Enjoying the morning festivities on July 1 in Ottawa. Happy Canada Day!

Yesterday, the Senate paid tribute to independent Senator Donna Dasko on her retirement. Watch her full farewell speech here: tinyurl.com/4dxucy5z

Senators Donna Dasko and Mary Coyle were among those who delivered statements in the chamber yesterday. Check out who said what here 👉 tinyurl.com/38udhtmm

Check out ISG Facilitator Lucie Moncion's op-ed in The Hill Times: "An independent Senate serves Canadians better". www-hilltimes-com.lop-bdp.idm.oclc.org/2026/05/21/a...

JUST RELEASED: A Nanos poll shows 79% of Canadians agree with the merit-based Senate appointment process, now in its 10th year, with only 5% who want to return to partisan appointments. Read my OpEd with @donnadasko.bsky.social on the broader implications: www.hilltimes.com/2026/05/13/p...

Partisan picks only harm the Senate’s legitimacy problem - The Hill Times

The move to a more independent Senate—now coming on 10 years—has improved the institution’s standing among Canadians but it has not solved the fundamental problem of its legitimacy deficit as an unele...

hilltimes.com

79% of Canadians want to continue with the independent senate, according to a new @niknanos.bsky.social poll. Only five percent of Canadians want a return to a partisan senate. For the first time in ten years of polling, positive views outweigh negative for the Senate of Canada. Poll results here:

I am a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications. Our latest report examines the vexing question of copper wire theft and its impact on Canada’s communication infrastructure. Here is Stolen Signal. #cdnpoli #TRCM

La sénatrice Donna Dasko et moi avons retrouvé la PDG de la Fondation canadienne des femmes, Mitzi Hunter, ainsi que la présidente du conseil d’administration, Meenu Sykand, à la CSW70 de l’ONU, lors du panel parlementaire international que j’ai coanimé à la Mission du Canada auprès de l’ONU.

Today I asked the new govt. representative in the Senate of Canada about plans to continue the independent senate. This includes the non-partisan appointment process; something that 7 in 10 Canadians want! Watch here: bit.ly/48su1Cn #CdnPoli

Thoroughly enjoyed speaking to students recently at University Hill Secondary School @uhillsecondary in Vancouver about the work of the Senate. Mr. Yan’s students were engaged and asked some great questions. Hope everyone has a wonderful summer break! @Sengage @senindepend.bsky.social

After they invaded #Ukraine, $425B CDN of Russian state assets were frozen by G7 & EU countries & are held by Euroclear. There is a risk is that they may be returned to Russia. I asked the government rep to assure that these assets will remain frozen. Watch here: bit.ly/3SDGMB6

Hudson's Bay has 4,400 artifacts—including the 1670 Royal Charter—that it is preparing for auction. I asked the government how part of Canada’s heritage and indigenous history will be preserved. Watch here: bit.ly/4kRJleY

The 2025 election was a setback for women. My bill S-213 amending the Canada Elections Act is needed more than ever to move us toward more diversity and gender equality in our federal Parliament. Finally, our political parties must be held accountable. #CdnPoli

My special guest at the Throne Speech this week was my son William; what a memorable event especially our conversation with #JustinTrudeau. Also great to see former PMs Campbell and Harper - and Margaret Trudeau!

What a thrill to attend the throne speech in our #SenateofCanada chamber with King Charles, Queen Camilla, PM carney and my colleagues. An unforgettable day.

Lovely reception for @cdnwomenfdn hosted by @TDWealth to discuss women in politics & women &philanthropy. Great to see @MitzieHunter CEO of CWF & Cathy Spoel & guests.

A complete disappointment: even the previously slow pace of women’s advancement in the House has now stopped & Canada falls further in the world. Shame! www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

Proportion of women in the House of Commons dips, with slight rise in minority MPs

While 103 women were elected this week, the same as four years ago, an increase in the number of seats resulted in a lower share of seats

theglobeandmail.com

We’re independent senators. We’re non-partisan, critical thinkers who serve our communities and our provinces. We work together to improve bills – and we vote how we choose. We’re more diverse than ever, both in background and in expertise. (1)

Canada’s Liberals secured 169 of 343 seats, narrowly missing out on a majority in Parliament. nyti.ms/3GM4SGU

The world is watching. Global leaders are signatories to this initiative. Russia MUST be held accountable. Canada MUST lead to ensure the US$300B in Russian state assets held in Europe goes to #Ukraine - not back to Russia. We can’t allow a bailout & let Putin's war machine continue. bit.ly/3S0CiUD

Opinion: Canada must lead on supporting Ukraine with Russia’s frozen assets

Open Letter: The next Canadian leader should set a powerful precedent against Russian aggression

bit.ly

Read my op ed in today’s @TorontoStar. Debates are for the citizens, to assist their decision making, & not to serve the partisan interests of parties or the media’s interest in“sparks”. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Last chance for leaders’ debate to serve the public

Will debates remain the most important single events for the public outside of election day or will they become irrelevant as the forces declining trust, and disinformation continue their march

thestar.com

Thanks to gr. 10 students & staff at Great Lakes Secondary School in Sarnia for inviting me to speak to them about #senateofcanada and the independent senate. Their questions were well researched and thoughtful. Fantastic group!

The first panel will delve into electoral campaigns and will unpack inclusion/exclusion processes that impact the representation of minoritized populations in Parliament. With @donnadasko.bsky.social, Valerie Lapointe, @erintolley.bsky.social, and @angeliawagner.bsky.social.

Join us for the next Canadian Study of Parliament Group seminar, entitled "An Inclusive Parliament?", on April 25. Once again, CSPG's seminar could not come at a better time, with opening remarks from Professor Emeritus, Manon Tremblay. For more info: cspg-gcep.ca/pdf/2025-04-...

Senators, perhaps more than ever, are holding the government to account and serving as guardrails for any possible legislative missteps. My full article is available in English, French, and Italian on my LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) professional pages. (4/4)

Unlike our friends in the United States where the rule of law is eroding at warp speed and the legislative branch is being bulldozed by the Trump Administration, Canadians should find solace and have confidence in the fact that the Senate remains a strong parliamentary institution.  (3/4)

In a survey commissioned in 2024, 69% of Canadians want future governments to continue with this process while only 5% of Canadians want to go back to the old ways of appointing partisan Senators.  (1/4) www.linkedin.com/pulse/canada...

On Wednesday April 2, a week from today, I’ll be in Toronto to join @dougsaunders.bsky.social, Mary Rowe of the @canurb.bsky.social and Zxihi Zhuang of @torontomet.bsky.social for a discussion of migration and its impact on Canada’s cities. #yyz #Toronto #inmigration #cdnpoli #TMU #SenateofCanada

This is a very helpful piece about the benefits to Canada of the independent Senate! A good read!

Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦@senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · last yr.

Another oped to share - this one from Pierre Dalphond, who leads the @progsenate.bsky.social in the Senate - on the importance of maintaining an independent Senate post election - and celebrating the successful reforms of the last 9 years. #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #vote2025 #PSG

With most MPs & Senators away from Ottawa, it was a pleasure to host students from @torontomet.bsky.social studying women in politics, with my @senindepend.bsky.social colleagues, to talk with students about work & life for women in the #SenateofCanada & policymaking.