Senator Don Plett, Leader of the Opposition

Bill to Amend—Third Reading—Debate Suspended On the Order: Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Dyck, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy, for the third reading of Bill S-215, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sentencing for violent offences against Aboriginal women). Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, before I begin my remarks on Bill S-215, I want to make a couple of personal comments. First, I have not yet had the opportunity to welcome all the new s…

SENATORS' STATEMENTS Policy Discussions and Legislative Process Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Colleagues, last week Bill C-16, gender identity and gender expression, passed third reading in the other place without a recorded vote. This came on the heels of the Justice Committee refusing to hear from witnesses on this legislation. That's right, colleagues, no public hearings. We should be so confident in the legislation that we bring forward, and certainly in the legislation we pass, that we are wil…

Underground Infrastructure Safety Enhancement Bill Second Reading—Debate Continued Senator Plett: I rise to speak to Bill S-229, an Act respecting underground infrastructure safety, also known as "call before you dig." Colleagues, we may find that if we dig down too far we will hit ice, as it appears that hell is most certainly freezing over: Senator Mitchell and I are agreeing once again on a bill before this chamber. I am the critic of Bill S-229. However, I am supportive of the initia…

SENATORS' STATEMENTS Official Visit to Ukraine Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Thank you, Senator Harder, for those opening comments. Honourable senators, I certainly want to echo as well the pleasure I had travelling with Senator Harder as we travelled to areas where both his ancestors and mine came from. I want to thank the Mennonite Centre for their invitation to both of us to go there and celebrate their fifteenth anniversary. The centre is very active in helping Ukrainians make sure they have th…

Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I would like to add my voice to offer condolences. I am not from Alberta, but I certainly was a very good friend of Jim Prentice, and I want to offer my condolences to Karen, Cassia, Christina and Kate, and to Jim and Karen's two grandchildren. I met Jim Prentice at the last federal PC convention. I was there as the President of the Alliance Party of Canada, as an observer. There I was at the PC convention, and I found myself campaigning for Jim Pren…

Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act and to provide for certain other measures. As I have said repeatedly, my concern with this legislation is not the principle, as the principle of this legislation is something that I can support. Air Canada is likely not benefiting from the Crown to the extent that they should still be subject to the obligations that they agreed to in 1988. For that reason, I…

Criminal Code Bill to Amend—Second Reading—Debate Continued On the Order: Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., for the second reading of Bill S-206, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children against standard child-rearing violence). Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I'm sorry that I need to do this at this late hour of this late time of the week, but unfortunately, I…

Bill to Amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act and to Provide for Certain Other Measures Second Reading On the Order: Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Pratte, seconded by the Honourable Senator Gagné, for the second reading of Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act and to provide for certain other measures. Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Bill C-10, an Act to amend the Air Canada Public Pa…

The Late Honourable Rod A. A. Zimmer Tribute Hon Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, last Tuesday morning, our nation lost an accomplished parliamentarian and an exceptional Manitoban. Senator Rod Zimmer passed away early Tuesday morning due to an enduring battle with esophageal cancer. Senator Zimmer graced this chamber for eight years as an eloquent senator and good friend. Although the senator and I sat opposite in the four years that we worked together in the Senate, that will nev…

Criminal Code Bill to Amend—Third Reading—Debate Continued On the Order: Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Baker, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Harder, P.C., for the third reading of Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying), as amended. Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I rise to speak to an amendment that I will propose which deals with an issue I have spoken ab…