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The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, 1994-2001

The Senate commissions a portrait of every Speaker in recognition of the procedural and protocol importance of that role — a tradition that predates Confederation.       

The subject of this portrait, the Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, was a respected Manitoba politician and advocate for the province’s francophone community. Appointed to the Senate in 1970, Mr. Molgat became one of the Upper Chamber’s leading constitutional experts. Much of his committee work was devoted to matters related to the Constitution and Senate reform. He also chaired the Senate Committee on the Meech Lake Constitutional Accord. 

Mr. Molgat served as Speaker from 1994 to 2001. He died in office a month after his speakership concluded. 

The Speaker can choose the artist for whom they would like to sit; Mr. Molgat chose Canadian painter Mary Valentine. Born in Ottawa and later based in Winnipeg, Ms. Valentine was known for her stark northern landscapes. She died in 2016. 

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