional miles to go to Montreal via Maine and New Brunswick? To secondary inspection he goes and is found to have hidden in his truck a load of illegal guns that he was smuggling for the Montreal gangs.

Second scenario: A Canadian priest from northern New Brunswick arrives at that same border, re-entering Canada from a convention in the States. He had a briefcase on the passenger seat and nothing to declare, with an air of “How dare you ask me this question twice?” He was sent for secondary screening, where they found a briefcase of child porn. He was prosecuted, found guilty and jailed.

Honourable senators, in these two scenarios, being sent for secondary screening was based on a “reasonable general concern” on behalf of the officer, and I highlight that these two persons emphasized their position of authority. The law has to be applied equally to everyone, even if we carry a green passport.

In conclusion, honourable senators, I believe that this amended version of Bill S-7 will be a detriment to our border security, that it will impair border agents from doing their jobs effectively and that it will allow for more contraventions of our customs law.