Honourable senators, it is with mixed emotions that I rise today to pay tribute to the Honourable Brent Cotter. While I feel privileged to have this opportunity to sing Senator Cotter’s praises for three minutes, I know the members of our group and I will miss his precious advice, his insights, his unique sense of humour and his friendship.

Senator Cotter was called to the Senate of Canada in January 2020, a little less than five years ago. Do not, however, let this short amount of time fool you — Senator Cotter has achieved in those five years what other legislators would be happy to achieve in a decade.

Having been a former deputy minister, deputy attorney general, professor and Dean of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, he entered the Senate with ease and immediately contributed to the institution in an outstanding way. Senator Cotter soon became the reference in matters related to constitutional law, notably on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and he never hesitated to provide informed, relevant analysis and legal advice to his colleagues. He stood out with his remarkable ability to make complex subjects appear simple.

Unsurprisingly, his peers elected him as Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, a responsibility that he fulfilled with the high competence Senator Cotter has accustomed us to.

Brent was also very active in the chamber, notably through his sponsorship of many challenging bills. In doing so, he always had in mind the relevance and quality of a bill from a legal perspective as well as the needs and interests of Canadians.

In his work, he was truly the embodiment of sober second thought. He championed the most vulnerable people. Through his numerous interventions, encouragements and sponsoring of events, he allowed people living with disabilities — notably those coping with mental health issues — to have a voice in the upper chamber. Thanks to his unwavering support, we now have a better understanding of those vital issues. His work has helped prevent discrimination and improve and increase the quality of public services across our country. With his undying commitment to public service, he made Canada a better place.

Senator Brent Cotter has done outstanding work in the upper chamber of Canada, and, in spite of his too-short tenure, his legacy will be cherished for many years to come.

Dear Brent, in the name of all your colleagues from the Independent Senators Group, we commend you on your merit and your service to the Senate. We look forward to your continuing contribution to Canada. We will not delete your personal address or your phone number.

Thank you, meegwetch.

Honourable senators, it is also with mixed feelings that I rise today on behalf of the Government Representative Office, or GRO, to pay tribute to our colleague, the Honourable Brent Cotter.

As you have heard and as you know, prior to his appointment to this chamber, Senator Cotter had a distinguished career in both public service and law. As a deputy minister in Saskatchewan, Senator Cotter oversaw the delivery of a nationally recognized program of services for First Nations and Métis peoples. As one of Canada’s foremost legal ethicists, Senator Cotter was one of the original professors and writers in the field of legal ethics and was a founding member of the Canadian Association for Legal Ethics.

During his time here with us in the Senate, Senator Cotter has been an integral member of many committees including his work on the Legal Committee and as its chair. Senator Cotter has also sponsored important legislation in this chamber including Bill C-51, An Act to give effect to the self-government treaty recognizing the Whitecap Dakota Nation, and Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act, that laid the important groundwork to create the first ever federal benefit designed specifically for persons with disabilities and one that we all hope will be enhanced and expanded as soon as possible.

The Senate, as those of us who have been around know, has a long tradition of appointments of constitutional and legal scholars. It dates back many decades, if not longer, in this chamber’s history. Even in that long tradition, Senator Cotter stands out.

What stands out for me about my friend Brent Cotter are the personal qualities of his character that he brings to the work: his integrity; his thoughtfulness; his respect for us in this chamber and for the chamber itself, for Canadians; and, importantly, respect for those with whom he may disagree. But he always prosecuted his ideas with thought, consideration, great humour, as you heard, and, indeed, elegance, as I suspect we are going to hear when it’s his turn to take the floor.

Senator Cotter, you were quoted shortly after your appointment saying the following:

 . . . I hope I can make a contribution that advances the national interest, but also is responsive to the needs of the people of Saskatchewan . . . .

During your time here — altogether too short, Brent — you have accomplished exactly that.

Again, on behalf of the GRO team and family, happy retirement, my friend, to you with Elaine and your lovely family. You will be missed.

