Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Barry and Lori Woods. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Busson.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the honour to inform the Senate that a message has been received from the House of Commons which reads as follows:

Thursday, September 15, 2022

EXTRACT, —

That a humble Address be presented to His Majesty the King in the following words:

TO THE KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY:

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN:

We, Your Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the ____________ Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, respectfully desire to express our deep sympathy to Your Majesty for the great loss you have sustained by the death of your beloved mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

We mourn with you, with members of the Royal family and with the people of all of your realms, the loss of our Queen, whose selfless dedication to duty earned our respect and admiration. For more than seven decades, Her Majesty The Queen demonstrated her commitment to the people of Canada, who in return offered their great affection and loyalty.

In this time of sorrow, we welcome Your Majesty’s accession to the throne and convey a sincere expression of our loyalty and devotion.

We, the ____________ Commons of Canada, will do our utmost to uphold and support Your Majesty as you undertake your heavy responsibilities.

That the said Address be engrossed; and

That a Message be sent to the Senate informing their Honours that this House has passed the said Address and requesting their Honours to unite with this House therein by filling up the blanks with the words “Senate and”.

ATTEST

Charles Robert

The Clerk of the House of Commons

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have no doubt that all of us reacted with great sadness to the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and that we were touched by all the tributes to her long and remarkable life.

[English]

Throughout her historic reign of 70 years, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had an unwavering devotion to the people of Canada and the Commonwealth, and we, as Canadians, reciprocated with profound admiration, affection and respect.

I felt these sentiments deeply this past April when my wife, Karen, and I had the distinct honour and privilege of an audience with Her Majesty. Our visit coincided fortuitously with her ninety-sixth birthday and her Platinum Jubilee. As always, the Queen was thoroughly engaging, insightful and good-humoured.

She completed 22 official tours of Canada since her accession to the throne and has twice delivered a Speech from the Throne in the Senate Chamber. On these occasions, Her Majesty benefited from the support of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who also displayed a deep commitment to Canada in his lifetime.

Although her extraordinary reign has now ended, it will continue to instill and inspire the values of public service, selflessness and quiet dignity for generations to come.

Let us all join in offering our deepest sympathies to His Majesty the King and keeping the members of the Royal Family in our thoughts and prayers.

[Translation]

Colleagues, I would ask that you rise and observe a minute of silence in memory of our late sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of our former colleague the Honourable Joan Fraser as well as Susie Fraser whose great-grandfather, George William Allan of Moss Park, Toronto, was a Senator from 1867 to 1891 and Speaker of the Senate from 1888 to 1891. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Bovey.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today in the Senate of Canada to pay tribute to an incredible global figure, an inspiration to so many around the world and a true leader, Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II, our beloved Queen.

There have been 22 official visits to Canada by our sovereign, our head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces. For nearly half of Canada’s existence, she was our Queen, and Canada held a special place in her heart, as she did in the hearts of so many Canadians from coast to coast to coast. She was a constant in a world that is ever changing, a role model for millions and a calming, reassuring presence.

In February 1952, King George VI passed away, and Princess Elizabeth immediately assumed the throne as Queen. In 1965, she departed on the first state visit to West Germany, the first official visit there by a member of the British Royal Family since 1913. This important visit marked the twentieth anniversary of the end of World War II and a new way forward for the two countries.

In 1970, she visited Australia and New Zealand, and against centuries of royal tradition, she walked through the streets to greet crowds of people in person rather than to simply wave from a distance. She led the way for a new way of traditions and respect that people around the world have praised her for.

The Queen was also an active participant in our journey as a nation. She was with us to open the St. Lawrence Seaway. She presided over our centennial celebrations and later opened our first Olympic Games in Montreal, Quebec.

A quarter of a century after she opened Canada’s Parliament, Her Majesty signed Canada’s Constitution Act into law. That act alone ushered Canada into a new era of self-determination, where Canadians could amend their own laws, and our Charter of Rights and Freedoms became enshrined. She served as Queen for 70 historic years with such humility, grace and dignity.

Fifty years ago, on April 11, 1972, I was uprooted from South Korea, the country of my birth, on my seventh birthday. I started school right away in Canada, and though English was my second language, I soon learned the Lord’s Prayer and God save the Queen, which we recited first thing every morning. As a 7‑year‑old in a new country, I felt comforted in knowing our God and Queen were watching over us each and every day.

Fast forward to 2010, when, in my second year as a senator, I attended the Canada Day ceremony in our nation’s capital with Her Majesty in attendance. I can still remember that moment of bowing to the Queen as she passed by and feeling comforted still by Her Majesty’s presence. It was a special moment for a little immigrant girl from South Korea, who dreamed of her new life in Canada, to be standing on the open lawns of Parliament Hill with Her Majesty the Queen. This was her last visit to Ottawa.

