Hon. Mary Jane McCallum: If there will be a standing vote, I have a question of privilege.

Senator McCallum: Thank you. Your Honour, I rise pursuant to rule 13-4(a) to raise a question of privilege without notice. This rule reads:

If a Senator becomes aware of a matter giving rise to a question of privilege either after the time for giving a written notice or during the sitting, the Senator may either:

(a) raise it during the sitting without notice at any time, except during Routine Proceedings, Question Period or a vote, but otherwise generally following the provisions of this chapter . . . .

When my office raised my attention to this subject matter this afternoon — after reading the scroll that was circulated to my office from the Chamber Operations and Procedure Office today at 12:27 p.m., and cross-referencing Government Motion No. 132 against the Order Paper — this activity fell within the three-hour minimum for notice to be given prior to the sitting, as required under rule 13-3(1). As such, this question of privilege falls legitimately under the aforementioned rule 13-4(a).

Your Honour, I am very concerned about Government Motion No. 132, and the ramifications it will have on effectively limiting the time for debate on non-government or other business — items that are already afforded precious little time for consideration in this place.

Based on the seeming lack of concern or urgency surrounding this motion, I am led to believe that this item most likely came about through conversations and agreement between the Government Representative Office, or GRO, and the four leaders, or their representatives, on the matter.

However, since these leaders do not represent non-affiliated senators, such agreements are not applicable to us, as we have no involvement in or forewarning of such discussions, or the decisions they lead to.

As a senator, I made the difficult choice to become non‑affiliated because of the marginalization, inequity and lack of support I felt as a member of an established group. I find that I now continue to be treated as unequal — this time due to my conscious decision to sit as non-affiliated — even though the Senate prides itself on the principle of equality of senators. I have written numerous letters to the four leaders about such concerns surrounding the lack of involvement of myself and my fellow non-affiliated senators in decisions that greatly impact not only us but also the people we represent. Is such marginalization not representative of the status quo of how things were done 100, 50 or even 10 years ago?

Further meaningful change is needed in light of enduring policies and processes that are outdated and, frankly, discriminatory. I was yet again not consulted before this decision was reached. This instance continues a dangerous exclusion of non-affiliated senators wherein I continue to be excluded from the meaningful process of negotiation. This reality continues to impact my duties as a senator — a senator who is Cree, First Nations and a woman that brings critical life-and-death issues to the floor for the people I serve.

There is other business that is critical to the people we represent — those segments of the population that are excluded from the majority represented in the other place. This other business is extremely important, and often broadens our perspectives of incoming legislation to ensure that we do the right thing for Canadians. As senators, we have a sacred responsibility that comes with the term “honourable” — to debate on issues so we can increase our awareness, knowledge and wisdom, and act accordingly.

As this motion will result in the foregoing of countless hours’ worth of time that would typically be set aside to discuss other business for the duration of this session, we continue to marginalize the very people we are supposed to represent.

As such, Your Honour, I would like to request your ruling on this matter of whether my privilege is being breached when I am forced to be party to a deal that I was not involved in and gave no agreement to, and which limits my ability to listen, to speak and to raise questions on matters of critical import to those I represent in this chamber. Thank you.