Debates of the Senate

CANADA Debates of the Senate 2nd SESSION . 37th PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 140 . NUMBER 12 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, October 29, 2002 ^ THE HONOURABLE DAN HAYS SPEAKER CONTENTS (Daily index of proceedings appears at back of this issue). Debates and Publications: Chambers Building, Room 943, Tel. 996-0193 Published by the Senate Available from Communication Canada ± Canadian Government Publishing, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S9. Also available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 198 THE SENATE Tuesday, October 29, 2002 The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the Chair. an accountant's knowledge of high finance to lead Molson's through an unprecedented and highly successful expansion across Prayers. Canada. [Translation] As a sportsman — a real sportsman — he bought the Canadian Arena Company and, hence, his beloved team, Les Canadiens de Montréal. Under his hands-on presidency — and I know Senator THE LATE HONOURABLE HARTLAND Mahovlich can attest to the fact that he was a hands-on DE MONTARVILLE MOLSON, O.C., O.Q., O.B.E. president — Les Canadiens finished first in the National Hockey League eight times and won the Stanley Cup six times. I think Senator Mahovlich can probably take more credit for that TRIBUTES than Senator Molson, but I know he was equally pleased. Hon. Michael A. Meighen: Honourable senators, Canada As a philanthropist, his generosity was legendary and recently lost one of its most dedicated and distinguished citizens widespread, to say the least, both to organizations ranging from and we lost a former colleague, one of the most admired of all. the Canada Council to the Canadian Paraplegic Association, as well as to countless citizens' groups and individuals across the [English] country and beyond, including the Boy Scouts, as Senator Di Nino has reminded me. As a parliamentarian, many here will Described by author Peter Newman as the Canadian remember that he served with high distinction in this place from establishment's quintessential figure, Senator Molson's life 1955 to 1993, when he voluntarily retired. stands out as one rich in personal accomplishment and public service. Although born into a well-respected and highly successful [Translation] family whose roots in Montreal go back to 1782, Hartland Molson, from his earliest years, lived the adage, ``To whom much Some senators will undoubtedly want to share personal is given, much is expected.'' Or, as he used to put it — somewhat memories of Senator Molson in one of these areas. However, I more in the vernacular — ``Money is a heavy responsibility...if would simply like to briefly talk about his life in the world of you are lucky enough to have some dough, you owe something, hockey and in the Senate. These are the two facets of his life that I you have to contribute.'' And contribute he did! know best and regarding which he was most passionate, I believe. [Translation] [English] After leaving the Royal Military College, Hartland Molson got Hockey for Hartland Molson was not a business, although his his degree as a chartered accountant and joined the firm of brewery business benefited handsomely from it. It was, rather, an McDonald Currie, where he worked until the crash of 1929, affair of the heart, perhaps because he himself was highly which led to his being laid off for the first and only time in his life. accomplished at the sport, having played at RMC in Kingston, when, incidentally, his team reached the finals in the Memorial [English] Cup in 1926, in Switzerland and in France, and then during the 1930s as a sometimes extra for the Montreal Maroons. Moreover, Jean Beliveau is quoted as saying, ``When the Molsons walked Relaunching himself as a venture capitalist, he, along with into the Forum, I always had the feeling that they loved the game fellow visionary Henry Ford, established the first plant in Canada so much and the Canadiens so much that they forgot that they to produce soya oil, meal and flour. Unfortunately, this venture owned the team.'' Or, as Hartland Molson himself put it: ``The was a good half century ahead of its time, and it failed within a club is more than a professional sports organization. It's an year. Undaunted, Hartland Molson qualified as pilot and, institution — a way of life.'' together with his brother Tom and the legendary Billy Bishop, founded Dominion Skyways, a bush airline transporting supplies and equipment for northern mining, prospecting and surveying Right up until the end of his life, Hartland Molson was a parties. This venture proved to be somewhat more successful, but familiar figure to spectators and television viewers across the in 1938 he sold his interest and joined the family brewing firm. country, sitting in his