The member for Barrie–Innisfil is seeking the unanimous consent of the House to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Jim Henderson, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group. Agreed? Agreed.

Today we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Jim Henderson, who was the MPP for Humber during the 33rd Parliament and for Etobicoke–Humber during the 34th and 35th Parliaments.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery are Mr. Henderson’s family and friends: his wife, Karen Henderson; his sons, James Henderson, Christopher Henderson and Kevin Henderson; his son’s partner, Kathy Borzecka; and his grandchildren, Iris Henderson and Emma Mackay. Also with us in the Speaker’s gallery this afternoon is Mr. David Warner, Speaker during the 35th Parliament.

I recognize the member for Etobicoke–Lakeshore.

It is always an honour to stand in this proud Legislature, and today, it is my honour, on behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats, to pay tribute to Joe Dickson.

Joe was a loving husband and dear father and grandfather. He leaves behind his wife, friend and partner of 56 years, Donna Dickson; his two grown children, Jim Dickson and Joanna Dickson-Jones; their spouses, Elaine Dickson and David Jones; his five adoring grandchildren, Madeline, Grace, Carys, Audrey and Fynn—I’m sure they’re watching today—and his brothers and sisters, Ellen Spence, Ed Dickson, Marg Osborne, Judy Reid, Mary Westlake, Christine Dickson, Paul Dickson and Veronica Brown; and loving extended family, friends and former colleagues who miss him greatly and are assuredly watching today.

We are pleased to be joined by his wife, Donna Dickson; son, Jim Dickson; sisters-in-law Sandrae Haslam and Debbie Allen; and, of course, his friend and former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, David Warner.

Hi, Donna.

Louis Joseph Dickson, or Joe, was born March 26, 1940, into a large Catholic family in Ajax and grew up to serve Ajax and be its biggest fan. Joe’s mother, Mary, had grown up in Pickering Village and his father, Lou, was an RCAF World War II veteran who set down roots in Ajax. Joe was raised and educated there and loved sports growing up, a love that led him to establish Ajax minor basketball at age 16, and he later helped establish the Ajax senior hockey league. He started his own printing business, Dickson Printing, at age 18, and never stopped sponsoring and supporting local sports teams from when it opened its doors in 1969. President of Dickson Printing for 48 years, Joe was a committed and successful small business owner through the ups and downs and many changes across his community, and often spoke from experience with a local business perspective.

Joe began his career of public service in 1970, when he served as a Catholic school board trustee for two terms and kept his faith and family close during his many years of public service. He was first elected to Ajax council in 1983, serving until 1990, and returned to council chambers from 1992 to 2006. He loved serving ward 2 but was known well beyond his ward. He once described his story and success like this: “It all comes down to being the oldest of 10 children and having two wonderful parents. We were always helping one another—that’s what it was all about.”

Joe was a volunteer and community man. Ajax Civic Award winner and committed town enthusiast, Joe Dickson was fondly called “Mr. Ajax” and is well remembered by generations of Ajax neighbours. Joe founded and chaired many charitable organizations and initiatives and loved volunteering. From when he first started Ajax minor basketball at 16 all the way through the annual charity golf tournament that he and his wife, Donna, organized and sponsored for 25 years, Joe never stopped giving back to his hometown community.

On a personal note, I served as one of Durham region’s seven MPPs with Joe Dickson from 2014 to 2018, and when MPPs from across Durham region came together at the provincial volunteer service awards night, it was very special to see how many of the long-time volunteers in Ajax and Pickering knew Joe personally.

It wasn’t only his constituents who recognized Joe for his work, however. In 2002, he had been awarded the Queen Elizabeth 50th anniversary medal for service to his community and Canada. It was just part of who Joe was: kind, generous and connected.

Nearly everyone in his hometown had a connection to Joe, whether through sports or one of his many volunteering endeavours, whether they were featured in his magazine, or from his apples. Children who remember that Joe Dickson gave them apples around town grew up to vote for Joe as adults. They knew him and they knew where to find him, and they elected him.

Joe won a provincial seat on the McGuinty Liberals’ ticket to serve Ajax–Pickering in 2007 and held the seat until 2018. When Joe was asked why he was running, he said it was “to become the town’s best communicator with Ajax residents and to continue to focus on my residents, just as I have done the last eight elections.”

