Honourable senators, I rise today on behalf of the independent senators of the Progressive Senate Group, or PSG, to pay tribute to our former leader and the current dean of the Senate, the Honourable Jane Cordy, who has served this place for over 24 years.

As most colleagues well know, Senator Cordy was a teacher before her appointment to this chamber, and, even though she changed careers at 50, it is clear that she did not stop teaching and dealing with occasionally unruly students.

Senator Cordy has taught us the value of listening with an open mind. Certainly, we all arrive at this place with an idea of what we may hope to accomplish during our time here, but when we allow ourselves to be receptive to new ideas we may find new directions.

For example, we know Senator Cordy is responsible for the bill that established National Sickle Cell Awareness Day, and last week we heard her speak about her newest bill, which seeks to improve awareness of inherited blood disorders. Her dedication to this issue stems from a decision to attend an informal breakfast years ago when she was struck by the stories she heard.

Senator Cordy has taught us about hard work and how much one can accomplish as a senator when you dedicate yourself to the job. She is a well-respected and long-standing member of several parliamentary associations, notably the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association and the Canada-United States Inter‑Parliamentary Group.

She has served on numerous Senate committees, including the Special Senate Committee on Aging, and contributed to landmark Senate studies such as the National Security and Defence Committee report on Canadian Security and Military Preparedness that was released in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the mental health report Out of the Shadows at Last by the Social Affairs Committee.

I don’t have enough time to even scratch the surface of the work that Senator Cordy has accomplished in her years as a senator.

Most of all, Senator Cordy, you have taught us the significance of kindness. Regardless of someone’s affiliation, regardless of whether they are a senator, a staffer or a member of the administration, you treat everyone with genuine compassion.

I could add that you have tried to teach me how to dance like an East Coaster, but I will have to keep working hard on that one.

Jane, I know your family will appreciate having more time with you, and you will appreciate having more time for activities such as golf, pickleball and bridge games.

You will be missed here, and you leave a legacy behind you.

On behalf of the PSG, I wish you and Bob all the best in this new chapter of your lives. We will miss you, Jane.

Honourable senators, on behalf of myself and the opposition Conservatives, I wish to congratulate Senator Cordy as she embarks on her well-deserved retirement from the Senate of Canada.

Senator Cordy was appointed to the Upper Chamber by the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien on June 9, 2000. To put this into perspective, I thought I would highlight what else happened that year: The world survived Y2K and the Millennium Bug; the $1,000 bill was removed from circulation; our now colleague Senator Duncan was elected the Premier of Yukon; Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau returned from space; the Reform Party was dissolved and replaced by the Canadian Alliance, and Stockwell Day became the first leader of the party; the Liberals were faced with the sponsorship scandal of Minister Gagliano; and former prime minister Pierre Trudeau passed away.

Colleagues, many events have taken place since our colleague’s appointment. She has weathered several political storms. She has seen legislation improved and/or worsened, depending on what side of the political spectrum you associate with. She has also seen her fair share of governments — nine different parliaments to be exact. And although Senator Cordy and I have very opposing political perspectives, I believe we share a common opinion: that the Senate was a better place prior to the changes made by Justin Trudeau.

Collaboration, workability and collegiality were better obtained when the roles of the government and the opposition were distinct. Political affiliation in the good old Senate grounded our desire to ensure that the best interests of Canadians were at the forefront of all our decisions. I believe Senator Cordy can attest to the fact that Liberals and Conservatives may not have agreed on much politically, but at the same time, we understood the different perspectives, which is fundamental to ensuring healthy and robust debates.

Senator Cordy and I have rarely seen eye to eye in this chamber. As a matter of fact, I think we may have voted together only on the occasional adjournment motion. Regardless, we were friends, and this friendship was founded and made possible because of the mutual respect we had for each other, and we never considered partisanship a bad thing.

Over the years, Betty and I had the privilege of becoming good friends with both Jane and her husband, Bob, who is with us today. I will always cherish the time we have spent together at The Villages in Florida, playing golf or enjoying a meal and a glass of wine — sometimes four or five glasses, which often set the stage for more robust late-night debates. And if you think Jane is a staunch Liberal, wait until you get into a debate after a few too many drinks with Bob Cordy.

