Debates of the Senate

CANADA Debates of the Senate 1st SESSION . 38th PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 142 . NUMBER 84 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, July 19, 2005 ^ THE HONOURABLE DANIEL 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 PWGSC ± Publishing and Depository Services, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S5. Also available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1778 THE SENATE Tuesday, July 19, 2005 The Senate met at 2 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. and indebted to her for her tireless service to others. Honourable senators, Lillian To, my friend of many years, will be missed by all communities in Vancouver and across British Columbia. Prayers. THE LATE FRANK MOORES SENATORS' STATEMENTS Hon. Ethel Cochrane: Honourable senators, last Thursday I was in St. John's to join the people of my province in mourning the THE LATE LILLIAN TO loss of former Premier Frank Moores. Mr. Moores died last week following a lengthy battle with cancer at the age of 72. He was known for his powerful charisma, quick mind and genuine way of Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, I rise today to relating to people. These were key factors in his many political speak of Lillian To, a Vancouverite and one of the 25 most successes over the years. He was first elected a Member of influential Canadians in British Columbia, who passed away on Parliament in 1968. Later, he became President of the Progressive July 2. Canada has become the great nation that it is because of Conservative Party of Canada. In 1972, after returning to his the contributions of millions of immigrants who became home province, Mr. Moores led the party to its first victory since Canadians and made Canada their home. Arriving in Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949. Of that historic Vancouver in 1973, Lillian put her Christian faith into action win, Premier Danny Williams said: ``He toppled Goliath, a for the next 32 years, serving others with a passion and a vision legend, a man considered invincible... And he did it with his that were limitless and building a legacy of acceptance, respect talent, his genius, his wit, his charm and his political savvy.'' and tolerance amongst all British Columbians. During his tenure in office from 1972 to 1979, he orchestrated Although small in stature, Lillian could only dream and work deep, lasting change. Brian Peckford, who succeeded him as on a grand Canadian scale. Always at the forefront of emerging premier, said that Mr. Moores will be remembered as ``The social issues, she would identify and respond to grassroots premier who significantly changed the nature of governance in the community challenges that often proved to be national in scope. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.'' She was persistent as a champion of others and as a developer of innovative services for those most in need. She was compassionate Honourable senators, he did this by strengthening measures and understanding of everyone, giving equal consideration and that we simply take for granted today. Prior to 1972, for example, care whether she was meeting with the Prime Minister or with the Newfoundland and Labrador did not have a strong public most recent arriving immigrant or refugee. In 1988, Lillian tendering act. He ensured that a qualified company that was became the Executive Director of the United Chinese Community bidding on government work and was the lowest bidder won the Enrichment Services Society, SUCCESS. It is a non-profit contract. It marked a new way of doing things in the province; charitable organization mandated to assist newcomers to one which emphasized accountability and transparency. overcome language and cultural barriers. Lillian transformed SUCCESS from a small storefront office in Chinatown to one of the largest social services agencies in B.C. Under her leadership, He also ushered in an era of new-found respect for the roles and SUCCESS grew to a staff of 350 with 9,000 registered volunteers rights of the Members of the House of Assembly. The who serve more than 760,000 people annually throughout its Honourable John Crosbie, who served in the Moores cabinet 12 offices and various outreach programs across British for five years, said that Mr. Moores, ``was responsible for the Columbia. restoration of democracy in the sense that everybody could feel free to express their opinions without fearing there was going to be any action taken against you by somebody who controlled the A tireless community worker and organizer, Lillian typically government.'' worked an average 14-hour day seven days per week during her 37-year career. In standard working weeks, her career would be the equivalent of 74 years of service. Like many true leaders, As the democratic process requires, this respect was extended Lillian gave generously of herself and placed service to others beyond the government members. When Moores came to power, first. Always humble, she would consistently credit others for her opposition members had nothing, not even offices in which to many accomplishments, setting an example of selfless service that perform their duties. One of his first tasks as premier was to touched and inspired hundreds of thousands of Canadians to be appoint a deputy minister to find office space for the members. To better citizens. Mr. Moores it was critically important that all MHAs be treated equally and with respect. Following his career in provincial politics, Mr. Moores helped to organize Mr. Mulroney's Lillian leaves behind a loving husband, two devoted sons and a successful leadership campaign in 1983 and later established a daughter-in-law, as well as a community and country that have high-profile lobbying group, Government Consultants been enriched by her presence, strengthened by her achievements International. July 19, 2005 SENATE DEBATES 1779 Honourable senators, it was with great sadness that Bill C-38 has passed the House, and is now in the hands Newfoundland and Labrador said good-bye to this truly of the Senate. To those who believe in the sanctity of exceptional man. We are the better for having known him and marriage — the silent majority, the passage of C-38 is a we are grateful that his legacy will remain with us forever. I extend black mark in the history of this great country. my deepest sympathies to his wife, Beth, his children and his entire family. By invoking the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Bill C-38 has been proposed supposedly to rectify an PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND injustice of inequality. Invoking equal rights in this case is a smokescreen. Discrimination against same-sex unions 2005 MARATHON OF HOPE would indeed have existed if same-sex unions and traditional marriage were like-things that were treated unequally. But the Senate can wake up Parliament to the Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck: Honourable senators, on April 20, reality that these are in fact not like-things — they are 1980, a young man set off on what would become one of Canada's fundamentally very different realities. By applying a simple most inspiring journeys. Terry Fox called his run the Marathon of test to differentiate between the two, it is evident to anyone Hope, and his story, his bravery and his determination touched that society can rely on traditional marriage to bring forth Canadians everywhere. future generations to perpetuate itself, whereas same-sex unions simply cannot produce progeny. Since they are not Terry Fox's legacy continues today. Every year, Terry Fox runs like-things, they should not both be considered as marriage. are held in Canada and in more than 50 countries around the Bill C-38 is in fact a misapplication of equal rights to non- world. The runs attract more than 3 million participants. These equal phenomena. people gather to honour Terry Fox and his dream, and to help raise funds for cancer research. Even though Bill C-38 is now with the Senate, we realize In Canada each September, Canadians across the country come that it is nearly impossible even for the Senate to reverse it. together to take part in the runs in their communities. This year, But the Senate has the power to modify it in order to which marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Marathon of mitigate its deleterious impact on society. May we therefore Hope, a special run will be held on September 18 in Prince request through you that the Senate Edward Island. That morning, the 13-kilometre Confederation Bridge between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick will be (1) If possible, promote a different name for same-sex closed to vehicle traffic and participants will walk or run across ``marriage'' to indicate that in essence it is different from the bridge that spans the Northumberland Strait. traditional marriage. (1410) (2) Tighten or bolster up the language of the amendments, Honourable senators, great strides have been made in cancer or incorporate new amendments to the Bill, so that they research and treatment since Terry Fox began his Marathon of really have teeth in protecting religious groups in Hope. We must continue that progress in the years to come. exercising their freedoms of religion, of belief, of conscience, and of speech. Above all, please direct the Senate's special concern to: I encourage all Canadians to travel to Prince Edward Island to participate in this unique event in memory of Terry Fox. As Terry himself said a quarter century ago: (a) the rights of marriage commissioners to refuse to perform same-sex ``marriages,'' If you have given a dollar, you are part of the Marathon of Hope.

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