Her Majesty’s sense of selfless duty and service began even before her coronation. In 1945, at the young age of 18, she joined the British military — the Auxiliary Territorial Service — as a mechanic in World War II. She was proud to serve her country and to stand for freedom and democracy.

(1450)

As a senator of British Columbia and as Honorary Grand Patron of the Korean War Veterans of Canada, I offer sincere condolences on behalf of our veterans of the Korean War and the national Korean-Canadian community. Our distinguished veterans served their country and Queen in the air, on the seas and on land during the Korean War and in peacekeeping duties after the signing of the armistice. During the historic Battle of Kapyong, Canadians fought as part of the Commonwealth Brigade and were even awarded a U.S. presidential citation for their valour — a proud moment and bond forged in their sense of duty and pride in serving their nation and the Crown.

I know our veterans are all saddened by the Queen’s passing. She was, and will always be, their queen.

We now begin a new era with King Charles III, who will follow in his mother’s footsteps of service, loyalty and duty. I offer my sincere condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and to the entire Royal Family, who mourns the loss of a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and sister.

I also offer my condolences to all those in the Commonwealth and around the world as we collectively mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Honourable senators, please join me in remembering the extraordinary life and service of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a beacon of hope, strength, determination, passion and duty who will never be forgotten.

God bless the Queen and God save the King.

Hon. David Arnot: Honourable senators, I join you in paying my respects to Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her dedication to service and to the responsibility of her position and, above all, her connection to the people who looked to her for hope, strength, courage and certainty was remarkable.

She was an exemplar of the highest regard, demonstrating responsibility and respect on every occasion. She was the consummate monarch. She was the Crown. She upheld the honour of the Crown in the truest and most noble sense of that expression.

Over the course of my life, I have had many occasions to reflect on the honour of the Crown. Her late Majesty personified that powerful ideal. It is an unflinchingly high bar for all of us here today as servants of the people of Canada. It is that high standard that we must measure ourselves against. Our country and our democracy are relying on us to uphold the honour of the Crown.

As I have said before:

Appealing to the Honour of the Crown was an appeal not merely to the sovereign as a person, but to a traditional bedrock of principles of fundamental justice that lay beyond persons and beyond politics. It is precisely this distinction that rests at the heart of our ideals of “human rights” today.

On a personal note, I was fortunate to be in the presence of Her Majesty twice in my life — on her first visit to Saskatchewan as Queen and on her last. In July 1959, she visited my home province. I was only 7 years old and my parents, Gerry and Yvonne Arnot, brought my younger sister, Jill, and I to the legislative building in Saskatchewan in Regina. We hoped to get a glimpse of the Queen, and she did not disappoint. That memory is etched in my mind because I remember the crowds, the energy, the respect, the cheering and the joy that was all around us.

Forty-six years later, the Queen came to Saskatchewan in 2005 for our province’s centennial celebration. May 5, 2005, was a very special day for my family for two reasons. As Treaty Commissioner, I was invited to meet the Queen in Regina that day. I was staying at The Hotel Saskatchewan, and so was the Queen. I was startled and awakened by a loud telephone call at three o’clock in the morning from my oldest son, Michael Arnot, announcing the birth of our first grandchild, Owen. We hoped that call did not disturb the Queen.

Later that morning at Government House, I met the Queen with my wife, Linda, the late, well-revered Treaty 6 Elder Alma Kytwayhat and our good friend Colleen Cameron from Beardys Okemasis First Nation.

In speaking with the Queen, what I remember most was the joyful, beautiful, broad smile of the Elder Alma Kytwayhat, and that smile was mirrored very sincerely and very openly by Queen Elizabeth with her brilliant, sparkling blue eyes. It was a moment in my life that I will never forget.

Many times I heard the Elder Alma Kytwayhat speak strongly and evenly about the treaties and the treaty relationship which were forged by the parties — the Crown, the First Nations and the Creator — how the elders spoke of the fact that we are all treaty people and the fact that Queen Elizabeth represented the great white mother — Her Majesty Queen Victoria — during whose reign most of the numbered treaties in Western Canada were made. The treaties were a covenant of bringing together a people under the Crown, as we are brought together today to offer our respects and our tributes.

I am mindful that the Crown continues and that our responsibility to uphold the honour of the Crown, especially in this chamber, endures.

I join all Canadians across our country and all those across the Commonwealth who share the warm memories of her reign and the sorrow of her passing.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Arnot spoke in another language.]