Joe Dickson served this Legislature in many roles, from deputy government whip early on to various portfolios as parliamentary assistant. One of the things that Joe was most proud of was the expansion of the Ajax Pickering Hospital, which he worked for many years to see happen, to better serve his community.

On a personal note, before I was elected, the very first protest I ever organized was outside Joe Dickson’s office, to protest Bill 115. True to form, Joe Dickson came out to talk with us and was disappointed he hadn’t known we were coming because, as he told us, he would have had hot chocolate for us.

He was an excellent connector. He was a strong and committed bridge between his home community and his place here in the provincial Legislature. When so many get caught up in the sparkle of Queen’s Park, Joe stayed firmly rooted in his community.

Joe Dickson passed away on April 7, 2022, surrounded by those he loved and who dearly loved him. Friends from across the community shared their remembrances and memories. They remember him as one-of-a-kind, hard-working and thoughtful, and one of the finest people you could ever meet. Messages online highlight that Joe truly cared about his community and was extremely well thought of.

As Joe’s children shared after his passing, “Joe was a lover of life, family, friends and mostly Donna. Safety was always first with Joe, although anything with a fast engine made Dad happiest: boats, racing cars, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and his prized 1969 Dodge RT Charger he ordered new so that he had a ‘safe ride’ for wife and kids as he started his own family. Fish and chips on Fridays, a daily coffee, and a refreshing Crown-and-Coke after a long week’s work helped him keep grounded.”

Joe Dickson has left behind his family, a long community career and a legacy of neighbourhood connections and warm, sincere relationships. Ajax, Pickering and Ontario are grateful to Joe Dickson for his life of service, invested heart and commitment to the town and people he loved.

It is truly a privilege to stand here today to say a few words of tribute to Jim Henderson, the Liberal MPP for Etobicoke–Humber from 1985 to 1995, who died on May 2, 2020, at the age of 79. I know you will feel his loss still today.

I would like to extend a personal welcome to his family here today: as has been mentioned, his wife, Karen; his sons, James, Christopher and Kevin; his daughter-in-law, Kathy; and his young granddaughters, Iris and Emma. David Warner, Mr. Henderson’s friend and former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, is also present here today. Thank you all for coming today, and for the earlier visit in September when this event was postponed out of respect for the passing of the Queen.

While I did not know Dr. Henderson personally, I recall reading about the stir he caused on several occasions when he stood up for what he believed in this House.

Between 1985 and 1995, Dr. Henderson served as a Liberal member of provincial Parliament for Etobicoke–Humber for three terms. In addition to being the official opposition critic for culture and communications, he was the parliamentary assistant to the Ministers of Community and Social Services, Colleges and Universities, as well as for the province’s anti-drug strategy.

Jim was a strong leader who understood his community and was a supportive colleague to his team in the Ontario Liberal Party. Jim’s kindness and devotion to his colleagues and constituents was evident in all his work.

As has been mentioned, Jim was known for standing true to his values. He was a man who did not shy away from asking the tough questions in search of what he believed to be right. He notably took a position that was not supported by his party, because he believed in upholding his own principles and values. As many of us in this House know, that can be a difficult decision to make, but that kind of open conversation is the kind we need in order to ensure that we as representatives of our constituents are making the best decisions on their behalf, and Jim understood that well.

Jim moved from Sudbury to Toronto in the 1940s, where he spent a majority of his life and brought a remarkable amount of value to the House and the community of Toronto.

During and after his political career, Jim was a medical doctor who worked as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He was the director of psychiatry at the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, then the director of psychiatric services at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. Jim was also an associate professor at the University of Toronto department of psychiatry and psychiatrist-in-chief at the University of Toronto student health service. I’m not sure how he found time for any of his other hobbies.

Jim authored and published over 50 professional papers and textbook contributions.

He was also an outdoorsman and an avid fan of the canoe. He served several years as a canoe guide at Camp Ahmek in Algonquin Park and then Camp Temagami in northern Ontario.

