Hon. Danièle Henkel: Honourable senators, allow me to start by thanking you for the warmth and kindness you’ve shown me since I first arrived. I want you to know that I’m proud and honoured to share this chamber with you.
When I crossed the threshold of the Senate for the first time, I was not alone. With me came my immigrant self who had to start over with nothing, my father who disappeared before I was born, my courageous, self-sacrificing mother, my grief for a husband who did so much to support me, and the memory of a country left behind in fear. In front of me, up there in the gallery, were my children and grandchildren, a living reminder that I was here to help build a fairer, more equitable Canada.
I did not come to Canada looking for adventure. On January 8, 1990, I bought a one-way ticket. I fled in fear, my suitcases almost empty. In my heart, however, there was one thing I knew for certain: My children deserved a future. I had faith in a promise, a promise called Canada.
But when we arrived, another reality awaited us. Behind the generous welcome, there were closed doors. Canada seemed to be telling us, “Wait. Start over. Prove yourselves again and again.” For example, my ex-husband, Ahmed, had two engineering diplomas, one in meteorology and the other in water treatment. Despite the fact that he was chosen as the expert for the World Health Organization to run its office in Lausanne, in Canada, he saw his diplomas swept aside as worthless pieces of paper. He ended up selling curtains for minimum wage. For a man of his generation, who had always seen himself as the pillar of the family, it was a deep wound to his dignity that never healed.
As for me, I spoke four languages, had studied international relations and had served in a number of leadership roles. I worked at the U.S. Consulate General in Algeria for 10 years. In 1989, the U.S. State Department named me employee of the year out of all the embassies around the world.
Still, when I arrived here, all I had access to were odd jobs: door-to-door sales, cleaning and secretarial work. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing dishonourable about those jobs. They were just a huge waste of my skills.
After 35 years, one question still haunts me, and that is, why does this country allow much-needed talent to wither away?
This issue of credentials recognition cannot wait any longer. We all know of cab drivers who used to be surgeons and shoe salesmen who used to be engineers. This skilled workforce, which our economy desperately needs, is right here, but we are still overlooking it.
According to Statistics Canada, among recent immigrants with a university degree, one in four holds a job that falls short of their qualifications. This is more than double the rate for Canadians born here. Even after 10 years of residency, one in five is still stuck in a job they are overqualified for. It makes no sense.
In the Speech from the Throne, the King himself reaffirmed the government’s determination to attract talent from all over the world to support our economy. However, if such talent is met with closed doors once they arrive, why even bother?
We are creating our own roadblocks. As the OECD has pointed out, the patchwork of professional orders and administrative barriers limits mobility, reduces competition and hampers innovation. All of that stifles and slows down our economy.
When I had to start all over again, I discovered a simple truth: Dignity depends on having a place to live and a job. Without a place to live, every night is worrying. Without a job, every morning is humiliating. That’s why I will always support policies that meet these basic needs.
When others refused to recognize my skills, I was forced to create my own job. I became an entrepreneur not to realize a dream, but out of necessity.
That’s why I plan to continue to speak up here, with my trademark passion, on behalf of small and medium-sized businesses, because they’re the lifeblood of our economy. They account for 98% of all businesses, half of all jobs and half of our GDP. However, they are still too often left out of major projects, held back by bureaucracy and a lack of funding.
For businesses run by women, the obstacles are even greater. I know because I have experienced them first-hand. Even today, a man is still asked about his vision for growth, while a woman is asked if she has a guarantor or how she’ll balance work and family. How humiliating, in a country that claims to champion inclusion, equity and diversity.
That’s why, for the past 30 years, I’ve been active across Canada and internationally as a speaker and strategic adviser, sharing my experience and tools, particularly with women and marginalized populations, to encourage them to persevere and continue to believe, learn and innovate.
A great country like ours should never leave anyone behind, because everyone matters and deserves a place in our society. Being responsible citizens can only make us stronger and prouder.
It was in this same spirit that I have been chosen as the first female honorary lieutenant-colonel of Le Régiment de Maisonneuve. These reservists are citizen soldiers. They are crucial for our civil protection, responding to situations such as floods, fires and pandemics. However, they receive little recognition or support. Behind every reservist is a family that must adapt and a company that must deal with this dual reality. I salute these employers and call for rewarding and supporting their societal commitments.
The army represents much more than that for me. It is the only tangible connection I have to my military father, whom I never knew but searched for all my life. His absence has left a lasting void.
When I agreed to become the first female honorary captain of the Canadian Coast Guard in June 2025, I wanted to send another message, particularly to women: They can and must continue to break glass ceilings and take on the roles they aspire to.
I am grateful every day for the dedication of these men and women who keep us safe, and I thank them for that.
However, that is not the only way we need to be kept safe, honourable colleagues. Online safety is also an issue.
Threats such as identity theft, foreign interference, cyberattacks and data theft, are skyrocketing. In July, I was the victim of an AI-generated deepfake video. An almost perfect imitation of my image and voice were used to promote an investment scam. That is when I realized how big of a legal vacuum there is in this area in Canada and how weak our safeguards for individuals and businesses are.
As the Auditor General pointed out in 2024, when it comes to cybersecurity and the fight against fraud, Canada is lagging behind at a strategic and operational level, and yet we have no shortage of experts or talent.
What we are lacking is coordination, political will and a quick response time. Former Bills C-26, C-27 and C-63 must be updated and urgently reintroduced. The European Union, the United Kingdom and Australia have already put successful models in place. Why not us? What are we waiting for? This is not just about technical issues; it’s about political and economic sovereignty.
When it comes to economic sovereignty, we should have the courage to look at our own inconsistencies. How can we talk about sovereignty when there are fewer restrictions for trade with the United States than there are between our own provinces and territories? The European Union has managed to build a single market between 27 countries and 24 languages, and we Canadians have divided our common home into 13 small, narrow markets. Recent studies show that it is as if we were imposing a 7% tariff on our own businesses to trade among our own provinces and territories. Again, it makes no sense.
It is high time that the federal, provincial and territorial governments put their partisan allegiances aside and unleash the potential of our economy.
Opening up our domestic markets is not enough. We also need to deploy economic diplomacy. La Francophonie, for example, is an unparalleled gateway to new markets, from Quebec to the Prairies, from Acadia to the northern territories — and internationally. Let’s stop making the Francophonie about folklore.
Having been an ambassador for the economic Francophonie for three years, I have seen this potential, which represents access to a market of 320 million people where our entrepreneurs can prosper.
None of these assets will bear fruit if we do not make education a national priority. We need to stay at the forefront of technology and invest heavily in re-skilling. As John F. Kennedy said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.” He also said, “The human mind is our fundamental resource.”
Governments, businesses, citizens — everyone has to pull in the same direction. We must also send a clear message to the next generation: Your talent is our greatest asset. We need you and we believe in you.
Dear colleagues, the path that led me here was a long one. Leaving my country was a painful choice, but one I have never regretted. Canada welcomed me, but it also put me to the test. Here, I experienced insecurity, doubt and internal exile. But little by little, with resilience, sacrifices, failures and successes, I regained my dignity and earned the trust of communities and peers. I thank them. I will humbly continue to do my best in carrying their voices.
Let’s be clear about the challenges of today and tomorrow. It’s up to all of us — citizens, governments, businesses — whatever our allegiances, to face them together.
Colleagues, all my actions, however different they may seem, are but branches of the same tree, nourished by the same sap, the sap of a Canada that allows everyone to contribute to a common endeavour that is greater than ourselves.
With your help, I hope to make it grow.
Thank you.