Merci, thank you.

Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Honourable senators, on Thursday, September 8, Canadians learned that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had passed away.

Although a life of 96 years is certainly a full life, most of us believed she still had a few more years with us, as she was such a remarkably durable figure for so long.

Like most Canadians, I do not remember any other head of state. Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne in February of 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI — more than three years before I was born — and she was a fixture ever since in my life, and in the life of Canada, the Commonwealth and the world.

As then-prime minister Louis St. Laurent said in the House of Commons in February 1952:

And we now hail our new monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Though young in years, Her Majesty is qualified to follow in the footsteps of her illustrious father ... Hon. Members, I know the Crown rests on a head which will bring to it further honour and glory.

Even former Prime Minister St. Laurent would be impressed by the prescience of his remarks.

Yesterday, over 5 billion people around the world followed the obsequies on the television, as over half of the world’s population tuned in to her funeral. What a testament to the impression she left upon the world and the respect in which she was held.

I had the opportunity to be in the presence of Her Majesty on several occasions. The first was in 1994, when she and Prince Philip visited the fortress in my hometown of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. The other times occurred during her last visit to Canada in 2010, when she unveiled the Diamond Jubilee window in the Senate entrance, held a reception at Rideau Hall and celebrated Canada Day with us on Parliament Hill. I was privileged to be present at all of these events.

Part of that 2010 visit was spent in Nova Scotia, as the Queen rededicated the restored Government House, the residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia since 1800. It’s a day I remember very well. The weather was perfect, the crowd was huge and I was standing on a viewing platform with the American ambassador and his wife.

The ambassador’s wife was particularly excited for the opportunity to meet the Queen. When I asked her what she thought of the event, she responded, “It’s wonderful that Canada has the Queen as head of state,” adding that “the monarchy is something that Canada should always retain, as it is something that distinguishes Canada from the United States.”

Indeed, the Crown is something that distinguishes Canada. If you travel down the mainland of the Americas, from Canada to the tip of South America, only Canada is not a republic, only Canada exists as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.

Our loyalty to the Crown was fundamental to Canada’s creation as a nation. The American Revolution created not one but, eventually, two new countries, as the colonies of Nova Scotia and Quebec refused to join with the rebellious Yankees, and instead worked toward building a new country under the protection and continuity of the Crown. Over 80,000 loyalists, including some of my own ancestors, came north to Canada after 1783, helping to lay the foundation of our great nation.

The international media, naturally and understandably, refers to Her Majesty as the Queen of the United Kingdom, but that does not define her relationship with Canada. She was the Queen of Canada, and our relationship with the Crown is direct — it does not run through Westminster, nor is it dependent on the U.K. or any of the other realms.

I grieved when I heard that Her Majesty had left us, and I mourn her passing, but I am mindful of the enduring legacy that she dutifully created and I salute her for her service to Canada and to the Commonwealth.

Her Majesty served all of the Commonwealth admirably, but she always had a special place in her heart for Canada, making 22 official visits during her reign. She always considered Canada to be her home away from home. It was touching to see the RCMP on horseback leading the funeral procession along The Mall in London. This was Her Majesty’s request. It speaks volumes about her devotion to Canada, and was a gesture that sent a wonderful message to the world about her relationship with Canada.

The world witnessed over 5 billion people tuning in to say goodbye to Canada’s head of state. There is simply no elected politician nor appointed head of state in the world that could garner even a fraction of the admiration and respect in which Her Majesty was held.

As the young people might say, “The Queen was awesome!” Yes, she was. Her Majesty was truly a remarkable individual and all Canadians thank her for her 70 years of dedicated, selfless service.

God bless Her Majesty, and God rest her soul.

God save the King.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to our late sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8. So much has been written and said about the Queen these past days. But after 70 years as monarch, millions of miles logged, tens of thousands of audiences, chance meetings and walkabouts, it is to be expected that there would be countless stories to tell. From powerful heads of government worldwide to shopkeepers in Scotland, the world has been reminded of her devotion to duty, her sense of humour, kindness, wisdom and dignity over her remarkable 96 years.

[Translation]

She was a constant in the lives of many Canadians throughout our country’s rich history. As monarch, Queen Elizabeth II visited Canada 22 times, which is more often than she visited any other Commonwealth country. She travelled to every province and territory at least once. Her Majesty read the Canadian government’s Throne Speech on two occasions, and each reading marked an important moment in her reign. The first time was in October 1957, during her first royal tour of Canada as monarch. She attended the opening of the parliamentary session of Prime Minister Diefenbaker’s government, which had been elected in June of that year. The second time was in 1977, during her Silver Jubilee.