Much like his medical career, his devotion to public service stemmed from a core value: Jim cared about people. He cared about his friends, his family, his constituents, his patients, his neighbours and indeed his province. A career in medicine requires dedication, focus and hard work. When you add in the responsibility of representing those around you with that same dedication, you know that Jim Henderson was a very special person indeed.

In addition to a remarkable career as a physician, politician and canoeist, Dr. Henderson was also an avid jogger, sailor, traveller and photographer.

There is no doubt that Dr. Henderson lived a life of commitment to his family, his values, his constituency, his province and his country, and with this, his well-earned legacy will continue to live on.

Applause.

The member for Don Valley West.

Today, we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Joe Dickson, who was the MPP for Ajax–Pickering during the 39th, 40th and 41st Parliaments.

Joining us in the Speaker’s gallery are Mr. Dickson’s family: his wife, Donna Dickson; his son, Jim Dickson; and his sisters-in-law Sandrae Haslam and Debbie Allen.

I recognize the member for Oshawa.

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Joe Dickson, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition, and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

The member for Ajax.

Louis Joseph Dickson was a well-loved member of the Ajax community. He was known as Joe, Mr. Ajax or Joe Everywhere by his friends and constituents.

Joe was the oldest of 10 children. He was born in Ajax and lived and worked there his whole life. Joe Dickson, a businessman and dedicated member of the community, started Dickson Printing in 1960, and it stayed in business until 2020. He was a representative for Ajax who cared deeply about his community and what it needed.

His wife Donna, his son Jim Dickson, his two sisters-in-law—and we’re also joined by David Warner, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. We’re glad you’re here today.

Joe was known for his great sense of humour, friendly smile, a willingness to listen and a love to weave a story. I think he may have figured out what every politician wants to know: how to clone himself. He never seemed to miss a grand opening, an event, a celebration or a constituent concern. So I think he may have figured it out after all. He was always there with a scroll, a smile, a picture, a kind word, a story to tell. He was a larger-than-life figure who loved life, his family and, as he often referred to her, his guardian angel, Donna.

He was always willing to go where he was needed. He was a great politician who served with passion and style. Anyone could talk to him, no matter their religion or political party. He always worked hard to protect the interests of the people who lived in Ajax. Joe was very involved in the process of making November Hindu Heritage Month, and the community has always been very grateful for his support. It was one of his proudest accomplishments.

If you saw Joe driving around in his small blue and yellow Dickson Printing car, you would never think that he liked fast cars. I only found that out recently. According to his son, he liked anything with a fast engine, but he was especially proud of his 1969 Dodge Charger, which he kept in mint condition.

Joe was involved in many activities in his community for a long time. In the early 1970s, he was a member of the local school board. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was an Ajax municipal and regional councillor. He was re-elected to council in 1997. He was given the Ajax Civic Award, which is given every year to a person who has used their free time in extraordinary ways to support their community.

He was a big reason why Ajax Home Week and Ajax Environmental Affairs Week were started, both of which he was intimately involved in. He looked forward to the homecoming week and being part of the parade, touching base with constituents, giving out candies to the kids, and he especially loved the pancake breakfast by the lake with the veterans and seniors during homecoming week events. He was a great friend to the Legion and a big supporter of veterans.

Before being elected to the provincial Legislature in 2007, he worked in several jobs in the community. I can list a few, but I’m sure there are many more that will be mentioned. He was the founder and co-chair of the annual Ajax-Pickering Multiple Sclerosis Walk and executive vice-chairman of the Ajax Municipal Housing Corp. He was involved in the Ajax Heritage Advisory Committee. He ran as a Liberal candidate for Ajax–Pickering in the 2007 election. He was voted back in office in 2011 and again in 2014. During his time in the Ontario provincial Parliament, he was parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines, and deputy government whip.

Joe was an inspiration to me, and he was one of the reasons I decided to run for trustee and then for MPP. We had some great talks. One time in particular, after I had finished bending his ear on a complaint I had, he said to me: “Well, why don’t you run?” And I did. I just wanted to thank Joe for supporting that. He was that kind of guy. After I entered my name, he gave me the Joe rules: Always, always be accessible to your constituents, and always be willing to talk.

He was unapologetic in his faith and his service to God and was a member of the Catholic Church up until his death. Joe will always be remembered for being kind and willing to help people in need, both in and out of his community.

