The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

The Hon. the Speaker: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Barry and Lori Woods. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Busson.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have the honour to inform the Senate that a message has been received from the House of Commons which reads as follows:

Thursday, September 15, 2022

EXTRACT, —

That a humble Address be presented to His Majesty the King in the following words:

TO THE KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY:

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN:

We, Your Majesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the ____________ Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, respectfully desire to express our deep sympathy to Your Majesty for the great loss you have sustained by the death of your beloved mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

We mourn with you, with members of the Royal family and with the people of all of your realms, the loss of our Queen, whose selfless dedication to duty earned our respect and admiration. For more than seven decades, Her Majesty The Queen demonstrated her commitment to the people of Canada, who in return offered their great affection and loyalty.

In this time of sorrow, we welcome Your Majesty’s accession to the throne and convey a sincere expression of our loyalty and devotion.

We, the ____________ Commons of Canada, will do our utmost to uphold and support Your Majesty as you undertake your heavy responsibilities.

That the said Address be engrossed; and

That a Message be sent to the Senate informing their Honours that this House has passed the said Address and requesting their Honours to unite with this House therein by filling up the blanks with the words “Senate and”.

ATTEST

Charles Robert

The Clerk of the House of Commons

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I have no doubt that all of us reacted with great sadness to the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and that we were touched by all the tributes to her long and remarkable life.

[English]

Throughout her historic reign of 70 years, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had an unwavering devotion to the people of Canada and the Commonwealth, and we, as Canadians, reciprocated with profound admiration, affection and respect.

I felt these sentiments deeply this past April when my wife, Karen, and I had the distinct honour and privilege of an audience with Her Majesty. Our visit coincided fortuitously with her ninety-sixth birthday and her Platinum Jubilee. As always, the Queen was thoroughly engaging, insightful and good-humoured.

She completed 22 official tours of Canada since her accession to the throne and has twice delivered a Speech from the Throne in the Senate Chamber. On these occasions, Her Majesty benefited from the support of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who also displayed a deep commitment to Canada in his lifetime.

Although her extraordinary reign has now ended, it will continue to instill and inspire the values of public service, selflessness and quiet dignity for generations to come.

Let us all join in offering our deepest sympathies to His Majesty the King and keeping the members of the Royal Family in our thoughts and prayers.

[Translation]

Colleagues, I would ask that you rise and observe a minute of silence in memory of our late sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

(Honourable senators then stood in silent tribute.)

[English]

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of our former colleague the Honourable Joan Fraser as well as Susie Fraser whose great-grandfather, George William Allan of Moss Park, Toronto, was a Senator from 1867 to 1891 and Speaker of the Senate from 1888 to 1891. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Bovey.

On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada.