The Honourable Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, Q.C.

 Honourable senators, thank you for those most generous words. My late father would have been surprised. My late mother would have said, "Not nearly enough."

Honourable senators, I have always been curious about the words, "maiden speech." By custom, it designates the first speech a parliamentarian makes when a parliamentarian enters a house of Parliament. What do we call a farewell speech in Parliament when we are no longer a maiden? I leave that to honourable senators’ imagination.

Motion to Support Democratic Aspirations of the Iranian People—Motion in Amendment—Debate Continued

. . .Honourable senators, this resolution is timely and relevant. Time is running out on the world community. A global crisis is reaching a climax of monumental importance relative to global security. . .

Motion to Support Democratic Aspirations of the Iranian People—Debate Continued

Honourable senators, I want to thank the honourable senator for his support of this resolution. I agree wholeheartedly with his amendment. It strengthens this particular resolution.
 
I also want to commend my honourable friend. He has been a colleague of mine at the OSCE where he has shown great leadership. His fight for human rights and his speech today are examples of the reputation he is developing for himself and for Canada in 56 countries, from Vladivostok to Vancouver.
 
If no one else wants to speak on this amendment to the motion, I have only a few brief comments to conclude the debate.

Motion to Support Democratic Aspirations of the Iranian People-Debate Adjourned

pursuant to notice of October 28, 2009, moved:
 
That,
 
(a) Canada supports the democratic aspirations of the people of Iran ;
 
(b) Canada condemns the use of violence and force by Iranian authorities against their own  people to suppress pro-democracy demonstrations following the Iranian presidential elections of June 12, 2009;
 
(c) Canada condemns the use of torture by Iranian authorities;

Conference on Combating Antisemitism

Hon. Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, pursuant to notice of March 11, 2009, moved:

That the Senate endorse the following Declaration, adopted by the Conference on Combating Antisemitism, held at London, United Kingdom, from February 15 to 17, 2009:

Conference on Combating Antisemitism

Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That the Senate endorse the following Declaration, adopted by the Conference on Combating Antisemitism, held at London, United Kingdom, from February 15 to 17, 2009:

Suicide bombing bill passes Senate

A private member’s bill that would make suicide bombing an explicit Criminal Code offence has passed the Senate and is making its way to the House of Commons.

Hon. Jerahmiel S. Grafstein moved third reading of Bill S-210, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (suicide bombings)…

He said: Honourable senators, you have heard these arguments before. I will sum up briefly, from my perspective, what took place at the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Durban II counter-conference a go, Grafstein says

A proposed counter-conference that would run parallel to Durban II continues to gather support from parliamentarians around the world, says Senator Jerry Grafstein, left, the Canadian lawmaker behind the alternative event.

Tories unlikely to back suicide bombing bill

Government senators will most likely not support a private member’s bill that would explicitly criminalize suicide bombing.