[English]

But perhaps the moment most remembered by Canadians was in April of 1982, when more than 30,000 people crowded onto Parliament Hill to watch her sign the Constitution Act, 1982. After more than 18 months of negotiations with the provinces and final passage of our Constitution Act through the House of Commons and House of Lords in London, England, Canada’s Constitution was coming home. We watched with pride as Her Majesty, the Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and the Registrar General signed the historic document.

[Translation]

Queen Elizabeth’s love of horses was legendary. She began riding at the age of four, when she received a Shetland pony as a gift. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police gifted the Queen a mare named Burmese in 1969.

[English]

Her Majesty rode Burmese for 18 consecutive years in Trooping the Colour. When the horse was retired in 1986, the Queen chose to no longer ride during the ceremony and began attending the event in an open carriage. Later in life, when asked which was her favourite horse, she replied “Burmese” without hesitation.

When she turned 21 in 1947, Princess Elizabeth made a promise that her whole life, whether long or short, would be devoted to our service — to the service of the people of the Commonwealth family. She kept that promise for life, which was thankfully a long one. Less than 48 hours before her passing, she greeted her fifteenth British prime minister. During her reign, Canada elected 12 prime ministers, and, most remarkably, there were 179 individuals to serve as prime ministers in her realms during her seven decades as monarch.

[Translation]

Technology has evolved rapidly over the years, and Her Majesty was always able to adapt to the new reality. In 1957, she was the first monarch to deliver a televised Christmas message. Buckingham Palace and the Royal Family got their own Facebook and Twitter accounts, with her blessing.

[English]

Most recently, when the COVID pandemic took over the world, she continued her duties using technology. She conducted Zoom meetings with charities, government leaders and family members. She offered comfort in her COVID-19 broadcast when she spoke the following words to Britain and the Commonwealth: “. . . we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.” Those words mean more even now.

[Translation]

The role of the monarch has become largely symbolic in the 21st century, but Queen Elizabeth gave real meaning to the role and its symbolism. She brought people together with her words, her actions and her gestures. Queen Elizabeth was admired by millions and, in a world where the average retirement age is 66, she worked 30 years longer than the average person, remaining equally committed to her work until the end.

[English]

On the final night of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, she invited Paddington Bear to tea. This lovely sketch became something magical and powerful, and perhaps a little prescient. Seeing the twinkle in her eye when she showed off her marmalade sandwich and finally divulging to the world the secret of what she kept in her ever-present purse made the crowd and the millions watching on television laugh out loud.

Just before Queen — the band — took to the stage, Paddington took a moment to look at her fondly and say what everyone watching was thinking: “Thank you for everything.” We, in Canada, thank her as well for 70 years of warm, sincere, dignified service and diplomacy personified.

As we now move into a post-Elizabethan age, her selfless service and sense of duty, along with her wit, kindness and smile, will be remembered by Canadians from across our country, from those who may have had the pleasure of speaking to her at a function, meeting her briefly, seeing her from afar or just recognizing in her the genuine affection she held for this country and its people. She loved Canada and Canada loved her.

On behalf of the Senate of Canada, I extend sincerest condolences to King Charles III and the entire family on the passing of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Jane Cordy: Honourable senators, I rise today on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group to add words of condolence on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Honourable senators, there are moments in our lives where something shifts, and suddenly things that previously felt steadfast are no longer. Once again, we find ourselves witnessing history as our head of state and the longest-reigning British monarch died on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with family by her side.

For most, if not all, of our lives, she has been the familiar face on stamps and currency. She has made it nearly impossible to see a corgi and not think of her. For some, she was the woman who jumped out of a helicopter with James Bond. For others — as Senator Gold said earlier — she was the grandmother who had tea and marmalade sandwiches with Paddington Bear. She was the first woman from the Royal Family to serve as a full-time active member of the British Armed Forces. Hers was the reassuring voice that spoke to us each Christmas Day. She was the unwavering point of strength and stability in a world of unstoppable and unexpected changes.

Much has been said about the enormous swath of events that have been committed to our history books over the course of Queen Elizabeth’s time on the throne. The changes that we have witnessed over those 70 years have been remarkable. Hers was the first coronation to be televised and the first transatlantic television broadcast, which had footage flown to Canada to be shown on CBC. What a change in our technological landscape that many learned of her passing through an official tweet from the Royal Family.

Throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and across the world, there has been a tremendous outpouring of condolences honouring the extraordinary life and legacy of Her late Majesty. Words like “grace,” “wisdom,” “devotion” and “charm” have all featured heavily in these tributes. Many have shared or reshared anecdotes of their own personal encounters with the Queen. It is striking that, in all these stories, we can see that though she held such a monumental role, she also had the uncanny ability to connect with people on a personal level.

These moments when we have been able to get a glimpse of the person behind the office have shown that while she has been rightfully celebrated for fulfilling her public duties as monarch so ably, she was equally effective at creating lasting memories for those who only experienced a brief moment with Her Majesty. So many of us felt this connection regardless of whether we were lucky enough to have had a personal royal encounter. I know that people from all provinces and territories — and, indeed, every city that served as a stop on a royal tour — took great pride in remembering those occasions when Her Majesty visited their region.

I, of course, am no exception and would like to remind you that my own province of Nova Scotia was pleased to host Queen Elizabeth on five separate occasions. Her first official visit was in 1951, while she was still Princess Elizabeth. CBC News noted of her visit to Cape Breton:

When this grand lassie and her good-lookin’ husband came to see us folks here in Cape Breton, it was the biggest day we’ve ever had on the island.

Her last trip to Nova Scotia was in 2010, which was also her last royal visit to Canada. She began this royal tour in Halifax and participated in several important events, including honouring the four hundredth anniversary of the baptism of Grand Chief Henri Membertou in a Mi’kmaq cultural event, celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy and attending the rededication of Government House, the home of our Lieutenant Governor, which had been renovated and was reopening.

Queen Elizabeth’s first official visit to Canada as Queen took place in 1957 and marked the first time she opened our Parliament, reading the Speech from the Throne in the Senate Chamber. On that occasion, she recalled the words of “the earlier Elizabeth,” whom she quoted as saying, “I count the glory of my Crown, that I have reigned with your loves.” She continued to say that:

Now here in the new world I say to you that it is my wish that in the years before me I may so reign in Canada and be so remembered.

Honourable colleagues, I dare say that Her late Majesty’s wish was indeed fulfilled.

She also opened the Third Session of the Thirtieth Parliament during her Silver Jubilee tour in 1977. On that occasion, she told Parliament that:

In ten visits together to Canada spread over a quarter of a century—seven in the last decade alone—Prince Philip and I have met many thousands of Canadians in all walks of life, of all ages, in every province and territory. My happiest memories of our travels throughout Canada have been these individual contacts which have revealed the enormous strength and astonishing diversity of this nation.

As noted earlier, this dedication to personal connections shall be her lasting legacy. As the most travelled monarch in history, she was continually seeking out these experiences.

Her Majesty certainly succeeded in fulfilling the promise she made at the young age of 21 — that her “. . . whole life . . . shall be devoted to . . . service . . . .” Indeed, the last public photograph we have of her, standing in front of a fire in a grand room in Balmoral Castle, marked the official appointment of Britain’s newest prime minister, the fifteenth to serve during the Queen’s reign. The meeting took place only two days before her death. The next day saw the last public statement she issued — to the Governor General and the people of Canada — expressing her condolences following the attacks in Saskatchewan by saying that her thoughts were still with the James Smith Cree Nation and the tragedy they had experienced. As Her Majesty grieved for us, so we now grieve for her.

Grief is a complicated thing, and I would like to acknowledge that we have all experienced a different relationship with the monarchy. Some may be struggling with competing emotions these days. My thoughts, in particular, are with Indigenous peoples, as theirs is a treaty relationship. Though many have spoken about the Queen’s compassion and respect, it is certain that much work remains in our journey to reconciliation.

The Queen once said, “Grief is the price we pay for love.” On behalf of the Progressive Senate Group, I offer my sincere condolences to the Royal Family and to all those who mourn the loss of this much beloved monarch. May her legacy of strength, stability and service be an inspiration to us all.

May she rest in peace and God save the King.

Hon. Marilou McPhedran: As a senator from Manitoba, I acknowledge that I am on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

[English]

On this solemn occasion, when senators have been given this opportunity to speak freely of our reflections on this unique woman world leader, I wish to acknowledge the complex history of colonialism embodied in the Commonwealth, over which Queen Elizabeth II presided, by noting that the Parliament of Canada is situated on the unsurrenderred, unceded territory of the Anishinaabe and Algonquin First Nations.

We are here today with impressive women leaders of our own in a chamber that became the second senate in the world to achieve gender parity. Millions of little girls in this country grew up seeing a woman monarch’s face day after day, even in years when Canada had no widely recognized women leaders.

