Hon. Lucie Moncion: Honourable senators, at the age of 21, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Canada’s sovereign and head of state, promised to devote her whole life, whether it be long or short, to the service of her subjects. She kept that promise until she passed away at the age of 96, thus becoming the longest-reigning British monarch. By choosing to devote her life to serving the Commonwealth and its people, this brilliant woman became a model of dignity, respect, dedication, candour, pride and grace for every person who goes into public service.

She faced countless challenges during her reign, but in spite of it all, she never balked in the face of adversity, and she carried out her duties as the principal guardian of the Constitution with skill, diplomacy and determination.

Her Majesty had a deep respect and great admiration for Canada. She loved to visit our big, beautiful country. She participated in over 20 royal tours of Canada. Each time she visited, she spoke to Canadians in both official languages. Her Majesty was a francophile queen who was remarkably fluent in French.

I also want to say that those of us who were here in Ottawa yesterday were able to attend the service for Her Majesty. It was such a beautiful service, so elegant, yet unpretentious and deeply respectful, just like our Queen. She loved our country. Yesterday’s modest, gracious and respectful ceremony was our way of showing her how much we, as Canadians, appreciated everything she did for our country. I would like to thank the organizers for putting together a really wonderful ceremony.

Queen Elizabeth II was both strong-willed and kind-hearted. She warmly welcomed everyone she invited into her home, and when she smiled, you couldn’t help but smile back. She had a passion for breeding horses and dressage horses and was a skilled rider. She had a keen eye for horses and good mounts, had stables of champions and loved horse racing.

She also had a particular fondness for corgis and owned more than 30 of these dogs over the course of her life.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was also a wife. She loved Prince Philip deeply and shared her life with him for over 73 years. Who can forget the image of her sitting alone during his funeral in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021? It was the first time we had seen this great woman looking vulnerable and sad.

Her Majesty was also a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother, roles she assumed quietly. The dual roles of mother and monarch sometimes put her in delicate situations in which she was forced to make difficult decisions about the future of her children and grandchildren within the monarchy. She made these decisions out of duty and respect for her subjects and to ensure the survival and stability of the monarchy she held so dear.

Her Majesty was a compassionate, graceful and accomplished woman who was loved and respected by Canadians. She will be greatly missed on the world stage as a female icon of political leadership and diplomacy. She was an inspiration to women and girls around the world.

I offer my sincere condolences to King Charles III and to the entire Royal Family.

[English]

Hon. Lucie Moncion: Howard, how can I possibly pay tribute to you in such a short time and tell you how much I value your brilliance? I am privileged to count you among the people who have enriched my life in so many ways.

You are a skilled, subtle and cunning speaker with great emotional intelligence. Very respectful of your colleagues, you accept and consider the ideas and suggestions of others.

I know you as a humble man with an avid curiosity to constantly acquire additional knowledge and understanding. You are an active listener, balanced, calm despite everything, open-minded and analytical. You enjoy silence and peace, but you also enjoy the company of others, and the exchange of ideas and knowledge.

Howard, you have an impressive track record. Before you were appointed to the Senate, you served as a counsel at Goodmans LLP. You are a prominent Canadian leader and a respected public servant, a distinguished lawyer, jurist, regulator and executive. You are an expert in competition law and policy, securities regulation, energy regulation and administrative law. You were a judge of the Federal Court of Canada for six years. At some point during your career, you were Director of Investigation and Research with the federal Competition Bureau, chair and CEO of the Ontario Securities Commission and chair and CEO of the Ontario Energy Board.

Howard, you were at the heart of many significant changes and played an important role in Ontario.

You were called “Suitcase Wetston,” and you provided the explanation for the nickname, saying to me:

I worked in the public service for most of my career. I looked at whatever job I was in as an opportunity to make a difference — I packed my suitcase and went wherever an opportunity arose. When I didn’t feel what I was doing was making a meaningful difference anymore, then I moved on. To me, the nickname was a metaphor for taking a risk — I was willing to take risks with my career. My career in public service was a lifelong experience of learning.

I know you are an active reader, an avid tennis player and that you count among your close circle an impressive number of friends. You are a busy person, but despite your active lifestyle, I have an assignment for you, Howard. You have a story to tell. Please write your biography. From the time of your family’s immigration to Canada to the brilliant career you forged for yourself and the amount of knowledge and experience you have acquired over the years — all of that needs to be shared.

I am an avid reader of biographies and would immensely benefit from reading about you, your life, your involvements, your knowledge, your expertise and your lessons learned.

You are an excellent writer, a good storyteller and a brilliant man. Howard, please let us know; let the world know. Keep well, my friend. You will be missed.

Hon. Lucie Moncion: Honourable senators, today is an opportunity to celebrate our friend and colleague.

I want to take this opportunity to share a story. On March 13, 2020, the last sitting day before the Senate shut down because of the pandemic, Josée, Senator Lankin and I travelled together back to our respective cities. Just before getting to Pembroke, Josée pointed at the top of a rock and said, “You see that rock with someone’s name written at the top?” I replied, “Yes, I’ve been making the trip between Ottawa and North Bay for 25 years and I’ve been wondering who that Josée is.” She said, “That’s me. I’m that Josée.”

When she and Robert were studying at the University of Ottawa, they decided to pull over and write their names on the rock. After their children, Philippe and Véronique, were born, they added their names. Josée told me then that she would go back to add her grandson Jacob’s name and then Léo’s.

I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Josée’s husband Robert last week. There was an event at the University of Sudbury, followed by the official opening of the Place des Arts. I should point out that Josée was the longest-serving chair of the University of Sudbury’s board of governors, having served for five years. Josée’s and Robert’s names are prominently displayed in the Place des Arts, and there is even a room dedicated to Josée.

Let me return to the story of the aforementioned rock face. I told Robert, “I noticed that Josée’s name seems even brighter than it was before, as though someone put on a new coat of paint. That is surely the work of an angel.”

As for me, every time I am here, I greet Josée and think of her. I will always have that privilege.

Knowing how deep Josée’s faith was, I would like to read this poem, from an unknown author. It is called Footprints in the Sand.

One night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to me, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child. I love you and I would never, ever leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Josée, in letting your light shine, you have given us the opportunity to let ours shine. Your light will always shine in our hearts. Until we meet again, my friend.