Senator Yuen Pau Woo

The Hill Times On Dec. 17, Independent Senator Yuen Pau Woo gave his Senate-inspired version of the Christmas classic “The Week Before Christmas.” We sprang to the doors, to our teams gave a whistle,And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.But we heard HIM exclaim, ere he drove out of sight:I MOVE THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE SENATE! TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT! Read the article Tweet

The Hill Times After a months-long effort, Canada’s two parliamentary Chambers have now moved to a hybrid model, allowing Parliamentarians to participate both in Ottawa and at home. Hats off to the Senate administration for execution of the plan so well... We embarked on a major experiment in the Senate’s history. We made preparations over many months and went through a number of trials to get ready for last week and pulled it off. Read the article …

The Hill Times The draft is a culmination of multiple meetings with leaders and the Speaker over many months, and already has widespread support among the 44 ISG Senators, said Sen. Woo, as this version has taken into account some of their suggestions. ISG facilitator Yuen Pau Woo said his group was “fully aligned” with the CSG, and “the pressure that was exerted [last] week has borne some fruit.”"We’ve delayed for too long already.” The way the Senate…

iPolitics Senate leaders are discussing a motion to implement hybrid Senate sittings, a necessary move to allow the Senate to continue its operations during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Woo said he hopes any necessary amendments will be tabled when the Senate returns and that the motion is quickly adopted, so the Senate can move into the hybrid model quickly... he’s now turning his attention to getting the Senate committees up and running, just…

iPolitics The leader of the Canadian Senators Group plans to introduce a motion that would ensure the government allows the Senate at least one week to debate non-essential legislation before approving it, following frustration with the lack of time given to debate the government’s COVID-19 economic-recovery omnibus legislation. Woo said it’s vitally important that the Senate make the best use of the next two or three days in Ottawa to vote on a motion that…

Hill Times In what was supposed to be a period in which backbenchers and the opposition could wield more influence over the political debate, power and influence is arguably even more concentrated among a narrow cast of mostly familiar figures. For two terms Sen. Woo has headed the coalition of Independents, who make up the largest grouping at 44 members. Sen. Woo has also taken an active role in reforming the Senate and before the pandemic brought a motion…

National Observer The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) also released a cost estimate of post-pandemic basic income on July 7, responding to a request from Woo, using the structure that was set up when Ontario had a basic income pilot project. To the extent that we need special income support, this is an opportunity to pilot basic income, perhaps at a provincial level, to see if this might be a better way to help Canadians and to reap the benefits that the…

uVic News The University of Victoria and the Senate of Canada are bringing together change-makers at the Victoria Forum this fall to help generate solutions to some of the world’s most divisive problems.  Senators Yonah Martin, Jim Munson and Yuen Pau Woo are strong supporters of the Victoria Forum as members of the external advisory board. Read the article  Tweet

Globe and Mail Yuen Pau Woo, the head of the Independent Senators Group – the largest bloc in the Senate – also said Ottawa should also consider a “temporary guaranteed livable income for all adult Canadians.” My own view is that taking a direct stake in industries and companies are distressed is probably the best approach because it enables the government to strike the balance between meeting the needs of shareholders, executives and, more importantly, work…

Global News Independent senators want to suspend Sen. Lynn Beyak a second time, even though she has apologized for posting derogatory letters about Indigenous Peoples on her website. Sen. Yuen Pau Woo, leader of the Independent Senators Group, says that’s not enough for Beyak to avoid another suspension. "It is normal practice in professional bodies for a suspension to take effect during a period of remedial training, even after an apology has been offe…