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Debates of the Senate DEBATES OF THE SENATE 1st SESSION • 42nd PARLIAMENT • VOLUME 150 • NUMBER 284 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, May 7, 2019 The Honourable GEORGE J. FUREY, Speaker CONTENTS (Daily index of proceedings appears at back of this issue). Debates Services: D’Arcy McPherson, National Press Building, Room 906, Tel. 613-995-5756 Publications Centre: Kim Laughren, National Press Building, Room 926, Tel. 343-550-5002 Published by the Senate Available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 7983 THE SENATE Tuesday, May 7, 2019 The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. ultimately served as vice-chair. Senator Keon was proud of Canada’s system of health care but also viewed it with a clear, Prayers. critical eye, recognizing the need for improvement. His desire to help his fellow citizens lead longer, healthier lives was found in the work of the committee over the course of many years, BUSINESS OF THE SENATE including a comprehensive 2002 report on the federal role in the health care system. The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I received a notice from the Leader of the Opposition who requests, pursuant Senator Keon was deputy chair when the Social Affairs to rule 4-3(1), that the time provided for the consideration of Committee released its 2006 report, Out of the Shadows at Last, Senators’ Statements be extended today for the purpose of paying the very first national study of mental health, mental illness and tribute to the Honourable Wilbert J. Keon, whose death occurred addiction. This report was enthusiastically received, especially by on April 7, 2019. those who worked in the field of mental health for many years without the benefit of national attention. The report ultimately I remind senators that pursuant to our rules, each senator will led to the creation of the Mental Health Commission of Canada be allowed only three minutes, they may speak only once and the the following year under the previous Conservative government. time for Tributes shall not exceed 15 minutes. [Translation] SENATORS’ STATEMENTS Senator Keon was known not only for his role in founding the Heart Institute and the Mental Health Commission, but also for TRIBUTES founding other health care organizations like Genome Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. THE LATE HONOURABLE WILBERT J. KEON, O.C. [English] Hon. Larry W. Smith (Leader of the Opposition): The Canadian Institutes of Health Research recently called Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to our former Dr. Keon one of its architects recognizing his tremendous impact colleague, Senator Wilbert Keon, who passed away last month. on Canada’s health research community. Indeed, it is truly Senator Keon proudly represented the province of Ontario in the difficult to find any element of modern health care in Canada that Senate of Canada for almost 20 years. Dr. Keon, or Willie as he Senator Keon has not touched in some way. was known to his friends, was a visionary with sharp intellect, an optimistic spirit and a great laugh. It is hard to overstate how Nine years ago this month, Senator Keon stepped down from much he will be missed by his family, friends and former the Senate of Canada. However, according to his family, he colleagues, by the Ottawa Valley and by those who benefited really didn’t retire or slow down until about three years ago. through the 10,000 open-heart surgeries he performed over the course of his medical career. I know the thoughts of all honourable senators are with Senator Keon’s family today, his children, Claudia, Neil and Ryan; his From a young age, Wilbert Keon knew that he wanted to be a grandchildren; his sisters; and especially his wife of almost doctor. He was, quite simply, one of the most respected cardiac 60 years, Anne. Thank you for sharing your loved one with all of surgeons in the world. In 1976, he founded the University of Ottawa, all of Canada, for so many years. Senator Keon will be Ottawa Heart Institute, a global leader in cardiac treatment and greatly missed and he will be long remembered. research. Hon. Senators: Hear, hear. An Officer of the Order of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association awarded him its highest honour, the F.N.G. Starr Hon. Joseph A. Day (Leader of the Senate Liberals): Award. He was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Honourable colleagues, I join Senator Smith in remembering a Fame. In 2004, upon his retirement as president and CEO, a wonderful former colleague, Dr. Wilbert, Willie, Keon who died monument in his honour was installed at the Heart Institute. It is at the age of 83. inscribed with the following words: He spent nearly 20 years in this chamber where his One of the greatest heart surgeons of his generation who also commitment, dedication and hard work in the service of demonstrated extraordinary compassion throughout his Canadians were on constant display. People and their health and remarkable career. well-being were always his focus. He was a driving force, together with other members of the Social Affairs Committee, in Those words, “extraordinary compassion,” are the key to the creation of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. And Senator Keon’s work, not only as a doctor but as a member of the close to his heart, he chaired the subcommittee on population Senate of Canada. This was especially evident through his health and its in-depth examination of the disparities facing lengthy membership on the Social Affairs Committee, where he different sectors of our population. 7984 SENATE DEBATES May 7, 2019 To say that his career before he came to the Senate was I remember fondly our last conversation on the bus, as he was successful would be a gross understatement. Dr. Keon was the retiring from the Senate. One of his plans was to spend time with founder of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and where he, his wife in Ireland. He was also looking forward to travelling in in 1984 along with his surgical team performed their first heart his sports car to the Maritimes, as he had done a few years transplant. earlier. He was amazed at the scenery driving through New Brunswick and I concurred with him. He continued this trailblazing and two years later Dr. Keon performed Canada’s first artificial heart transplant. He also pioneered what he would describe to us as one of his greatest It was with surprise and sadness that we learned of his passing achievements, a life-saving technique, that of putting a patient on in April. In our hearts and minds, it is hard to accept the passing a heart-lung machine to restore blood flow in an acute heart of such a role model. I extend my deep condolences to his wife attack, which has become standard practice. Anne, his children Claudia, Neil and Ryan. Thank you for sharing him with us all. • (1410) Among many accolades, he was inducted into the Canadian As I conclude my tribute, on behalf of ISG, we express our Medical Hall of Fame and made an Officer of the Order of greatest appreciation for Dr. Keon, his contribution to the Canada and a member of the Order of Ontario. medical field, to our institution, and, most importantly, for being humble with it all. It is testimony to the great Canadian that he It must be noted that Dr. Keon continued to practise, albeit was. informally, even here in the Senate after he was appointed a senator. As many senators and staff can attest, he was quick May he rest in peace after a life of giving. Thank you. when needed to provide sound medical advice. He often put his physician skills to good use. I know there are many examples here in the Senate where his interventions made a concrete Hon. Senators: Hear, hear. impact on the good health of his colleagues and others. Honourable senators, Dr. Keon never faltered in his mission to Hon. Terry M. Mercer (Deputy Leader of the Senate improve the health and well-being of others. He was a good, kind Liberals): Honourable senators, when we’re called to this place and caring man, and his contributions in cardiology and here in we all take a moment, after being thankful for the call, to have a the Senate will long be remembered. look at the list of those who will be joining when we come here. When I came, I knew a lot of people who were already here. I On behalf of the Independent Senate Liberals, I would like to knew all the Liberals who were here because of my previous life offer my deepest condolences to his wife Anne, his children involved in the party. However, as I looked at the other people Claudia, Neil and Ryan and to their families, his loved ones and who were here, there was one person I really wanted to meet, and friends. that was Wilbert Keon. He was among the superstars in this place. We may have bragged about having Frank Mahovlich in Hon. Senators: Hear, hear. our caucus, but the Conservatives had Wilbert Keon in theirs and no man was a bigger superstar. Hon. Pierrette Ringuette: Honourable senators, on behalf of ISG, we pay tribute to Senator Keon. Wilbert Keon — a doctor, surgeon, senator, and we all need to The Senate has been blessed by a gifted Canadian citizen in its remember that politically he was a GST senator, appointed at the chamber. One of the most amazing senators of our time has been time when the Conservatives needed some extra senators to get the late Wilbert Keon, who served in the Senate for 20 years.
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