Jane, congratulations, and thank you for your tenure of 24 years of service to the Senate of Canada. I wish you and Bob good health and a happy retirement. Until we meet again.

Honourable senators, it is my pleasure to bid farewell to a wonderful colleague and reference point of this institution, the Honourable Senator Jane Cordy, the only other female house leader with whom I had the privilege to work in this institution.

With her departure from this chamber, we will lose someone with a vast institutional memory of the Senate that only a few possess here. Senator Cordy, due to her generosity and collegiality, was never one to gatekeep her precious knowledge from new colleagues. I can think of many moments when she shared with me and others aspects of the Senate’s history that have helped us better understand and make better decisions. She also shared some anecdotes that made both of us laugh out loud. As she shared those privately, I must show some restraint here.

On a more personal note, for 25 months, she was, as I said, my only female colleague at the leaders’ table. I am grateful for the way she welcomed me into this tight circle, and I think I can say that for these two years, we shared a much-appreciated camaraderie. In those sometimes stormy meetings, I was able to observe her tact, strategic mindset and gentle but efficient leadership.

Senator Cordy is our longest-serving senator, having been around since her nomination in June of 2000. In all her years in the Senate, she has always stayed true to her values and beliefs. Her loyalty and sense of public service are beyond question. Even during the difficult period in 2014, when Liberal senators were ousted from caucus, she continued to serve with the utmost dignity. While I know this was a painful period that brought a lot a change to the Senate, Senator Cordy was never bitter and always welcomed new colleagues with open arms. She was ready to work in a constructive manner on the aspects of this institution that needed modernization. For this, she deserves our gratitude.

By leaving the Senate, she will return fully to a place that is dear to her heart. I am, of course, talking about Atlantic Canada and her beloved Nova Scotia. In reading her maiden speech in this place, I couldn’t help but notice the way she spoke with optimism, enthusiasm and conviction about her region and her community. Senator Cordy, I’m glad you will now be able to stay in that beautiful place, surrounded by your loved ones and freed from the exhausting journey to Ottawa.

Through my voice, all senators from the Independent Senators Group wish you the very best in your retirement. We know you will appreciate this well-deserved time with your loved ones. We wish you all the best in your new endeavours.

Thank you, wela’lin.

Honourable senators, let me lay out for you today’s lesson plan. We are going to study and learn about parliamentary math. Yes, this is a pop quiz. Please take out your worksheets and pencils.

Question one — Senator Cordy was first named to the Senate in the year 2000. During how many parliaments was she a senator? Was it A, five; B, six; C, eight; or D, nine?

The answer is nine. Senator Plett and I worked together on that trick question. This is her ninth parliament. You are correct if you said that. Give yourself a point.

Question 2: Please name the standing committees that Senator Cordy was not a member of during her tenure in the Senate. Was it:

(a) the Scrutiny of Regulations Committee and the Transport and Communications Committee

(b) the National Finance Committee and the Banking Committee

(c) the Official Languages Committee and the Audit and Oversight Committee

(d) none — she did them all

If you answered (c) the Official Languages Committee and the Audit and Oversight Committee, please give yourself another point. Senator Cordy, you have a few days left to fix this.

Question 3: Your final question is a math problem. Senator Cordy has to travel to Ottawa from Halifax 30 times a year for 24 years and covers 957 kilometres each way. How many kilometres has she flown to attend the Senate during her career? The formula is the following: 30 times 24 times 2 times 957. What does that equal?

If you answered 1,378,080 or too far for too long, both answers are correct.

She was the schoolteacher we all hoped to have when we were in school. She was generous with her time, made us all feel welcome regardless of political stripe and always provided the big picture view during debates.

On a personal note, we worked together at a particularly difficult time when we were new leaders of new groups with a new virus, along with some more experienced folks and some other inexperienced leaders. She was always calm, steady and positive no matter what, even when those things may have been in short supply in our meetings. I’ve enjoyed working with you, Senator Cordy. It was a privilege.

Senator Cordy, you are a unique soul, and the Senate will never be the same without you. Our loss is your family’s gain. My colleagues around me and I wish you a happy retirement and lots of time with your husband, your children and your grandchildren.