The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, P.C., Member of Parliament, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

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

Hon. Leo Housakos: Honourable senators, I rise today with a heavy heart and a deep sense of urgency regarding the alarming military situation in Artsakh.

Earlier today, Azerbaijan unleashed large-scale military operations against Artsakh, targeting the capital city of Stepanakert and other civilian settlements, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties. The ongoing attacks by Azerbaijan are deeply concerning and require immediate attention and action from the international community.

It is evident that Azerbaijan’s large-scale aggression is aimed at ethnically cleansing Artsakh of its 120,000 indigenous Armenian population. The shelling of civilian areas is not only a violation of international law, but also a clear indication of a potential genocidal catastrophe. The situation on the ground is alarming, and it is imperative that Canada — as a nation committed to upholding human rights and promoting peace — takes a stand against such aggression.

Colleagues, I hope you will join me in urging Minister Joly to take immediate action as a means to address this pressing issue and contribute to a peaceful resolution, and in calling on the Canadian government to issue a strong and unwavering condemnation of Azerbaijan’s military actions — similar to the statements issued earlier today by the French foreign ministry, the German foreign ministry and the EU foreign service.

Furthermore, it is imperative for Canada to consider the imposition of targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for the aggression in Artsakh. Such sanctions will send a clear and unequivocal message that Canada stands firmly against violations of international law and human rights abuses. In addition to these measures, Canada should actively engage in diplomatic efforts, collaborating with international allies to exert pressure on Azerbaijan, with the primary objective being the swift establishment of a ceasefire through dialogue and negotiations. Moreover, Canada should extend humanitarian assistance to the affected population in Artsakh, offering relief and support to alleviate their suffering and ensure their fundamental needs are met.

The lives of countless innocent civilians hang in the balance, and Canadian leadership in condemning these actions and working toward a peaceful resolution is desperately needed. Canada must stand on the right side of history. Thank you, colleagues.

Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: On Saturday, we marched through the streets of Montreal to mark the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death at the hands of her torturers in Iran. Montrealers shouted with one voice that the violent repression of the feminist revolution in Iran must not be forgotten. The Islamist regime did everything in its power to snuff out any attempts to commemorate the anniversary in Iran on Saturday. In fact, there are almost no demonstrations over there anymore, aside from small groups of brave women who sing and dance in the streets, unveiled, for a few minutes before going back into hiding.

We receive messages from overcrowded prisons pleading for Canada and other democracies to put more pressure on this brutal regime that shamelessly violates human rights. From Evin Prison, Narges Mohammadi, one of Iran’s most prominent and courageous activists, sent the following message to the Iranian diaspora for the screening of her powerful documentary, White Torture, in Montreal.

This is a quote from Narges’ call to action:

During 44 years of oppressive theocratic rule in Iran, the people did everything they could to bring about democracy, freedom and equality. The regime responded with repression, killings, torture in prison and executions. The women-led Woman, Life, Freedom movement emerged and weakened the regime by directly opposing it and undermining its foundations. In the streets, women without veils represented clear defiance of the regime and power for the people. We are determined to take this revolutionary movement all the way, and we will resist. For that, we need strong support from the international community.

She calls on Western governments to make human rights a prerequisite for any negotiations. To do otherwise is to betray the aspirations of the Iranian people.

I will close with an expression of sincere gratitude. My heart is full of hope, love and life as I assure you I am determined to fight for democracy, freedom and equality. I remain confident that, one day, you will hear our victorious voices no matter where you are.

What meaningful action can we take to ensure that these people do not lose hope? Canada announced sanctions against more than 400 individuals and entities related to human rights abuses in Iran. Now we have to do more to punish those who are complicit with the regime, particularly by seizing their assets. On Saturday, Minister Mélanie Joly promised demonstrators that she would put more pressure on the regime in Tehran. Let us also use our voices in this chamber to ensure our Iranian sisters are not forgotten.

Hon. Margaret Dawn Anderson: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to the unprecedented devastation in the Northwest Territories — the 292 wildfires that have ravaged our communities and land this year. To put the scale of this disaster into perspective, these wildfires have released 97 megatonnes of carbon into the atmosphere this year, 277 times more than the emissions caused by human activities in the territory in 2021.