I also understand and recognize Laura Oliver, who was his assistant. She was his right hand in outreach in his constituency office.

And so, as I close, I echo the words of others: Thank you, Joe. You will be truly missed.

Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance for the late Mr. Gordon Irvin Miller, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government, five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition and five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group.

It’s an honour for me to rise today and to pay tribute to Joe Dickson, a much-loved and respected member of our Liberal caucus, a gentleman who welcomed me into this Legislature.

Known to many as “Mr. Ajax,” Joe had an unwavering love for his family and his community, as was clear in the way that he took pride in serving the people of Ajax–Pickering for more than 30 years.

First elected as an Ajax councillor in 1983, Joe Dickson finished up as Ajax–Pickering MPP in 2018, a role in which he had served since 2007. In representing Ajax as MPP, Joe served as the deputy government whip from 2007 to 2011, and he went on to serve in the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration from 2013 to 2014 and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines from 2014 to 2018 as a parliamentary assistant.

For his many years of service, Canada’s Governor General honoured Joe with both the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 “for outstanding achievement or public service in Canada.”

It is no surprise, then, that Joe was so well known in his Ajax riding. He was known for being a huge advocate and champion of the hospital there, and more generally for the whole of the Ajax community. And this was true throughout his life and career, as well as in his business and personal life.

Dickson Printing, Joe’s family-owned business, opened in 1969 and developed into a full-service printing operation which won 17 straight readers’ choice awards for best printing company. And when he retired from politics in 2018, Joe returned to Dickson Printing as president, spending his time with his beloved wife, Donna; his two children, Jim Dickson and Joanna Dickson-Jones, and their families; and his five grandchildren, Madeline, Grace, Carys, Audrey and Fynn.

I had the privilege of knowing Joe professionally, and I have so many fond memories of him. He invited me to many Caribbean events in Ajax. It meant a lot that he never missed an opportunity to acknowledge me whenever he saw me in this chamber or in the halls. He made me feel included.

Mostly, I remember Joe and his beautiful wife, Donna, as they had such an impact, standing head and shoulders above the crowd in life and in commitment to service. Whenever they were at our Liberal events, you would just notice their elegant figures coming through the room. Joe was known for his good nature and his sense of humour. He was always poking fun. You never were in his presence without getting a good laugh.

On a personal note, I remember Joe and Donna frequently visiting my cousin’s restaurant in Ajax for dinner. As the head chef there, my cousin developed a fondness for Joe and Donna, a sentiment that was commonly felt among all who knew them.

I was at a local restaurant, Beryl’s Pepper Pot. It’s an authentic Jamaican restaurant that actually spread three franchises across Durham—family and independently owned and operated. As you know, Joe Dickson was a supporter of small businesses. He helped this owner, Beryl, get herself established and championed her opening her third location. She said to me that it would never have been possible without Joe. He made the call.

So today, I want to express my deepest respect and admiration for Joe Dickson for stepping up and serving in public office throughout his lifetime, for contributing in countless ways to the success of the community he loved, and for making Ontario politics a more fun and interesting place to be.

Joe Dickson devoted his life to serving the public and his beloved community of Ajax. Ajax and all of us are indeed fortunate to have had such a passionate and devoted MPP. I want to say thank you to his wonderful family for sharing him with us for so many years. Thank you.

Applause.

I’m honoured to have the privilege to take a few moments to honour the late Gordon Miller—or simply Gord, as his colleagues called him—on behalf of our government.

In attendance today are some of Gord’s family and friends: his son, Doug; daughter-in-law, Flora; grandchildren Jamie, Geoff and Meghan; grandson-in-law, David; and great-grandchildren Brynn and Mason. I want to thank you for sharing Gord with us.

While I never served with Gord as a member, I did know him for many years when I was in local government. I wanted to learn how his friends and former colleagues described him, and what became clear to me is that Gord deeply cared about his local community. He was called “caring,” “a gentleman,” “a good neighbour” and the “heart of his community,” however, these kind words do not do justice to his lifelong dedication to rural Ontario and public service.