We cannot quantify the impact of Her Majesty’s presence in the minds and hearts of these many millions of girls, generation after generation, but I know I am far from alone in tracing my own sense of entitlement to full actualization as a female human, to deeply knowing that the rights of women and girls are full human rights — rights not only to be claimed but also to be lived by all females, not just those who are privileged, like those of us in this chamber.

[Translation]

She was my Queen for the 70-plus years of my life, and she always will be. May you rest in peace, dear Queen Elizabeth.

[English]

God save the King. Thank you, meegwetch.

Hon. Marty Deacon: Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and work of Queen Elizabeth II. It’s hard to describe how someone so renowned could touch our lives on a personal level, but for many of us, that’s what she did.

For me it began at a young age of six. In Grade 1, I was very curious about this woman whose image was so prominently displayed on our classroom wall, a queen that didn’t live in Canada. Had I had known I would go on to meet her on more than one occasion, I am sure I would have been both excited and somewhat alarmed at the prospect.

Two such meetings stand out to me that I believe are worth sharing. In 1994, Canada hosted the Commonwealth Games in Victoria. This was my first international games in a coaching capacity, and the experience opened my eyes to many international issues. None were more significant than the return of South Africa to the Commonwealth Games and what this represented: the end of apartheid and the leadership of Nelson Mandela. The Queen was visiting for the games and took the time to speak with athletes and coaches about how significant these games were with their return.

It was then I learned the role of the Queen, not as a politician, but for her abilities to influence, encourage, listen and provide gentle guidance. When the Queen met and spoke with athletes, she inspired them, asked great questions and, at times, added a little humour. I came away from those games wanting to understand more about the monarchy and its influence both inside and outside of the Commonwealth.

In 1998, the Queen arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to close the games. There was political unrest at the time, which included the deputy prime minister there being jailed during the games. At the end of 13 days of competition, I took my team out for dinner. We received a call that nearby there was a political protest that was turning quite violent. I was ordered to get my team back to the village. We wanted to be safe but were not quite sure how to do this. Thankfully, none other than the Queen’s cavalcade provided us with a secure return to the athletes’ village. It was a strange way to meet the Royal Family — surrounded by security — but they were truly wonderful. A few of these athletes had tea with the Queen the next day in the athletes’ village and were very inspired by both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

I also had the fun role of being there in 2012 in the London Stadium at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics when the Queen parachuted in with Daniel Craig. It really did show her lighter and fun side.

Colleagues, there’s a wonderful tradition that is part of the Commonwealth Games. Every four years, on Commonwealth Day, the Queen would insert a message into a baton that would begin a journey covering all Commonwealth countries and would be read by the Queen or her representative at the opening of the games. The message the Queen placed into the baton for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham has now become Her Majesty’s final message to the Commonwealth. It said:

Over the years, the coming together of so many for the ‘Friendly Games’ has created memorable shared experiences, established long standing relationships, and even created some friendly rivalries! But above all they remind us of our connection with one another, wherever we may be in the world, as part of the Commonwealth family of nations.

Throughout Her Majesty’s long life, her extraordinary dedication and service to Commonwealth sport have been an inspiration to so many. This includes the athletes, officials, volunteers and builders, all of whom she took time to meet when she would attend the games — 18 times in total.

Her Majesty’s vision for the Commonwealth as a diverse and united family of nations has always inspired us, and it will remain our collective mission and duty to realize this vision. Her vision arose from an unwavering sense of duty in every aspect of her role as sovereign, but I can’t help but believe attending these games brought with it a sense of joy as well. There was always a smile that stood in contrast to that serious image that adorned my classroom in Grade 1.

Colleagues, following the ceremony yesterday at Christ Church Cathedral, I was unable to leave when the service was over. I was drawn to the front of the church. I sat in front of the Queen’s large, familiar photo and just wondered whether we really know the full impact of her life. Do we deeply know the impact of her loss? I don’t think so. There are so many pieces to this life and legacy, though it is one that will continue to serve us well into the future.

Thank you, meegwetch.

[Translation]

Hon. Lucie Moncion: Honourable senators, at the age of 21, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Canada’s sovereign and head of state, promised to devote her whole life, whether it be long or short, to the service of her subjects. She kept that promise until she passed away at the age of 96, thus becoming the longest-reigning British monarch. By choosing to devote her life to serving the Commonwealth and its people, this brilliant woman became a model of dignity, respect, dedication, candour, pride and grace for every person who goes into public service.

She faced countless challenges during her reign, but in spite of it all, she never balked in the face of adversity, and she carried out her duties as the principal guardian of the Constitution with skill, diplomacy and determination.