The driving force behind these wildfires has been the extraordinary combination of long-lasting dry and scorching temperatures — a clear and unmistakable indication of the effects of climate change. The wildfires resulted in the evacuations of eight communities: Hay River, K’átł’odeeche First Nation, Behchoko, Sambaa K’e, Fort Smith, Jean Marie River, Kakisa and Enterprise.

On August 16, the evacuation notice was extended to encompass the capital city of Yellowknife, as well as N’dilo, Ingraham Trail and Dettah, resulting in the displacement of an additional 22,000 residents. There is only one road in and out of Yellowknife.

The wildfires quickly heightened the disparities in infrastructure and services in the North. The pleas and requests to the federal government for infrastructure in the North are not new. Premier Caroline Cochrane stated:

Whose fault is it, when we can’t get people out, because we don’t have basic infrastructure that every Canadian takes for granted?

Today, the Northwest Territories wildfires have burned more than 3.5 million hectares. Homes and building losses include more than a dozen K’átł’odeeche First Nation buildings and the band office; 19 structures in Behchoko or along Highway 3 to the east of the community; cabins outside Tulita; cabins near Duncan Lake; approximately 90% of the homes and buildings in Enterprise; properties in Paradise Gardens and the Patterson Road area south of Hay River; two cabins and a travel trailer on Hay River’s western periphery; and a home in Sambaa K’e burned in an ignition operation gone wrong.

Regretfully, under Bill C-18’s provisions, news sharing among social media became an uphill battle as Facebook and Instagram blocked Canadian news — both heavily relied on sources by the Northwest Territories and the territories. In an age when there is reliance on social media and its platforms, it is absolutely vital that the ability for us in the North to share news during an emergency is permissible and endorsed by our government.

Thank you to citizens and heroes who came to our aid during this crisis including local, national and international. I offer my deepest and sincere condolences to the family of 25-year-old Adam Yeadon, a member of the Acho Dene Koe band and firefighter, who tragically lost his life in Fort Liard. He is a true hero.

Honourable colleagues, as we move forward in the Senate, I urge you all to ensure that the legislation and debates we have in this place continue to factor in the realities we face in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon and help to address the inequity and inequality we live in. Quyanainni. Mahsi’cho. Thank you.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Representatives of the leadership of the Ismaili Council for Northeast Ontario. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Jaffer.

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 Evelyn Ross, Senator D. Patterson’s wife; Bruce Uviluq; Patricia Ross; Jacques Faille and Rod Pelton.

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

The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been received from the House of Commons with Bill C-48, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bail reform).

(Bill read first time.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Bruce Deacon, Senator M. Deacon’s husband.

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 Marco and Cristina Luciani Castiglia. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Loffreda.

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

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

[English]

Hon. Tony Dean: Honourable senators, I have the honour to inform the Senate that pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on February 10, 2022, and June 1, 2023, the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on June 28, 2023, its sixth report entitled Arctic Security Under Threat: Urgent needs in a changing geopolitical and environmental landscape and I move that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

(On motion of Senator Dean, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.)

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

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules or previous order, the Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) take the place of the Honourable Senator Downe as one of the members of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight.

[Translation]

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

That the following documents, which form part of the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration from the Second Session of the Forty‑first Parliament, be referred to the Committee so that it may then authorize their disclosure for the purposes of an adjudication under the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act:

1.email from the Honourable David Wells to the Honourable Leo Housakos dated November 30, 2015, at 11:17 a.m.; and

2.email from the Honourable George Furey, K.C., to the Honourable Leo Housakos dated November 30, 2015, at 1:55 p.m.

[English]

Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, I have the honour to inform the Senate that pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on March 3, 2022, and June 7, 2023, the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on July 19, 2023, its fourteenth report (Interim) entitled Honouring the Children Who Never Came Home: Truth, Education and Reconciliation and I move that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.

(On motion of Senator Francis, report placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting of the Senate.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator McCallum, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)

Hon. Patti LaBoucane-Benson (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government response to the fifth report (interim) of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy, entitled The State of the Canadian Economy and Inflation, tabled in the Senate on February 15, 2023.

(Pursuant to rule 12-23(4), this response and the original report are deemed referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy.)

Hon. Mary Jane McCallum introduced Bill S-274, An Act to establish National Thanadelthur Day.

(Bill read first time.)

Hon. Jim Quinn introduced Bill S-273, An Act to declare the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada.

(Bill read first time.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the second time?

(On motion of Senator McCallum, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for second reading two days hence.)