Gord was born in the small town of Jarvis in southwestern Ontario to George and Jane, who themselves came to Jarvis in the 19th century to start a farm. Even as a child from humble beginnings, Gord was involved in the fabric of his community. As an athlete in high school, he played baseball with other students in the surrounding area as an outfielder. Hockey legend Red Kelly, who used to play baseball with him, remarked that “when somebody hit a long ball, Gordon would just stretch out” his long, lanky “arms and, nine times out of 10, the ball would wind up in his hands.” Kelly never dreamed he would be a future politician. For a while, he wasn’t. After the passing of his father in 1945, Gord and his brothers took over the family farm and built a successful farming operation.

Gord’s career in public service undoubtedly began with the many ways he was involved in the local Jarvis community while he was a farmer. He was especially involved in his local church, serving as an elder and Sunday school superintendent. With his dedication to community service, it was a natural step for him to get involved in local politics. He served as a trustee of the Jarvis School Board between 1960 and 1967. He was elected as a councillor to Walpole township in 1968, reeve in 1971 and regional councillor of Haldimand-Norfolk in 1973. In 1975, Gord was elected as the Liberal member in Haldimand–Norfolk, defeating long-time PC member Jim Allan.

With someone so involved in local politics, it’s not surprising that he was elected to Queen’s Park on a local issue. Two years prior, a two-tier, six-municipality system was implemented, and voters did not like that new system of regional government. Gord was also against the new regional government, although he was never able to change it.

During his 15 years, he served as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Transportation and to the Minister of Agriculture and Food, but he never lost touch with his local people who elected him. He was a dedicated champion for farmers, Haldimand–Norfolk and all rural Ontarians.

Following his time as MPP, Gord did not stop his community service, even though he went back to his original love: farming. He was named as Jarvis citizen of the year in 1990. He was an active volunteer with the United Way, Crime Stoppers, and served as chair of the West Haldimand General Hospital Foundation.

In 2017, former Jarvis resident and current resident of Woodstock, Allison Gowling, was asked to write a biography of Gord and his family, which was a lifelong dream of his. But even without the memoir, the Miller family’s mark on Jarvis is apparent. In fact, his farm is on the road that bears his name: Gordon Miller Trail.

Gord and I both have backgrounds in rural Ontario and local politics, and I have grown greatly to respect the work that he did throughout his long life. I believe that a quote from Gord’s former chief financial officer sums him up brilliantly: “He was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things.”

May you rest in peace, Gord Miller.

It’s truly an honour today to be able to rise and pay tribute to Gordon Miller on behalf of the official opposition. I’d like to welcome his family here today and thank them for his service.

When I was asked to do this, I wondered—and as soon as I started doing the research, I knew why I was asked: because in the parliamentary record, his occupation is listed as a farmer. And if my occupation is listed some day as a farmer, it will be the proudest day of my life. I would like to commend him for that.

It’s already been described—I’m not going to go through it again—the long list of things that Mr. Miller did. So I’m going to use a few quotes. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but there are a few interesting quotes from people who did know him.

From a former Premier, David Peterson: “He was a specialist on rural and community issues. He knew everybody. He was just the quintessential good neighbour”—because he was a farmer. People who aren’t from a farming community might not know it, but farmers are very competitive: Who has the nicest crops? Who has the most milk per cow? But when something happens, they gel and help each other. They are all quintessential good neighbours. I have never met a farmer I didn’t like. They don’t always agree with me and I didn’t always agree with them, but farmers are quintessential good neighbours.

Another quote from Mr. Peterson: “He could crush you with his big hands. You look at him and there’s a farmer.” Well, we all—farmers all have interesting hands. But I’m sure that every farm community has got a couple of people who have those big hands. When they get you in a handshake, you can just feel the power. I’m sure Mr. Miller was one of those. Something—I’m just doing this anecdotally—I have never met someone with that huge handshake who wasn’t a really friendly person. But sometimes—I have to describe this handshake, and I’m sure Mr. Miller has done this: It’s the friendly handshake, but if they want to send a bit of a message, it’s a bit painful. I’m sure that Mr. Miller did that too.