Thank you.

Honourable senators, I also rise today to pay tribute to our colleague and certainly my friend the Honourable Brent Cotter as he prepares to retire from the upper chamber.

Senator Cotter was appointed during the COVID pandemic. Those were truly unusual times for everyone, but it must have been particularly challenging to start your tenure in the Senate while our sittings were forever adapting and evolving.

Let me begin by saying that I have grown to really appreciate Senator Cotter. He has a way with debates that is, indeed, interesting to listen to. Somehow, he manages to balance humour and seriousness in his speech, unique to his style.

Though I must admit, Senator Cotter, our first exchanges at committee on Bill C-7 weren’t necessarily off to a great start. However, over time, we worked on other topics where our opinions often had commonality.

Senator Cotter, you not only found your groove in the Senate, but you also raised your voice to inspire us to find ways to “. . . enrich the lives of those less fortunate than us and open our hearts to their needs.”

A turning point for me was, Senator Cotter, when you spoke about your daughter. The way you shared her story and how you supported her big ideas of weaving and putting together decorative pillows for everyone in this chamber deeply touched me. That pillow has been a staple in my office ever since. Your comments that day showed us your character. We saw a man who cared for others. We saw beyond your extensive legal knowledge and experience. We saw your compassion and dedication for those who face life with disabilities. Your support for individuals with disabilities is truly inspirational.

I believe this marked the beginning of our friendship. Colleagues, you may or may not know that Senator Cotter and his daughter are dedicated curling fans. Over the years, I have truly appreciated both of their support for my granddaughter Myla and her curling team. Brent is a student and a teacher of the game, and I have valued his advice both in sports and in this chamber.

Senator Cotter, we wish you all the best in your retirement. May you continue to inspire and enrich the lives of those around you just as you have done here. Thank you for your service, Brent, your friendship and your unwavering commitment to making a difference.

On behalf of myself and my colleagues in the Conservative caucus, our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to you.

Thank you.

Honourable senators, on behalf of the independent senators of the Progressive Senate Group, or PSG, it is my pleasure to pay tribute to Senator Cotter, though it still remains unclear which event will come first: Senator Cotter’s seventy-fifth birthday or our end-of-year adjournment.

Though his term with us will be relatively short — not quite five years — and began only weeks before we faced the unusual circumstances of the 2020 pandemic, I think we can all agree that Senator Cotter has used his time here wisely and productively. We have been privileged to hear his interventions on a variety of topics, and I have enjoyed the tandem role that we have sometimes played in this chamber and at the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, including on its steering committee.

Though we jurists may have contributed to some complications, it remains a pleasure for all of us to have benefited from your interpretation of the many legal issues that we have examined. Through his term here, Senator Cotter has been a fierce advocate for his province, Saskatchewan, and for its farmers and government. I remember very well the fight with the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Senator Cotter has always demonstrated empathy and respect when outlining his own positions or critiquing different views. Moreover, though from a landlocked province, he has shown the ability to navigate the occasional stormy waters of the Senate.

Senator Cotter has also showcased his humour, treating us to a variety of entertaining anecdotes in his remarks. I particularly enjoyed hearing about his sweatshirt emblazoned with the phrase, “This case ought to have been simple, but the lawyers have made it complicated.”

Brent, you will leave a legacy in the Senate in its Hansard in addition to leaving a lasting reminder of your kindness through the decorative pillows that you have provided many of us, courtesy of your daughter, Kelly.

I can add that I will continue to borrow from you the Cotter style of presentation or introduction for my speeches. I really enjoyed it, Professor Cotter.

On behalf of my colleagues in the PSG and all of us here today, I wish you a wonderful retirement with Elaine. I know she loves horses, like we all do, and that you will monitor our future discussions about that issue. But I can’t imagine this will be the last time we hear from you, and I look forward to seeing you again in what comes next. Thank you. Have a happy retirement, my friend.