It is an honour to rise and to pay tribute to the Honourable David Onley. David Onley served as Ontario’s 28th Lieutenant Governor from 2007 to 2014. Named to the Order of Canada in 2017, he was a symbol of dignity and an inspiration to many throughout his years of service.

It would be impossible to overstate the influence that he has had in Ontario. Raised in Scarborough, David Onley had a long career as a television newscaster, starting with Citytv in 1984, where he was a science and a weather specialist. He was also a newscaster for Cable Pulse 24, CP24. Even then, as a broadcaster, he appeared on camera in his mobility device. He was an advocate on disability issues just by doing his job.

For David Onley, accessibility was “that which enables people to achieve their full potential.” I couldn’t agree more. So it is of particular significance that David used his status as the province’s first Lieutenant Governor with a physical disability to raise awareness and help break down barriers facing other Ontarians with disabilities. He blazed a trail that all could access. Leading by example, he helped all Ontarians to see beyond physical limitations to see ability everywhere. He was a man who lived his personal motto: “Through adversity to the heights.”

A tireless advocate for a more inclusive society, David Onley was devoted to the service of people in a way that set him apart and set examples for all. He made Ontario and Canada a more welcoming place, and the legacy of his efforts and advocacy for improved access to employment and opportunities for people with disabilities will indeed be lasting.

David was someone that I worked with at Queen’s Park when I was first elected in 2013, and he is very well-known as a graduate and champion of the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, where, following his tenure as Lieutenant Governor, he returned to teach and to develop courses on the role of the crown in the Canadian political system and on the politics of disability in Canada.

On behalf of the residents of Scarborough–Guildwood, I want to thank him for his service. To his family: Thank you for sharing him with us. My deepest condolences to his wife Ruth Ann; to their sons, Jonathan, Robert and Michael; and to their extended families.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for the Honourable David C. Onley. His contributions will always be remembered with a deep degree of gratitude, and it is my hope that we will all do our best to honour his legacy of accessibility through the kinds of service and action that he modelled so well for all of us.