Her Majesty had a deep respect and great admiration for Canada. She loved to visit our big, beautiful country. She participated in over 20 royal tours of Canada. Each time she visited, she spoke to Canadians in both official languages. Her Majesty was a francophile queen who was remarkably fluent in French.

I also want to say that those of us who were here in Ottawa yesterday were able to attend the service for Her Majesty. It was such a beautiful service, so elegant, yet unpretentious and deeply respectful, just like our Queen. She loved our country. Yesterday’s modest, gracious and respectful ceremony was our way of showing her how much we, as Canadians, appreciated everything she did for our country. I would like to thank the organizers for putting together a really wonderful ceremony.

Queen Elizabeth II was both strong-willed and kind-hearted. She warmly welcomed everyone she invited into her home, and when she smiled, you couldn’t help but smile back. She had a passion for breeding horses and dressage horses and was a skilled rider. She had a keen eye for horses and good mounts, had stables of champions and loved horse racing.

She also had a particular fondness for corgis and owned more than 30 of these dogs over the course of her life.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was also a wife. She loved Prince Philip deeply and shared her life with him for over 73 years. Who can forget the image of her sitting alone during his funeral in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021? It was the first time we had seen this great woman looking vulnerable and sad.

Her Majesty was also a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother, roles she assumed quietly. The dual roles of mother and monarch sometimes put her in delicate situations in which she was forced to make difficult decisions about the future of her children and grandchildren within the monarchy. She made these decisions out of duty and respect for her subjects and to ensure the survival and stability of the monarchy she held so dear.

Her Majesty was a compassionate, graceful and accomplished woman who was loved and respected by Canadians. She will be greatly missed on the world stage as a female icon of political leadership and diplomacy. She was an inspiration to women and girls around the world.

I offer my sincere condolences to King Charles III and to the entire Royal Family.

[English]

Hon. Tony Dean: Honourable senators, I rise to join you in commenting on the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, a loss that is echoing around this country, around the Commonwealth and indeed around the world.

A common theme this afternoon has been of the Queen as steadfast and unwavering, as a presence in a rapidly changing, uncertain and increasing unstable world. The Queen knew something about instability, didn’t she, having assumed her reign during the devastating impact of the Second World War. Her accession to the throne occurred after the war as our parents emerged from a brutal several years of devastating war. Little wonder then that our parents were gripped by the coronation in 1953. What a time of hope, a bright light, as the dust of a nasty war started to diminish and settle.

So many of us will have watched the events of the past two weeks through our parents’ eyes, a poignant moment indeed for all of us and a time of reflection about our parents and their lives, touching us in so many ways and at so many levels.

As a young woman growing up in the context of war, the Queen sent messages of hope to thousands of young Britons who were displaced by that war. As Queen, she never stopped communicating in tangible, heartfelt and meaningful ways that touched millions of people.

Paramount in this was her recognition of the work that ordinary people do. A queen talking to ordinary people in this country and in many other countries around the Commonwealth, to nurses, to factory workers, to soldiers, to farmers, to fishers and many beyond that. In doing that, she was a marvellous communicator.

Some of us will have seen Catherine Clark, the daughter of former prime minister Joe Clark, interviewed on the CBC, talking about an experience when she was 10 years old. She was at an event, one of a series of events that were increasingly boring to her. Having listened to the Queen talk, she was ready to get out of there but was told by her father that no one could leave the room before the Queen left the room.

She had a chat with the Queen, a little interchange, a friendly presence and retired to a seat nearest the door, I guess hoping that somehow she might escape. Around came the Queen and bumped into her again and said, “I see you’re still here.” And young Catherine Clark, as a 10-year-old would, said, “Well, yeah. I’ve been told that no one can leave before you do.” And the Queen — without missing a beat, reports Ms. Clark — said, “Well, come with me. Let’s walk out together.” What a lovely image. What a lovely moment.

A few years later — perhaps this is a bit of an adult encore — I met the Duke of Edinburgh. Of course, I took the opportunity to tell him that I was a recipient of his gold medal. I know the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme is very successful in Canada. The Duke, as he had been on previous occasions when I met him, was quick as a whip. He looked at my empty lapel. He said, “So, where’s your medal?” I said, “Well, it’s at home.” And, again, in a nanosecond, he said, “Well, I see you only bring it out for special occasions then.” Unfortunately, it’s a true story.

To those of us in the U.K. with working-class roots, our experience of the Queen and the monarchy has been ambiguous at best, and I think some of you will likely share that feeling. It was hard in my younger days to separate out the Queen from monarchical structures, not only in the U.K. but around the world. But over decades of watching the Queen, of listening to her, that ambiguity steadily cleared and evaporated with age — not her age, my age.