Another one from Mr. Peterson: “If you ever thought he was a bumbling farmer you were wrong because he ... was one guy in my caucus who would tell me I was full of baloney.” Now, when I read that the first time, I thought: Okay, who does Mr. Peterson think a bumbling farmer is? But anyway, I think what he was trying to say is that farmers aren’t all parliamentarians and aren’t all diplomatic, but they are very direct. They’re take-charge people. They want to get things done. They deal with nature, so they understand they’re not going to win every battle, but they understand they have to fight every day. And those are qualities that farmers like Mr. Miller, I’m sure, brought to this House.

I would like to close with something that I read: He passed away peacefully in front of his fireplace just three days short of his 97th birthday, on his farm, on the road named after him, the Gordon Miller Trail. And with all of those accomplishments, the whole list of accomplishments, his greatest was that he was a farmer. That is a life well lived.

And you can’t be a farmer alone; a farmer takes a family. Thank you very much for sharing Mr. Miller with us.

The member for Timiskaming–Cochrane.

Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance of the late Mr. Douglas Jack Wiseman, with five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s loyal opposition, five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group, and five minutes allotted to His Majesty’s government.

The member for Haldimand–Norfolk.

Today we are honoured to remember and pay tribute to a former member of our provincial Legislature, the late Mr. Douglas Jack Wiseman, who was the MPP for Lanark during the 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Parliaments and for Lanark–Renfrew during the 34th Parliament. Mr. Wiseman’s family is watching the tribute from home this afternoon.

The member for Timiskaming–Cochrane.

I appreciate the opportunity to rise today to pay tribute to Gord Miller, who came to Queen’s Park in 1975 as a member of the Liberal caucus. Gord is a political legend in Haldimand–Norfolk.

Again, I’d like to recognize and welcome Gord’s family to Queen’s Park: his son, Doug, along with his wife, Flora; grandsons, Jamie and Geoff; granddaughter Meghan and her husband, David; as well as their children, Brynn and Mason.

My predecessor, Toby Barrett, knew Gord well, and I have heard many stories in local political circles. Gord was known to give Toby a hard time over his opposition to wind turbines. However, the two agreed on at least one subject—a subject the member from Oxford alluded to. The people of Haldimand–Norfolk had never warmed to the idea of regional government. Gord knew this well as a municipal councillor. So in 1975, he ran provincially on the platform to scrap it, and he was successful. Gord would go on to serve as the MPP for Haldimand–Norfolk for 15 years, until 1990. While the scrapping of regional government did not happen during his term, Toby picked up the torch, and in 2001, the new Haldimand and Norfolk counties were reinstated.

I spoke with my good friend Dennis Craddock last week. Dennis became the provincial Liberal association CFO when Gord decided to run—a job Dennis still performs. He told me, “He was a giant of a man whose iron fist in a velvet glove dictated his life.”

Gord lived his entire life committed to community service and could often be found in an arena—in his early days as a player, in later years passing along his passion for the game to players as a coach.

A farmer by trade, Gord was a distinguished politician, a down-to-earth, down-home guy who easily related to those in the community.

Despite humble beginnings, Gord shared what he could give and began volunteering at a very young age, flooding the ice in the 1940s for local hockey players, an elder at the Jarvis Presbyterian church and a 75-year member of the Lodge.

Doug often wondered how the man he looked up to found time to do all he wished while still being a husband, father and eventually grandfather and great-grandfather. Gord always told his four boys—Doug, Barry, Glen and Alan—that his commitment to the community never seemed like work, but rather, it was fun.

I am told he always gave credit to the women in his life, who supported him and picked up any slack at home while he was away. Reta Johnson was Gord’s first love and mom to the four boys. Sadly, Reta passed away in 1973.

In 1976, Gord married Shirley Christmas, who was instrumental in helping Gord deliver scrolls and attending dinners with him.

Former MPP Jack Riddell and his wife, Anita, were two of Gord’s very best friends. They shared many committee trips while here at Queen’s Park, but their friendship extended well beyond the political calling.

I’m told Gord worked here at Queen’s Park and in our beautiful riding as hard as he did in his fields. I’d say that’s good rural Ontario stock.

As a lover of trees and the forest, Gord, well into his nineties, could be found piling wood on the property. He said it kept him young.

