On behalf of the Senate of Canada, I would like to extend my condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the Honourable Elaine McCoy, who passed away on December 29, 2020.

Over the course of the last four decades, Senator McCoy served Canadians as a lawyer, as an Alberta cabinet minister, and as a Senator.

Following the completion of a BA and LLB at the University of Alberta, Senator McCoy pursued a career in law. She was later elected as MLA for Calgary-West from 1986 to 1993, during which time she served as Minister of various cabinet portfolios, including Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Women's Issues, Labour and Human Rights.

Senator McCoy was appointed to the Senate of Canada by the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin on March 24, 2005. She was a founding member and first leader of the Independent Senators Group and later joined the Canadian Senators Group from its inception in 2019.

A respected member of the parliamentary community, Senator McCoy will be greatly missed by her colleagues in the Senate. She will always be remembered as a proud Albertan, an ardent defender of fairness, and a tireless champion for the people she represented.

The Honourable George J. Furey, Q.C.
Speaker of the Senate