Senate Business - Page 27 of 31

Debate Highlights: Amending the Impaired Driving Act to Address Unintended Consequences for Permanent Residents

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada June 14, 2018 Bill C-46, Chamber Speeches, impaired driving, permanent residents, refugees

"Honourable senators, the amendment that Senator Jaffer has proposed is a very sensible one. It will not reduce the penalties for anyone who is charged with DUI. It will not provide special consideration or exemption of any kind for anyone who drives under the influence. It will, however, remove the severe, harsh, unintended impact on just one class of residents."

SPEECH: Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act at Third Reading

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada June 8, 2018 Bill C-45, cannabis, Chamber Speeches, legalization

"Once legalized cannabis is the norm, you will go into a store or online and purchase a product. If it is labelled, you know what you are getting. You know its potency levels. There may be warnings on it, et cetera. You can be guaranteed that it will not be laced with a harmful substance."

A Thank You to Canada’s Private Sponsors of Refugees

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada May 24, 2018

On May 25, 2018 Senator Ratna Omidvar rose in the Senate Chamber to celebrate the contribution Canada's private sponsors of refugees have made to this country. Members of Team Everest, a successful private sponsorship group from Toronto, were welcomed to the Senate to mark the occasion.

News Release: Time is right for social finance fund, Senate committee says

Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee Senate of Canada May 10, 2018 SOCI, Social Finance

A federally created and supported social finance fund could help Canada solve some of our country's most challenging issues. It will harness the power of private investment and innovative solutions for the public good, the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology said in a report released Thursday.

News Release: New Senate committee to consider ways to bolster charitable sector

Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector Senate of Canada May 9, 2018 charities, CSSB, non-profits

Members of the Senate's new Charities committee will study how Canada can improve the regulation of charities and non-profit organizations, and help them overcome challenges that include, among others, funding gaps, staff and volunteer retention challenges and changing demographics and technologies, through innovation and other best practices, among other important themes.

WATCH: Immigration Consequences Around Bill C-45

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada April 30, 2018 Bill C-45, cannabis, immigration, social sharing of cannabis

On April 30 2018, Senator Ratna Omidvar asked witnesses testifying before the Senate's Social Affairs Committee about the potential impacts Bill C-45 in its current form could have on permanent residents and other immigrants, as well as the legal issues around social sharing of cannabis. This is part of the Senate's ongoing examination of Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act.

SPEECH: Modernizing Question Period in the Senate

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada April 25, 2018 Question Period, Senate Modernization

"As the Senate's small screen debut comes closer, it is our responsibility, I feel, to determine how our chamber proceedings ought to be presented to the public. Not only are we looking to change the channel on how the Senate is perceived, we’re also looking to turn up the volume on this institution’s best features."

Senators’ Responses to the Attack in Toronto

Various Senators Senate of Canada April 25, 2018 Statements, Toronto

On April 24, 2018 a number of Senators rose in the Chamber to respond to the tragic events that took place the day before in Toronto. The city and indeed our entire country mourns the loss of family members and friends. Our hope is that these words will offer comfort and solidarity for those in need of support.

WATCH: Senator Omidvar talks cannabis legalization with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario

Ratna Omidvar Registered Nurses Association of Ontario April 23, 2018 Bill C-45, cannabis, legalization, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, video

Recreational cannabis will become legal in Canada this summer. Yet many questions remain about what a future with legalized cannabis looks like. Watch as Senator Omidvar participates in a panel with nurses and public health experts to discuss Bill C-45, The Cannabis Act.

Senators’ Statements: Donna Dasko and Valerie March

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada April 19, 2018 Donna Dasko, immigration, Statements, Valerie March

In 1984, while I was still relatively new to Canada and trying to find my way as a volunteer, two women that are here today, Dr. Donna Dasko and Valerie March overlooked the fact that I had no Canadian work experience and no familiar credentials. They saw something else than the places on my resumé, the strangeness of my name and they took a risk on me and offered a job. This was my first job in the charities world and it opened many other doors and windows that I believe ultimately led me to the Senate.