Honourable senators, on behalf of the Government Representative Office, I am pleased to welcome five new colleagues to the Senate of Canada: senators Marnie McBean, Paulette Senior, Toni Varone, Mary Robinson and Mohammad Al Zaibak. I look forward to working with all of you.

We all remember Senator McBean’s triumphs rowing for Canada in 1992 and 1996. She is one of only two Canadians to be a triple gold medallist at the summer games. She was Team Canada’s chef de mission for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, leading Team Canada to one of its best Olympic results ever. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario and Right to Play Canada. She remains committed to many social-justice-related causes, including the Special Olympics Canada Champions Network.

Senator McBean was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal by World Rowing and was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. She received the Bonham Centre Award for increasing awareness of sexual diversity, as well as the Bruce Kidd Leadership Award for her leadership and contributions to Canadian athletics.

Senator Paulette Senior has devoted her life and her career to women’s issues. She is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Women’s Foundation and was previously the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Canada.

Her work has included promoting gender equity, addressing gender-based violence, reducing women’s poverty, shrinking the wage gap and promoting the empowerment of women and girls across this country. Senator Senior has worked with all levels of government and civil society to address issues of poverty, housing, immigration and social justice.

She has managed and operated Toronto-based shelters, employment programs and housing programs and sat on the Board of Directors of the Women’s College Hospital and on the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council. In 2022, she was appointed to serve as a member of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments.

Senator Toni Varone is a businessman and philanthropist who has been recognized for his work in building affordable housing and his commitment to the social and cultural life of the Italian-Canadian community.

As President of the Varone Group, he oversees companies specializing in hospitality, construction, land development and property management services. Senator Varone has also been involved in community and government initiatives, including the creation of safe and affordable shelters for those in need. He is a board member of the Villa Charities foundation and is President of The Italy Earthquake Relief Fund and member of the Peace Through Valour Committee.

Senator Varone is the recipient of the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association Community Achievement Award, the Italian Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award and the Heart and Hand Award from Villa Charities.

Senator Mary Robinson will represent her home province of Prince Edward Island and will be a strong voice for Atlantic Canada. Senator Robinson brings a wealth of experience to the Senate as a managing partner of the Robinson Group of Companies, a sixth-generation farm and agribusiness in Prince Edward Island. She is also involved in agricultural sector organizations at the provincial, national and international levels.

Senator Robinson was a Board Member and President of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture, the first female President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the first female Chair of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council.

Senator Al Zaibak is a successful entrepreneur and a generous philanthropist. He is an expert in public-private partnerships and international negotiations, especially in the technology sectors. Senator Al Zaibak has worked to strengthen the economic, social and cultural ties between Canada and the international community, especially between Canada and Arab countries.

He served as Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Chair of its International Strategic Advisory Committee and is a former chair of the Canada Arab Business Council. Senator Al Zaibak is a co-founder of Lifeline Syria, a not-for-profit organization that helped the sponsorship and settlement of nearly 1,200 Syrian refugees in Canada.

To our five newest colleagues, your wealth of experience, your accomplishments, your leadership skills, your devotion to this country are very much welcome additions to the Senate. My team, all senators and I look forward to working with you. Congratulations.

Honourable senators, let me begin by wishing everyone a happy new year and soon-to-be Lunar New Year. As we welcome our new colleagues in this first sitting of Parliament of 2024, let us refocus on the work ahead, in the best interest of our nation, the prosperity of the regions and the well-being of future generations.

On behalf of the opposition and the Senate Conservative caucus, I am pleased to rise in this chamber to welcome our new colleagues.

The Honourable Mohammad Al Zaibak of Ontario is a Syrian-born Arab-Canadian entrepreneur, an advocate for social development and diversity and co-founder of Lifeline Syria, which helps Syrian refugees resettle in Canada.

According to his biographical note on the Prime Minister’s website:

Throughout his career, Mr. Al Zaibak has worked tirelessly to strengthen Canada’s economic, social, and cultural ties with the global community, in particular with Arab countries.

The Honourable Marnie McBean of Ontario is a motivational speaker, published author and one of the most decorated Olympians in Canadian history. She was inducted to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1994 and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. She is also an Officer of the Order of Canada and was recognized for her outstanding international achievements with a Thomas Keller Medal by World Rowing in 2002.

The Honourable Mary Robinson of Prince Edward Island is a globally recognized leader in the agricultural sector and her community. She is also the Vice-President of the World Farmers’ Organisation. As a proud Atlantic Canadian and a managing partner of the Robinson Group of Companies — a sixth‑generation farm and agribusiness in Prince Edward Island — she will certainly serve her province and Canada well with her wealth of experience and expertise.

The Honourable Paulette Senior of Ontario is the President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, and an advocate for empowering women and girls from diverse backgrounds. As a Jamaican-born Canadian who immigrated to Canada as a young girl, her personal experiences ignited her interest in social justice, and has made her the dynamic, grounded leader and now the Canadian senator that she is today.

Finally, the Honourable Toni Varone of Ontario is a prominent businessman and philanthropist dedicated to building safe and affordable housing. He has received many awards and honours for his outstanding charitable work and dedication to the development of the social and cultural life of many communities, including the Italian-Canadian community in the Toronto region.

Honourable colleagues, I am pleased to extend you a warm welcome to the Senate of Canada. We all look forward to getting to know you as we collectively ensure due diligence is done within the debates and work ahead of us. The Conservatives look forward to working in collaboration with you on ways to improve the lives of Canadians by working and fighting for their best interests.

On behalf of the opposition and the Conservative caucus, welcome to the Senate of Canada — your new family away from home.

