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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦

@senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social

5.8K followers 500 following 1.5K posts

I am an independent Senator, representing Alberta in the Senate of Canada. I live on Treaty Six Territory. Host of the podcast Alberta Unbound. She/her Vive le Canada.

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 14d

If Canadians, travelling domestically, want to use the "good" security line at the airport, they need a NEXUS card, even if they aren't going to the US. And they need the blessing of Donald Trump's Homeland Security apparatus to get one. I'm calling on Canada to end this absurdity. #Canada #NEXUS

Why we need a Made-In-Canada Verified Traveller Program

YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons

youtu.be

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 5h

Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 18h

I had a great editor who once walked back to my desk, gently put my copy down on my keyboard and simply said, “You’re better than this.” And he was right. I’d slapped down a cliché lead. I took a breath, started over, and turned in a much sharper piece.

Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 22h

(FYI - I am a member of the Senate of Canada, not the US Senate. So this is somewhat outside my jurisdiction.)

Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 1d

I want to thank the courageous trans activist @marnipanas.bsky.social for sharing her story and her words with @drkristopherwells.bsky.social - and allowing him to put a human face on this issue. #yeg

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 1d

Here, for context, is my own speech on the need to create a domestic airport security pass for Canadians who want to use the express line at Canadian airports. It makes no sense to contract out this process to Trump's Homeland Security.

Why we need a Made-In-Canada Verified Traveller Program

YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons

www.youtube.com

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 1d

My colleague @drkristopherwells.bsky.social rose in the Senate today, to support my motion, asking the government to investigate the creation of a made-in-Canada verified traveller program for domestic frequent flyers - one not vulnerable to US anti-trans bigotry #SenateofCanada #cdnpoli #NEXUS

Sen. Kris Wells on why we need a made-in-Canada verified traveller program

YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons

youtu.be

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 2d

That’s the spot!

Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 2d

It looked much more white to my eyes. The camera turned it more golden.

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 2d

Moon rise over Parliament Hill. #yow #Ottawa #cdnpoli #Canada #HarvestMoon #MidAutumnFestival

A huge golden full moon, a true harvest moon, rises above the Neo-Gothic spires of Parliament

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 2d

They were, as I understand, very hot and very heavy. So much fun - but miserable to wear. (They always wore them for the Throne Speech, so I got to “pet” them once. The fur was very really.)

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 3d

ICYMI - On the first Alberta Unbound of the season, @lukaszukab.bsky.social explains the strategy behind his Forever Canadian campaign - and his love for the country that gave his family political asylum. #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #ForeverCanadian #UCP #AlbertaUnbound

Forever Canadian

open.spotify.com

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 5d

Also add @senmoodie.sencanada.ca and @senboehm.bsky.social who are also Ontario senators using the platform.

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you! You might like to follow @kpateonthehill.bsky.social, @senclement.bsky.social @senatormartydeacon.bsky.social and @donnadasko.bsky.social - 4 passionate progressive senators from Ontario who are quite active here. A good start!

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Reposted by Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦

Hon. Thomas A. Lukaszuk @lukaszukab.bsky.social · 5d

@senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share with your listeners a little bit about myself and about the #ForeverCanadian movement.

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/a...

#cdnpoli #ableg

Forever Canadian

Podcast Episode · Alberta Unbound · S4 E1 · 22m

podcasts.apple.com

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 5d

All our hearings are live streamed and can be watched back at any time.

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 5d

Yesterday we heard from the privacy commissioner and the Canadian Bar Association’s privacy section, as well as from the Criminal Trial Lawyers. You can follow the next witnesses here: sencanada.ca/en/committee...

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (44th Parliament, 1st Session)

Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

sencanada.ca

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you!

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 5d

If you'd rather not listen to my interview with @lukaszukab.bsky.social about his Forever Canadian petition on Apple - and it's hard to keep up with whom we're supposed to be boycotting and why - you can also stream it directly from my Senate webpage. senatorpaulasimons.ca/en/media/alb... #cdnpoli

Alberta Unbound | Senator Paula Simons

It is officially five years of Alberta Unbound!

senatorpaulasimons.ca

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 5d

Welcome back for another season of Alberta Unbound. We kick off with a humdinger - an interview with Thomas Lukaszuk about his anti-separatism petition. A mad idea that plays right into the separatist’s hands? Or does it call the premier’s bluff? You’ll want to listen. #AlbertaUnbound #ableg #abpoli

Forever Canadian

Podcast Episode · Alberta Unbound · S4 E1 · 22m

podcasts.apple.com

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 7d

Here is a link to the text of my speech on Ukrainian Heritage Month, if you'd rather read than watch! sencanada.ca/en/senators/...

Senator Paula Simons - Topic Intervention 671069 - 28

Senator Paula Simons Topic Intervention 671069 - 28

sencanada.ca

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 7d

Today, the Senate of Canada passed a bill to create Ukrainian Heritage month. I was honoured to be the final Senator to speak, and to celebrate the courage and resilience of Ukrainian Canadians. In this dark hour, they offer a bright legacy of hope and inclusion. #cdnpoli #Ukraine #Alberta

A history of Ukrainians in Alberta and Canada: Ukrainian Heritage Month

YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons

youtu.be

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 9d

And Cheryl, you have done so much to help all the rest of us to do our own work better. Thank you for your leadership.

Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 9d

The Senate is not sitting today, as we remember victims and survivors of residential school. But we did gather for this photo last week, to express our commitment to truth and reconciliation. There is still so much work to be done - we must not backslide. #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada #OrangeShirtDay

A large group of Canadian senators, most in orange shirts, some with orange scarves or ties or pins, stand in the grand hall of the Senate of Canada Building. I’m in the front row, second from the left. In the centre stands Speaker Raymonde Gange, in her official attire.

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Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 10d

(Two tier health care js different. I believe in universal public health care. Queue jumping when it’s a matter of life or death is a lot different than flying. But I take your post.)

Senator Paula Simons 🇨🇦 @senatorpaulasimons.bsky.social · 10d

Well. I stood in the regular line the first 60 years of my life. I’ve only had the Nexus card for a few months, but it’s really helped. I fly twice a week, so for me, it’s worth it. If I only flew a couple of times a year, I wouldn’t bother.