It’s an honour to pay tribute on behalf of our Ontario Liberal caucus to John Keith Riddell, or Jack, as he was known, and to welcome his family to the Legislature. It’s actually one of the biggest contingents I think we’ve seen. There are a lot of you, and that says something.

I want to mention something else—and I’ve never done this at the beginning of a tribute. But I listened to the minister’s words and my colleague from the NDP, and that’s a tribute: When people on all sides say the kind of heartfelt things they do about your dad—your father, your grandfather, I should say—it’s incredible. It is truly, and I want to thank them for their remarks, because they were very, very thoughtful. I’ll try to match them, but it will be hard.

He was a member of the Legislature for 27 years. He was first elected in 1973, in a by-election, and it was a big win. He went on to win five more elections, and in the 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd and 34th Parliaments, he represented the ridings of Huron and Huron–Middlesex. He served as our party’s agriculture critic for 12 years—12 years. He was a farmer, teacher, owner and operator of a livestock sales business, and he was also an auctioneer. I heard my colleague’s comments on the skills that auctioneers have. Well, there’s another skill we have here that would be helpful if you had had training as an auctioneer, which is, I think we get paid by the word here, and so—

Interjection.

His record of commitment to Ontario farmers and to agriculture and the rural way of life was unwavering. It’s unmatched. He became minister of agriculture at a time when interest rates were at 20%. People weren’t ready for it. People were going to lose everything. And it’s one thing to be the critic—it has its challenges—but then when you have to deliver after you’ve been the critic, there’s a lot of pressure. That’s hard. People have high expectations for what you’re going to deliver, and they were hurting. And as you heard from my colleague in the NDP, he did a lot to save a lot of people’s livelihoods, their lives, the things that mattered most to them.

I like to try and speak to members of the Legislature who sat with the member we’re paying tribute to. So I had to dig down deep, and luckily we have Jim Bradley and Sean Conway. I spoke to Jim Bradley. Here’s what he had to say: “His election was a big win, and it came at a time when there were a lot of Liberal members in southwestern Ontario in rural ridings, and it was known as the rural rump. He was a vocal defender of Ontario agriculture and farms, and he wasn’t shy. He was always ready to talk to any of his urban colleagues about the challenges that rural Ontarians and farmers and farm families face. He was outspoken and never shied away from sharing his view.”

I also had a chance to speak with Sean Conway, another long-serving member, who in fact shared an apartment with Jack for, I think he said, almost 10 years here at Queen’s Park. Here’s what Sean said to me—and there are a couple of things. Sean is never at a loss for words, so the call wasn’t quick. Sorry, Sean. Here’s what he said: “When you shook Jack’s hand, you knew he worked the land, because you’d feel it after you walked away. He had a great voice, and he spoke firmly.”

Sean also had a couple of colourful stories that I can’t mention right now. He said Jack was a big guy with a big smile and an even bigger heart.

Now, I know Jack’s family is here today, and I do like to mention in these tributes, thank you for sharing him with us. Representing that riding in the 1970s and 1980s, the highway infrastructure wasn’t quite what it is right now. There were no planes. There might have been a train from London, but I’m sure if that was ever taken. It’s a lot to be away and then to be home on weekends and doing all the work—because he wanted to help people. So I want to thank you for that.

I know, after listening to both the minister and to my colleague the House leader, that he didn’t forget where he came from. He didn’t forget who sent him and what they sent him to do, and that is the most important thing that we can do here.

Thank you very much for your time.

Applause.