Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: Honourable colleagues, I rise today to speak to the UN Security Council’s Monday, October 2, adoption of a resolution authorizing the deployment of an international security mission to help the Haitian police fight street gangs.

According to a Canadian Press article by Émilie Bergeron, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Canada wants “to do more.”

I applaud Canada’s desire to do more, considering it has repeatedly cut aid to Haiti.

According to the public dashboard DevData, Canada’s international assistance to Haiti shrank by more than 25% between 2017 and 2022.

This morning, I had the opportunity to talk to Global Affairs Canada officials at the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade meeting, which was about the situation in Haiti.

Today, I’m glad the international community has turned its attention to Haiti, my country of birth.

As the old saying goes, let’s hope the government will walk the talk. Thank you.

[English]

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: Today I rise in honour of the 220th anniversary of the Haitian flag, which was raised in front of Parliament at noon today.

On May 18, 1803, General Jean-Jacques Dessalines ripped out the centre of the French blue, white and red flag. White was seen as symbolic of the White French colonists.

Catherine Flon took the remaining two pieces, one blue, the other red, and sewed them together to represent the union of Black people and people of mixed heritage. Thus was born the Haitian flag.

The centre of the flag features the country’s coat of arms, including a palm tree surmounted by the liberty cap and, under the palm, a trophy of arms with the legend, “In union there is strength.”

Despite all the upheaval Haiti has been through from its independence to now, the Haitian flag remains a strong symbol of unity and hope for its people and its diaspora.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Mégie spoke in another language.]

I wish all my Haitian sisters and brothers a happy 220th Haitian Flag Day.

Thank you.

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: Today I rise in honour of the two hundred and twentieth anniversary of the Haitian flag, which was raised in front of Parliament at noon today.

On May 18, 1803, General Jean-Jacques Dessalines ripped out the centre of the French blue, white and red flag. White was seen as symbolic of the White French colonists.

Catherine Flon took the remaining two pieces, one blue, the other red, and sewed them together to represent the union of Black people and people of mixed heritage. Thus was born the Haitian flag.

The centre of the flag features the country’s coat of arms, including a palm tree surmounted by the liberty cap and, under the palm, a trophy of arms with the legend, “In union there is strength.”

Despite all the upheaval Haiti has been through from its independence to now, the Haitian flag remains a strong symbol of unity and hope for its people and its diaspora.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Mégie spoke in another language.]

I wish all my Haitian sisters and brothers a happy two hundred and twentieth Haitian Flag Day.

Thank you.

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: Thank you for your response, Senator Gold. If I may make a suggestion: In response to the humanitarian emergency in Haiti, the United States has taken a unilateral approach with its H-1B1 visa in order to welcome Haitian nationals.

In light of this humanitarian emergency, what is stopping Canada from taking such an approach?

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: Honourable senators, it is with great pride that I introduce you today to an icon of the Haitian community in Canada. This great lady has 35 years of experience in the largest corporations in the world in corporate credit administration, credit risk and operations, and international trade. She holds a directors education program diploma in governance from the Rotman School of Management of the University of Toronto. She has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. She also has a mini-MBA from the McGill Executive Institute.

She earned a certificate in finance from HEC Montréal jointly with the Credit Institute of Canada. She was corporate credit chief at Domtar Corporation since 2008. She is a co-founder of the Excellence Québec initiative, an entity that ensures the inclusion of Blacks in boards of directors. Our colleague, Senator Gerba, is also part of that group.

She actively worked to support the challenges of diversity, equality and inclusion by integrating promising young leaders into the management, finance and governance communities. She has implemented innovative strategies and deployed efficient credit structures across the Americas and in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her adaptability and leadership as she has held global executive positions in diverse sectors, including culture, health, education, agri-food, technology and telecommunications. Despite her heavy workload, she became involved in community development initiatives in our home country, Haiti, such as Fonkoze and KANPE. These foundations accompany and support the most vulnerable Haitians on the path to financial autonomy.

Ms. Féquière was invested into the Order of Canada on May 25, 2022, in recognition of her distinguished career and achievements. On November 9, the Minister of Foreign Affairs appointed her as the Consul General in Chicago, in the United States.

Esteemed colleagues, I have outlined Madeleine Féquière’s impressive career. Please join me in congratulating her and wishing her success in her new endeavours. Thank you.

Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. According to a December 3 article by Mr. Deglise in Le Devoir, on August 3, 2021, less than a month after Jovenel Moïse was murdered, the Haitian government officially asked the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to create an “international commission of inquiry” and a special court.

Senator Gold, the investigation is stalled against a backdrop of violence, corruption and political obstruction to court hearings. Can you tell us if Canada will come out for or against Haiti’s official calls for the UN to create an international commission of inquiry? Or will it abstain altogether?