Last year, on February 23, Gord passed away at his Jarvis-area farm, where he first came into this world. He was three days shy of his 97th birthday.

Speaker, Haldimand–Norfolk is a better place because of the work Gord Miller accomplished and laid before us. In the community of Jarvis and beyond, his absence is felt as strongly as locals long felt his presence.

It’s an honour to stand here today on behalf of our Ontario Liberal caucus to pay tribute to Mr. Gordon Irvin Miller, Liberal MPP for the riding of Norfolk from 1975 to 1990. And we all heard that right: 1975 to 1990, a Liberal MPP in Norfolk. That in itself probably says a lot about Gord Miller.

Now, I obviously never had a chance to meet Mr. Miller, but you get to know people by going through articles and talking to other people. I know that he was raised by his family in Jarvis, Ontario, and he and his brothers, Bruce and Bob, took over the farm from their father. Fittingly, as we said earlier, that farm is on the road that’s named after him, the Gordon Miller Trail.

He started his political career as a school board trustee in 1960, and he was a trustee from 1960 to 1967, followed by many years in municipal politics—town councillor from 1978 to 1981, reeve from 1971 to 1973, regional councillor from 1973 to 1975, and deputy mayor of the city of Nanticoke in 1975.

As if that wasn’t enough, when the residents of Haldimand–Norfolk weren’t happy about the two-tiered government that was pushed on to them by the Conservative government of the day, Mr. Miller decided to run in the 1975 provincial election to have his constituents’ voices heard at Queen’s Park. He went on to win by over 2,000 votes over incumbent MPP Jim Allan, who had held the riding for 23 years. He was re-elected in 1977, 1981, 1985 and 1987, and served as the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Transportation.

From what I gather, he cared deeply about his community. He was a community builder. He was someone who wanted—and we’ve heard it here today—to make his community better, and the work was fun. That’s a good sign.

As the Hamilton Spectator puts it, Gord was “the quintessential good neighbour.” What a nice legacy.

Mr. Miller was named the 1990 Jarvis Citizen of the Year.

Again, as if all those other things weren’t enough, he was a Sunday school superintendent, member of the Haldimand–Norfolk United Way, advocate for Crime Stoppers and chair of the West Haldimand General Hospital Foundation. It was a life full of service that I won’t say is unmatched, but it’s up there, near the top of the kind of service that we’ve spoken about in this community, with some members here who have passed away.

Aside from being a politician, he was a big-time sports fan, a coach, a player, interested in baseball and hockey.

I think it’s really important, when someone serves 30 years in public service—and the family is here today—to thank the family for allowing their father and grandfather to serve his community. We all know that in that kind of service, it takes you away from the things that you—where you want to be, who you want to be with, sometimes. It’s a big sacrifice. It’s a big sacrifice for us as members, but it’s an even bigger sacrifice for our families,

So to his son Doug; daughter-in-law Flora; grandsons Jamie, Geoff and David; granddaughter Meghan; great-grandchildren Brynn and Mason, thank you.

And on behalf of the Ontario Liberal caucus, I want to thank Mr. Miller for dedicating his life to public service. Thank you.

Applause.

The member for Kingston and the Islands.

I rise today to pay tribute to the former member for Lanark, Douglas Wiseman.

Doug is survived by his beloved wife, Bernice, whom he married in 1951, his three children, Clifford, Karen and Robert, his three grandchildren and his two great-grandchildren. He is also remembered by his siblings, Dave, Walter, and Colleen.

I know that his son Robert, daughter-in-law Julie and grandson Austin are watching from home, and I want them to know how honoured I am to say something about Douglas today.

Born in 1930 in Smiths Falls, Ontario, as the son of a farmer, Doug enjoyed the allure of small-town Ontario. Before beginning his career in politics, he made a living as a farmer, developing a prominent cow-calf business at Chaloa Acres in Perth. His dedication to the community was evident in his work on the Perth public school board for 12 years and as chairman of the Perth retail business association for three years.

In 1971, Doug was elected MPP for the constituency of Lanark, where he remained until 1990. During his time in office, Doug held the titles of assistant to the Minister of Health, Minister without Portfolio, and Minister of Government Services.

Doug was an admirable member of Parliament who never feared speaking up against his own government, always putting the people of Ontario first.