box directly behind the team bench. He was also a familiar figure in the dressing room of Les Canadiens — but only after winning games! He steadfastly refused to venture in A decorated fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain, he flew 62 after a loss, perhaps because he knew that his players took defeat combat missions before being shot down and wounded, for as hard as he did — or perhaps the reverse. which, characteristically, he blamed only himself for committing the cardinal sin of straightening out his aircraft without looking Hockey is probably the reason that I became Senator Molson's around. stepson. My mother and he had known each other all their lives, but, after the deaths of their respective spouses, it was hockey that After the war, Hartland Molson resumed his multi-faceted brought them together. Senator Molson, as honourable senators career. As a businessman, he combined his breadth of vision with can well imagine, had no lack of admirers among the widows of October 29, 2002 SENATE DEBATES 199 Montreal, but I have no doubt that my mother's love and God grant that I may fish, until my dying day, knowledge of the game — and having been, in her youth, an avid And when it comes to my last cast, I thee most humbly pray, fan of the Montreal Maroons — gave her a competitive edge or, When in the Lord's safe landing net, I am peacefully asleep, as we would say in hockey parlance, the man advantage. That is That in his mercy I be judged, as good enough to keep. something that happily led to their marriage in May of 1990. Honourable senators, Hartland Molson was indeed a keeper! Senator Molson believed strongly in the role and usefulness of the Senate. Honourable senators are well aware that he sat as an Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! independent, not because of any lack of conviction — he had plenty of those — but because to do otherwise would have conflicted with his business life. Hon. Sharon Carstairs (Leader of the Government): Honourable senators, on July 28, 1955, the Right Honourable Louis (1410) St. Laurent appointed 13 individuals to the Senate of Canada. One of those, as we have just heard from our honourable colleague, was Hartland Molson. However, among the others was During his 38 years here, Senator Molson sat on almost every my father, appointed on the very same day. I soon met Senator committee and chaired a number of them, most notably, perhaps, Molson when I came here as a 13-year-old because my father, like the Rules and Orders Committee from 1969 to 1983. However, he the others, was being sworn into the Senate and was beginning his became increasingly concerned that the true purpose of the Senate duties. was being frustrated by ``a very obvious deterioration in the atmosphere of the house and with a substantial, almost catastrophic, decrease in public support.'' I have to tell Senator Meighen that beer to me in those days meant Olands. I had come from Nova Scotia, and that is the only beer that I knew of. I am sure some drank other brands, but the On May 26, 1993, in his resignation speech, which was one that we knew was brewed by the Olands family. I remember characteristically short, to the point and overly modest, Senator my father introducing Senator Molson as the other beer maker in Molson spoke as follows: Canada. I remember that very fondly. The last thing I want to do today is to criticize, but I must Of course, I then went on to learn so much about that class of observe that some of the problem has been created by the 1955, which included such legendary people as David Croll, for great increase in petty partisanship which has gone beyond example, and Chubby Power. It was quite a group of appointees party loyalty. I hope that some day a group of independent that was assembled on July 28, 1955. senators will regain its number with the result that we have seen in the House of Lords of some leavening in their relationships. Of course, I knew of Senator Molson's contributions to Canada. I believe it is true that he is someone without peer in the annals of Canadian history. Food for thought for all of us, honourable senators. One can look at the number of awards that Senator Molson was Hartland Molson was a passionate, although not uncritical, given. He was an Officer of the Order of Canada, the Order of the Canadian. He believed in the fundamental greatness of this British Empire, the Order of Quebec, a Fellow of the Institute of country. He believed in tradition and the importance of our Chartered Accountants and of the Chartered Institutes of history and of our roots. He believed that Canadians were a Secretaries, a recipient of multiple honorary doctorates and a match for anyone in the world, particularly when acting together Knight of the Order of St.

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