Hon. Éric Forest: Dear colleagues, it is with some sadness that I rise today to acknowledge what we believe to be the somewhat premature retirement of Senator Dawson, an esteemed colleague who has devoted most of his professional career to public service — and especially to resolving the knotty problems in our bills with consummate skill.

As you know, Senator Dawson began his public service career in education as one of the youngest trustees ever elected and later as chair of a school board in Quebec.

He was then elected to the House of Commons at the age of 25, again becoming one of the youngest MPs in Canadian history. He was so young that he had to threaten to set up a tent in front of the East Block in order to get his office, because he wasn’t the ideal candidate in the eyes of the then prime minister, the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

It turns out that throughout his distinguished 18-year career in this chamber, Senator Dawson has proudly represented the Quebec City region, Quebec as a whole, and Canada.

I am thinking in particular of his work as sponsor of the important Bill C-11, his contribution to restoring fairness for workers at the Davie shipyard, his ongoing involvement in international diplomacy, his unrelenting commitment to protecting the French language and to strengthening LGBTQ2 rights.

I got to know Senator Dawson particularly well within the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, at the Board of Internal Economy and at the regular gatherings of our “lunch buddies” group.

When I first came to Parliament Hill, I was fortunate to benefit from his kind advice and extensive experience in Ottawa. His advice was invaluable as I explored how best to focus my efforts in the upper chamber.

I absorbed his wisdom and insight gleaned from time spent in both Houses of Parliament. We are constantly seeking to strike a balance between the need to improve the government’s bills and the importance of not taking the place of elected representatives, whose role complements our own.

Ever since Senator Dawson’s imminent retirement was announced, his many friends have showered him with well-deserved praise. He built up an extraordinary network of contacts on the Hill, and he was extremely generous in sharing his experience and advice with all his colleagues, regardless of their affiliation.

I often feel that politics has become more divisive and polarizing than ever, largely for electoral reasons. However, Senator Dawson showed us that it is possible to make one’s way in Ottawa by being a true gentleman and by focusing on what unites us rather than what divides us.

My hope for all of us, my dear Dennis, is for more men and women of your calibre to contribute to the work of the upper chamber.

Dennis, I look forward to seeing you again and especially to hearing you share your many stories, each one more colourful than the last. I wish you health and happiness in this important chapter of your life. I look forward to our paths crossing again in the future.