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Debates of the Senate Debates of the Senate 1st SESSION . 41st PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 148 . NUMBER 146 OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, March 20, 2013 The Honourable NOËL A. KINSELLA 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: David Reeves, National Press Building, Room 926, Tel. 613-947-0609 Published by the Senate Available on the Internet: http://www.parl.gc.ca 3497 THE SENATE Wednesday, March 20, 2013 The Senate met at 1:30 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper. Other than naming Senator Fortier to the Senate in 2006, this was the Prayers. only appointment made by the Prime Minister to the Senate between February 2006 and January 2009. Since that time, Senator Brown has remained faithful to his beliefs and has taken SENATORS' STATEMENTS the important message of Senate reform right across the country. Senator Brown now leaves the Senate of Canada knowing that he has made a significant contribution to this debate. BUDGET SPEECH ACCOMMODATION FOR SENATORS I am certain that Senator Brown is very pleased that two other IN COMMONS GALLERY senators selected by those they represent have joined him in this place: Senator Betty Unger, who was appointed last year; and The Hon. the Speaker: I remind honourable senators that the Senator Doug Black, who was introduced just last month. They budget speech will be delivered in the other place at 4 p.m. will continue to be a strong voice not only for the people of tomorrow, Thursday, March 21, 2013. Alberta but also for our government's commitment to Senate reform in order for the Senate to reach its full potential as a democratic institution serving Canadians. Indeed, with our As has been the practice in the past, the section of the gallery in government's recent reference to the Supreme Court of Canada, the House of Commons that is reserved for the Senate will be this is the first time in a generation that the Supreme Court will reserved for senators only on a first-come, first-served basis. As consider the constitutional amending process for reform of the space is limited, this is the only way we can ensure that those Senate. senators who wish to attend can do so. Unfortunately, any guests of senators will not be seated. As a senator, Bert Brown has contributed to the work of this chamber and Senate committees, most recently as a member of TRIBUTES the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament and the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the THE HONOURABLE BERT BROWN Environment and Natural Resources, where his background as a retired farmer and his skills in engineering and as an aircraft pilot The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I received notice no doubt served him well. earlier from the Leader of the Government in the Senate who requested that the time provided for the consideration of Senators' Statements be extended today for the purpose of . (1340) paying tribute to the Honourable Senator Brown, who will retire from the Senate on March 22, 2013. Honourable senators, on behalf of all Conservative senators, I would like to extend our best wishes to Senator Brown and his I remind honourable senators that pursuant to the rules each wife, Alice, whom I knew before I knew Bert because she was a senator will be allowed three minutes and may speak only once, member of the Status of Women, appointed by the government and the time for tributes shall not exceed 15 minutes. However, when I was working on appointment. She is up in the gallery; I am the 15 minutes do not include the time allotted to the response of glad to see that. the senator to whom tribute is paid. Hon. Marjory LeBreton (Leader of the Government): I am sure that he and Alice will continue in their million Honourable senators, about five and a half years ago, I was endeavours. I am quite certain that Bert will not be retiring but very proud to stand in this place to introduce only the second will continue to promote meaningful Senate reform — or as Alice individual to be appointed to the Senate of Canada following often described this unrelenting campaign, ``Bert's magnificent election by the people of his province, Alberta. Today, we bid obsession.'' farewell to our colleague, Senator Bert Brown, who has been a proud representative of the province of Alberta in this chamber Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable and a valued member of this place. Senator Brown will not be senators, I rise to join Senator LeBreton in paying tribute to our soon forgotten by any of us. colleague and friend, Senator Bert Brown, on his retirement from this place. In the 18th century, the English had a famous I suspect that all those years ago, when he used his tractor to landscape architect, Lancelot ``Capability'' Brown. Here in plow the words ``Triple E or Else'' into a neighbour's barley field Canada, we have Bert ``Determination'' Brown. Like his on the approach to the Calgary airport, Bert Brown had no idea namesake, he became famous for a piece of landscaping he did just where or how far his message of Senate reform would take one day. On a fine autumn day in 1984, Bert and a number of him. After being twice elected as a senator-in-waiting, in 1998 and fellow farmers got on their tractors and headed into a neighbour's 2004, and despite being passed over four times in nine years when barley field. When they had finished, they had ploughed 19 letters it was Alberta's desire to have an elected senator appointed, into the field, which were, according to media reports, 500 feet Bert Brown was finally named to this place in 2007 by our wide and two miles long: ``Triple-E Senate or Else.'' 3498 SENATE DEBATES March 20, 2013 I certainly hope they asked the neighbour's permission before Now, aside from his keen interest in political matters, he has they went in. had a long and varied career. I could say more about that, but, most of all, it must be said that he is a loving husband to Alice, Honourable senators, many Canadians who know who has always been at his side, and a devoted father to his Senator Brown might not think of him as a social media kind daughter, Angie. of guy, but this was a YouTube moment before there was even a YouTube. The words went viral, as one would say today. Senator Bert Brown has served his Alberta constituents Certainly, they galvanized many who were hungry to improve admirably and has more than earned the right to his retirement. parliamentary institutions and this chamber in particular. However, his departure comes at a time when the democratic shortcomings of this institution are under scrutiny as never Honourable senators, while not all of us support the specifics of before. We applaud the efforts of our Conservative government Senator Brown's proposal for Senate reform, I believe everyone under Prime Minister Stephen Harper to advance reform through shares with him the desire to make this institution as effective a legislation and the legal reference to the Supreme Court. chamber as it can be. I am proud to take up the torch as the third elected senator in We do not all agree on what would best contribute to that Canadian history, following Bert Brown and the late effectiveness or on the constitutional path to achieving true, Senator Stan Waters. I look forward to working with my lasting, positive Senate reform. However, passion is always elected Alberta colleagues, as well as with the many other impressive and important, especially on a subject that can senators who appreciate the critical role of the Senate in our sometimes seem dry. Passion is certainly something that Bert bicameral system and who recognize that reform is essential not has in abundance. Senator Brown and I have debated Senate only to restoring and sustaining the legitimacy of this institution reform, in private and in public, on many occasions. I have always but also to protecting it from the threat of abolition. appreciated his absolute dedication to Canada and his deep desire to improve this place. He may be leaving this chamber, but I am sure and I hope that he is not leaving the field of Senate debate. In that sense, we are all heirs to the legacy of Senator Brown and Senator Waters. We are all in their debt for their pioneering Perhaps we should send a word of warning with him as he work on reform, and we are all obliged to carry it on to ensure returns to his farm in Alberta. His neighbours would be fair, effective and accountable parliamentary democracy for well-advised to take good care as to what they plant in their future generations of Canadians. fields next to his home. Senator Bert Brown, I wish you and Alice a very long and I suspect Senator Brown is feeling rather torn these days, happy retirement. reluctant to leave this place, which has been a focus of his energy and attention for so many years, yet also happy to return to Alberta with his dear wife, Alice. I know that she has been EXPRESSION OF THANKS experiencing some health issues recently, and I am sure that they will be relieved to be able to settle in one place, to avoid the rigours of travel across the country and perhaps even to spend a Hon.
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