Today, we are welcoming five colleagues with impressive résumés.

Ontario Senator Marnie McBean first distinguished herself through her athletic feats, most notably her participation in the Atlanta and Barcelona Olympic Games. Representing Canada, she won an impressive total of four medals, including three gold medals. Besides that, Senator McBean illustrated herself through her community engagement. Indeed, she has long defended several human rights causes, notably related to sexual and gender identity. Before her deployment with the Olympic teams to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, she stated, “Our team is going to be a safe and open space for self-expression and dialogue.” In the current political context, we know her future senatorial participation will help safeguard the constitutional rights of these minorities — and all minorities.

For her part, Ontario Senator Paulette Senior has been committed to combatting the systemic barriers that impede the development of the potential of women, girls and young people. Having administered social programs and numerous front-line community assistance resources, Senator Senior has been significantly impactful on the empowerment of women across the country. This inspiring leadership — both female and Black — is a fundamental asset for fulfilling our institution’s mandate. Senator Senior, I can assure you that the Senate is the right place to, as you have so eloquently put it, demand and lead a lasting change for all — everywhere.

Welcome also to Ontario Senator Toni Varone. Senator Varone has distinguished himself throughout his career as an influential businessman and philanthropist dedicated to the cause of the disadvantaged and vulnerable. Besides that, his commitment has regularly extended beyond Canada’s border, with Senator Varone serving as the President of The Italy Earthquake Relief Fund. Developing and maintaining connections in Canada and internationally is an essential skill for our institution; we deeply value it. I will paraphrase you, Senator Varone, when you were introduced to the charity world: You said that you fell in love with the passion of giving back. I have no doubt that, at the end of your Senate term, you will be able to emulate the heroes who left their mark on you.

Welcome, Senator Mary Robinson, who is representing Prince Edward Island. As a leader who has evolved in a family-owned agriculture business for the last six generations, Senator Robinson possesses extensive knowledge and a wealth of experience related to the challenges and issues impacting Canadian farmers. Senator Robinson will have the opportunity to engage and tackle head-on several problems affecting the Canadian agri-food industries. Her peers have also recognized her career achievements, notably through the Prince Edward Island Women’s Institute outstanding Woman in Agriculture Award, and her nomination in Atlantic Business Magazine as a member of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Atlantic Canada. Her appointment to the Canadian Senate is another milestone in her brilliant career.

Welcome to our newest appointee, Senator Mohammad Al Zaibak, who is representing Ontario. As a successful technological business leader and a remarkable philanthropist, Senator Al Zaibak’s efforts have been highlighted during his career. He made possible the resettlement of nearly 1,000 Syrian refugees in the Greater Toronto Area through his not-for-profit charitable organization, Lifeline Syria. His commitment to the well-being of the population inhabiting his home country is durable, sustainable and deeply human. Due to the results achieved, the Toronto Region Board of Trade awarded him the 2018 Toronto Region Builder Award to highlight his exemplary leadership and commitment to the Toronto region. Senator Al Zaibak, your international business knowledge and acumen will bring great value added to the Senate.

In conclusion, I point out that both Ontario and Prince Edward Island now have full representation. This is something that I wish for all provinces and territories.

On behalf of all members of the Independent Senators Group, I gladly welcome all five of you. Thank you. Meegwetch.

Honourable senators, on behalf of my colleagues in the Canadian Senators Group, I wish to welcome Senator McBean, Senator Senior, Senator Varone, Senator Robinson and Senator Al Zaibak to the Senate.

Honourable senators, with these appointments, we are getting closer and closer to a full Senate. According to my calculations, we have eight more vacancies for this chamber to be at its limit. As Senator Saint-Germain just expressed, I am hopeful that the Prime Minister will soon fulfill his constitutional duties by filling the empty seats, and providing to all regions its full slate of representatives.

By welcoming these five new senators — all eminent Canadians — the Senate continues to transform itself from the traditional partisan vestiges to a chamber of more independent reflection. Our new senators come with very different backgrounds. Senator Al Zaibak comes to the Senate from the international and technological business community, and he is also a broader community leader and builder. Senator Robinson comes from the agricultural sector and is a strong advocate for the industry and for P.E.I., which comes to the great relief of our lonely farmer, Senator Black, who welcomes another voice for agriculture.

Senator McBean is a highly decorated Olympian and champion of social justice causes. Senator Senior is a recognized leader in the charitable sector, and a trailblazer for women and girls. Senator Varone is a businessman and philanthropist, and he is involved in lifelong civic engagement.

Seeing these individuals from very different backgrounds who have chosen to come forward and serve is a positive sign that this institution matters.

Our former colleague P.E.I. Senator Diane Griffin made this point back in 2017 during a speech: She said it is important to ensure that the selection board “. . . considers under-represented occupations as part of its appointment process . . . .” I think that we are now seeing the fruits of that labour. I know that she will be excited to see a farmer from P.E.I. join us here. I mention her because I suspect she is probably watching on television right now.

With this diversity in background comes a diversity of views and opinions, and, senators, this is a very good thing. Our role is to represent our regions on national issues. At times, we all agree, but most of the time, we do not. Again, this is a good thing.

Diversity of opinions, coupled with a sense of respect for opposing views, is a strength, not a weakness, and it is the hallmark of the work of the Senate.

I encourage each of the new senators to participate fully in our debates and bring your diverse views forward. Please do not hold back. Your views and perspectives are welcome here. In fact, they are needed here in the Senate as we do our work on behalf of Canadians.

Senators McBean, Senior, Varone, Robinson, and Al Zaibak, welcome to the Senate of Canada. My Canadian Senators Group, or CSG, colleagues and I look forward to working with you.