His popularity amongst the people did not go unnoticed: A news story from 1984 detailed an appreciation dinner for Doug selling out in just a few hours, leaving even some of his fellow MPPs without tickets.

In 1990, he said he was motivated to step aside because he wanted a younger, newer face to represent the newly expanded riding of Lanark–Renfrew. After stepping down, he was able to spend more time with his family and continue to pursue his shoe store and real estate businesses. Though the decision was difficult, it allowed him to return to his roots and spend his retirement from politics doing his favourite things: being with his family at the cottage or working on his farm.

Doug Wiseman passed away on August 1, 2020, at the age of 91. On behalf of all of my Liberal caucus colleagues, I wish to say that he will be missed. May he rest in peace.

It’s an honour for me to give tribute today to Doug Wiseman. I grew up in Lanark county, so Doug Wiseman was a household name and a highly respected MPP in my area.

MPP Doug Wiseman considered a handshake a precious commodity, its value determined by the reputation that preceded it. Suffice it to say, Doug Wiseman spent a good measure of time shaking hands and garnering the trust of the people he represented in the riding then known as Lanark and later as Lanark–Renfrew.

A farmer and small business man born, raised and educated in Lanark county, Doug served as chairman of the Perth retail business association and as member and chairman of the Perth public school board.

When elected to the Ontario Legislature as MPP for Lanark in 1971, Doug Wiseman was hailed by his constituents as a hard worker with a thoughtful, compassionate regard for the people and the land he called home; a man of boundless curiosity who, despite his quiet demeanour, stepped up to the plate when challenged by conflict and controversy. When MPP Wiseman went to bat for the concerns and needs of his constituency, he was in for the full nine innings and as much time as it would take. This drive and passion to serve his constituents continued throughout his political career, from the 29th to the 33rd Parliaments of Ontario.

MPP Doug Wiseman knew how to work with all levels of government. Some of his accomplishments included grants to Carleton Place and the village of Lanark under the Ontario Neighbourhood Improvement Program. A member of the justice and management board committees, Chairman of both the small business committee and the regulations committee, he also left his mark as a member of the Board of Internal Economy.

In November 1975, he was appointed parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health, and he served as Minister of Government Services until 1983.

In 2012, he was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.

Doug Wiseman’s genuine love of life informed his ability to engage in constructive debate and productive conversation with colleagues and constituents of every stripe. Good friend and campaign manager Ron Stronski remarked that Doug was as much at home ferreting out kitchen table stories in Lanark county farms and village homes as he was representing his riding at Queen’s Park. Ron was telling me that when they were on the campaign trail in Lanark Highlands and Ron would be driving Doug’s Buick—as big as a boat, he recalled—and the instructions that Doug gave him were, “Just keep driving until I say stop.” Doug said, “Stop.” He got out of the car and went around to the trunk, opened the trunk up and got his rubber boots out and took off across the field to speak to a farmer. When he came back, he said to Ron, “That was a worthwhile conversation.”

Doug loved rural people, he loved rural Lanark, and he loved being the MPP in our area.

One of my other constituents recalls, as a little boy, meeting then-Minister Doug Wiseman. Doug had time to speak to the boy. “Unassuming, soft-spoken, just a plain nice person” is his recollection of meeting Doug Wiseman.

He excelled not only on the political front, but on the home front. He was the beloved husband of Bernice “Bunny” Wiseman, a brilliant, forthright companion and accomplished nurse who co-managed a host of entrepreneurial endeavours, including a privately owned hospital and a successful chain of shoe stores, Wiseman’s Shoes.

Together with their children, Clifford, Karen and Robert, the Wisemans nurtured a thriving family farm, renowned for prize-winning Charolais cattle. Named Chaloa Acres, the Wiseman farm was and is a well-known landmark in Lanark county. It was here and at the family cottage on Bass Lake that time was well spent and greatly cherished.

Doug Wiseman passed away on August 1, 2020. His wife, Bunny, passed away two years later, in April of this year. They are both greatly missed in my home community of Lanark county.

If character, compassion and good grace are the mark of true wisdom, then it can be said that MPP Doug Wiseman lived up to his name.

Applause.