Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to our esteemed colleague Senator Pat Bovey.

Since 2016, Senator Bovey has made important contributions to our debates here in the chamber, and in serving on the Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Rules, Transport and Communications, and Official Languages, as well as on the Special Committee on the Arctic.

As the first art historian and museologist to be appointed to the Senate, Senator Bovey has not only brought to our attention some of the pressing issues that Canadian artists face, but she has also been instrumental in showcasing the representations and visual voices of Canadians here on Senate premises. For example, she was the first to showcase the work of Black Canadian artists whose art is too often neglected in Canadian society. When visitors come to tour the Senate of Canada building and admire its art, their experience is very much enhanced by Senator Bovey’s leadership.

During the Forty-second Parliament, Senator Bovey served as the Senate sponsor of Bill C-55 — which brought forward important changes to the Oceans Act to create more marine protected areas off our coastlines, and was critical in advancing key components of the Government of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan. Thanks to her leadership and advocacy, our country has made incredible strides in better protecting our precious marine and coastal areas, which are vital to our environmental health.

Over the years, Senator Bovey has been equally engaged in her home province of Manitoba. For example, she led the way in launching an inquiry into the 2018 tragic train derailment in northern Manitoba, which took the lives of two men from The Pas. And I am aware that she participates in walks with the Bear Clan Patrol on the streets of Winnipeg, lending a hand in picking up needles and helping some of the most vulnerable Winnipeggers, who are in distress and face hardships.

[Translation]

Our paths crossed many times over the years, whether at the Université de Saint-Boniface, where she worked as an arts management consultant, at St. Boniface Hospital’s Buhler Gallery, where she worked as the director and curator, or at the University of Manitoba, where she chaired the board of governors. However, I am grateful for the fact that we became fast friends in the Senate of Canada and in airports — yes, airports.

Pat, you are a passionate, caring woman, an experienced historian, a relationship builder and a strong and inclusive voice for artists.

[English]

Thank you, Pat, for your contribution to the Senate of Canada.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I received a notice from the Leader of the Progressive Senate Group who requests, pursuant to rule 4-3(1), that the time provided for the consideration of Senators’ Statements be extended today for the purpose of paying tribute to the Honourable Patricia Bovey, who will retire from the Senate on May 15, 2023.

I remind senators that, pursuant to our rules, each senator, other than Senator Bovey, will be allowed only three minutes and they may speak only once.

Is it agreed that we continue our tributes to our colleague Senator Bovey under Senators’ Statements? We will therefore have up to 33 minutes for tributes, not including the time allotted for Senator Bovey’s response. Any time remaining after tributes would be used for other statements.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Alixe and Katherine Bovey, Senator Bovey’s daughters; her son-in-law Rory Dalziel; her brothers Ted and Bill Glover; and her sister-in-law Rubeth Glover. They are accompanied by other friends and family.

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Earth Keepers from various First Nations communities in Quebec, as well as a professor from the Earth Keepers program at Laval University. They are the guests of the Honourable Senator Audette.

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

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of my son David and his friend Kerri Pittman, and my brother-in-law Gary O’Keefe and his son Brendan O’Keefe.

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

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, I give notice that, at the next sitting of the Senate, I will move:

That, when the Senate next adjourns after the adoption of this motion, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 2 p.m.

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, pursuant to rule 5-10(2), I ask that Government Notice of Motion No. 100 be withdrawn.