Hon. Dennis Glen Patterson: Honourable senators, I, too, rise to pay tribute to the first art historian to be appointed to the Senate of Canada. It’s never easy to take on the mantle as the first of anything. Senator Bovey has brought art into many aspects of the Senate, whether through her bill, An Act respecting the Declaration on the Essential Role of Artists and Creative Expression in Canada — which passed in the Senate — or in the art showings she has organized throughout the precinct. The Senate’s appreciation for art will forever be changed by her advocacy.

However, I got to know Senator Bovey on a different level when she was the deputy chair of the Special Committee on the Arctic, which I was privileged to chair. Through that committee, I got to see first-hand the passion that Senator Bovey has for Canada’s Arctic. I saw how eager she was to learn about the lived experiences of northerners and how hard she worked to help address the many issues facing the North.

At the time, there was only one senator appointed for the entire Arctic — our colleagues Senators Anderson and Duncan had yet to be appointed — so finding Senator Bovey, who was such a willing and capable ally, was a refreshing and major relief. We travelled together throughout the Arctic, and that brings with it a special bond.

Northern Lights: A wake-up call for the future of Canada was the report we produced, and it brought forward one key recommendation above all recommendations: that decisions about the North be for the North and by the North. This shows that passion I spoke of earlier. She joined me as we insisted that this recommendation be written several times throughout the report and that it be central to the media messaging.

We heard witnesses in Ottawa, and we travelled across the North. I remember flying all the way to Nain only to be fogged in at the last minute. We wrote the report in 18 short months, and may I add that we assembled our report at the same time as our government was working on its new Arctic policy framework to guide Arctic policy until 2030. Many respected observers noted that our report was a welcome — and dare I say even better — comprehensive, focused and forward-looking contribution to Arctic policy development.

Senator Bovey, we will miss your calm, measured voice, your fierce advocacy and your friendship, and I know you will continue to be an eloquent advocate for the arts in everything you do. We look forward to hearing about your next chapter. You and I will keep in touch on a goal we share — progress on the creation of a Nunavut heritage centre. We’ll make sure you come back to Nunavut, where I know a big part of your heart is, but I am really happy you will now be able to enjoy extra time with your family and beloved grandchildren, whom I know you love so much. Qujannamiik. Thank you. Taima.

Hon. Dennis Glen Patterson: My question is for the Chair of the Transport and Communications Committee.

Senator Housakos, your committee has previously looked at the air passenger bill of rights and I know that you’re looking at amendments to that bill of rights, I believe, as part of your pre‑study of the budget implementation act. We have a serious issue that has arisen in the North that I want to ask you about. In essence, two weeks ago, the Minister of Transport agreed to changes to the Canadian North-First Air merger conditions that enable them to, among other things, raise passenger and cargo prices by 25% per year and cut service down on some routes to once per week. Will the study that your committee is conducting look at the northern experience and consider whether these changes are considered in line with the underlying of principles of the bill of rights?