It has been a tough couple of weeks. We’ve all reflected on previous generations and, as I said earlier, especially our parents’. Colleagues, we’ve lost a pillar of stability during a period of deep uncertainty around the world and in Canada. This is my closing remark: As we think about how this void will be filled — and some of us have worried about that, haven’t we? What will we do without that enduring presence and stability? As we think about that, let’s not forget our own role and responsibility in promoting responsible dialogue, compromise and inclusion with dignity, grace and humility, as my colleague Senator Duncan said a few moments ago. In doing that, we’ll honour the Queen and we’ll honour Canadians. Thank you, colleagues.

Hon. Brent Cotter: Honourable senators, I’m deeply saddened personally and for her family by the Queen’s passing. But to be honest, my reflections are filled — and I hope yours are, too — with gratitude for the role she has played in our lives. First, I have two personal reflections, then something about the Queen and Saskatchewan and something about immortality.

Like Senator Batters, I am a Q.C. — that is, a Queen’s Counsel — though, admittedly, there are thousands of us. I had not thought greatly about it before yesterday, but thinking about it at that beautiful celebration, thinking about the Queen, whom I very much admired, and thinking that I was a Queen’s Counsel, it made me feel proud, honoured and humbled, even though I should admit that in the 29 years that I was a Q.C., the Queen didn’t call me once for any counsel.

I’m now a King’s Counsel. I know the present King a little bit, but I’m not expecting a call from him either.

My second personal reflection is more associated with the Queen’s family. In the darkest days of the Second World War, King George VI delivered a very special radio address. One aspect of it became an inspiration within the generations of my own family. We occasionally take some liberties with the specific language, but what the King said at that time was the following:

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied:

“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

Inspiring at the time to millions, and a bit of a talisman in my own family.

I met the Queen once and had a brief, pleasant conversation with her. I wish that I had told her of her father’s impact on my father and our family.

The Queen and Saskatchewan: The Queen has visited all of the provinces and territories, as you have heard, and conveyed outwardly that she was equally fond of all parts of Canada. But we in Saskatchewan know that she loved Saskatchewan best. There are two arguments for that, one you have already heard from Senator Gold and Senator Batters. Her favourite horse, given to her by the RCMP in 1969, was from Saskatchewan.

More compelling, though subtle, is her insignia. One part of it is embedded in the chair behind the Speaker. It is in three parts. First, the “E” for “Elizabeth”; then the Roman numeral II for “Elizabeth II”; and then what follows, is it a “W,” as in “E II Winnipeg”? No. Is it an “F,” as in “E II Fredericton”? No. It is “Elizabeth II Regina.” It is subtle, I grant you, but we in Saskatchewan got the message.

And the Queen was beloved by Saskatchewanians. Her visit in 2005 was an outstanding event. The people then responsible for protocol in Saskatchewan, Michael Jackson and Deborah Johnson — and this is the person we referred to in Saskatchewan as the Michael Jackson without the glove — none do these things better, arranged, among other things, for that bronze statue of the Queen astride Burmese to be commissioned and unveiled on her visit. It sits magnificently in the front of our Legislative Building in — you guessed it — Regina.

I was involved in planning the Queen’s visit in 2005, our centennial year, and had the idea of building a new wing onto Government House, the Lieutenant Governor’s building, and calling it the Queen Elizabeth II wing. The trouble was it was going to cost $6 million, and there wasn’t $6 million in the budget for it. So, somewhat audaciously, I put together a Government House foundation of distinguished Saskatchewan citizens, one of whom was our colleague and friend Pamela Wallin as she then was, and that foundation raised from the people of Saskatchewan nearly all of the $6 million to build that wing and honour the Queen, which she opened on her visit.

Queen Elizabeth was an inspiration for people of Indigenous ancestry across Canada and has kept alive the spark of hope for a better future that Senator Arnot spoke about , something that I hope inspires us all. In these days of heartbreaking tragedy in Saskatchewan, and particularly at the James Smith Cree Nation, this hope and inspiration are greatly needed.

Finally, to immortality: Whatever immortality is for any of us, it is surely at least this — that a person lives on in the ways in which he or she touched others for good or ill. Queen Elizabeth II, our Queen in her 70 years as monarch, perhaps more than any other person on this earth, touched the lives of tens of millions with her goodness, decency, integrity and her commitment to duty. What a legacy.

I don’t know the protocol in this chamber, but I would like to invite you to join me in a round of applause for Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate a great life well lived. Thank you.

Some Hon. Senators: Oh, Oh!