Senator Don Plett, Leader of the Opposition

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO Bill C-71: An Act to Amend Certain Acts and Regulations in Relation to Firearms   Second Reading Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Colleagues, I would like to speak to second reading of Bill C-71, An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms. I think we are all well aware that this debate over gun control is a long-standing one. It has gone on for decades. It is very polarized and highly politicized. Advocates and stakeholders on both sides of…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (“Holodomor”) Memorial Day Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Colleagues, last Friday, I was privileged to take part in an event commemorating the 85th Holodomor genocide. Hosted by Sisler High School in Winnipeg , this annual commemoration event began in 2009 under the leadership of teacher Orysya Petryshyn, and it has been held every year since. As you know, Holodomor was a horrific tragedy, a genocide of the Ukrainian people by starvati…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO Mandatory Minimum Sentences (Bill S-251) Bill to Amend the Criminal Code—Second Reading Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Bill S-251, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (independence of the judiciary) and to make related amendments. According to Senator Pate: "This bill provides judges with the discretion to impose a fair and just sentence in every case, notwithstanding the presence of a mandatory minimum penalty." I…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO Canada Post back-to-work legislation (Bill C-89) Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I also want to make a few comments about Bill C-89. Let me start by saying I don’t think this bill has been handled — I’m not with Senator Woo on this — the right way. In fact, I think it is shameful. I’m not talking about the fact the government sat on its hands until the eleventh hour and then, in a panicked rush, suddenly decided something needed to be done. I’m ta…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO Fisheries Act Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Bill C-68, An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence. Let me say at the outset that I support the objective of this bill, which is to protect fish and their habitat for future generations. Born and raised in Manitoba, a province with over 110,000 lakes, covering more than 15 per cent of its surface area, I have a deep appreciation for the need to be excel…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: Trinity Western University Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Colleagues, this past Friday the Supreme Court of Canada rendered a decision representing the biggest slap in the face to religious freedom in our country’s judicial history. The Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, sided with Ontario and B.C.’s law societies who have decided not to accredit future graduates of Trinity Western University’s proposed new law school because the students are required to sign a commu…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: Voluntary Blood Donations Bill Bill to Amend—Second Reading—Debate Continued On the Order: Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Wallin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boniface, for the second reading of Bill S-252, Voluntary Blood Donations Act (An Act to amend the Blood Regulations). Hon. Donald Neil Plett: I will speak very briefly to this. Colleagues, I rise to speak in strong support of the voluntary blood donations act, kno…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: On Debate- Senator Tannas' Amendment (Bill S-203) Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Senator Tannas’s amendment. I also want to welcome Senator Moore to the chamber. I find it strange and rather unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation in which we have been told today that we would be denied adjournment on this bill. The now sponsor of this legislation did not move third reading until over a month after the comm…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: Cannabis Bill (Bill to Amend—Third Reading—Debate Continued) Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I also rise today to speak to third reading of Bill C-45. The responsibility lies upon all of us in this chamber to ensure that when cannabis is legalized, it is backed by a legislative framework that will keep our citizens, most importantly our children, safe. This is a goal that the Liberal government has repeatedly stated is paramount, yet they have f…

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO: Kindness Week Bill; Second Reading Hon. Donald Neil Plett: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Bill S-244, An Act respecting Kindness Week. That was the reaction I got from my own caucus. Some of my caucus and staff thought it would be hilarious if I were to be the critic on the kindness bill. I cannot understand what they were thinking. Today, colleagues, I was having lunch with my beautiful granddaughter, and I said I was speaking to kindness we…