Honourable senators, I rise today on behalf of the Office of the Government Representative to pay tribute to our colleague, the Honourable Marie-Françoise Mégie.

Senator Mégie, I had the privilege of being appointed to the Senate on the same day as you and Senator Saint-Germain. I will certainly never forget that day, as I’m sure you won’t either.

You joined the Senate after decades of service as a family physician and university professor, so it’s not surprising that during your time in the Senate, you were always a staunch advocate for Canadians’ health.

Whether it was your sponsorship of Bill C-237 establishing a national diabetes framework, which played a crucial role in improving access to diabetes prevention and treatment to ensure better health outcomes for Canadians, or your efforts to raise awareness and establish a national framework for sickle cell disease, your work here in the Senate will continue to have an impact on the lives of countless Canadians.

Senator Mégie, although you sat on many committees and contributed to a number of important reports, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention your important work as a member of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying. As vice-chair of the committee for two Parliaments, your work was essential to establishing recommendations concerning medical assistance in dying, particularly issues related to advance directives, mental illness, the state of palliative care in Canada and the protection of Canadians with disabilities.

Your contributions to this House and to Canada in general are undeniable. You have been a role model and an inspiration to many Canadians, particularly within the Haitian community. I have no doubt that you will continue this important work after you retire from the Senate.

Once again, Marie-Françoise, on behalf of the Office of the Government Representative, I wish you a well-deserved retirement, filled with precious moments with your family, friends and loved ones.

Colleagues, I am deeply moved to rise in tribute to our highly esteemed colleague, Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie.

Senator Gold, Senator Mégie and I were sworn in as senators on the same day, and I want to take this opportunity to tell her what a privilege it has been to spend these years by her side.

Everyone who knows her knows that Senator Mégie is a person of remarkable goodness and empathy. These traits are combined with a keen intellect and uncommon humility, making her a deeply compassionate person. Many times, she has personally touched the lives of more than one person here.

Very often during her career in the Senate, she has chosen to shine the spotlight on others. This may have sometimes obscured the scope of her own accomplishments as a legislator, and colleagues, let me tell you, there are many. The best way I can describe Senator Mégie is to say that she is a woman who does not necessarily seek attention or take centre stage, but in the corridors, behind the curtain, she is amazing at getting things done.

Throughout her career, whether as a family physician, a university professor or a senator, she has chosen to serve others, to serve the common good, which is her one true vocation.

Through her tireless work, particularly on medical assistance in dying and diabetes prevention, and her efforts to raise awareness of sickle cell disease — she taught me to pronounce the French name correctly, which I must say is easier for a francophone — she has always been at the forefront of defending the most vulnerable members of our society.

I’m thinking particularly of seniors, people with disabilities and those at the end of their lives. In Senator Mégie, they have had an invaluable ally inside and outside this chamber. During her more than eight and a half years as a senator, she always used her experience and extensive medical knowledge to serve Canadians.

Senator Mégie is also a proud representative of her community. Having immigrated to Quebec from Haiti in 1976, she has always maintained close ties with her country of origin while becoming a role model for her compatriots, including those in Quebec’s large Haitian diaspora. She is a national role model as well, since she was the first Black woman to represent Quebec in the Senate.

Honourable Senator Mégie, dear Marie-Françoise, you can be proud of the legacy you leave behind, which we will continue to build upon. On behalf of myself and all your colleagues and friends in the Independent Senators Group, I wish you and your loved ones all the best. Please know that your presence, your wisdom and your invaluable medical advice will be greatly missed.

Thank you. Meegwetch.

Honourable senators, I’m honoured, on behalf of the Canadian Senators Group, or CSG, to rise to say farewell to a colleague and trailblazer, the Honourable Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie.

As the first Black female doctor and first female doctor of Haitian origin to be appointed to the Senate, Senator Mégie paved the way for many others. We are all the better for her expertise, her compassion and her dedication.

Throughout her career — first as a physician, then as a professor and ultimately as a legislator — Senator Mégie used her scientific knowledge as well as her compassion, rigour and deep commitment to the public good. She became a trusted voice on some of the most complex and sensitive issues we face as legislators: vaccine hesitancy, medical assistance in dying, public health, elder care, systemic racism and health equity.

She did not seek the spotlight but allowed her work to illuminate our chamber, always thoughtful, always measured and always guided by the realities of patients and people on the ground.

Every time you spoke in this chamber or in committee, your words were rooted in experience, social justice and empathy.

As an active member of the Parliamentary Black Caucus, you played a leading role in efforts to fight systemic racism in Canada by calling for concrete, long-term measures.

Senator Mégie’s legacy is also found in the Black physician community, which sees her as a reflection of infinite possibilities. Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, from Black Physicians of Canada, has this message for Senator Mégie:

Congratulations on your retirement. You have made an impact on the lives of many of us and on the shoulders of giants like you, we have stood. It is my hope that “First Black, first female, first this or that” will become a thing of the past and a gateway for better representation.

Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, who will become the Canadian Medical Association’s first ever Black president, sends this message:

As I prepared to step into my role with the Canadian Medical Association, I acknowledge my indebtedness to those who came before me and paved the way as leaders in the black Canadian community, including Senator Mégie. She is a trailblazer that has lit the path for many after her.

My dear colleague, you are making a graceful exit, but you are leaving an indelible mark upon us.

Senator Mégie, along with all of my Canadian Senators Group colleagues, we thank you for your wisdom, your calm strength and your extraordinary service to the people of Canada.

I wish you a happy retirement, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Honourable senators, I rise today, with a great deal of emotion, on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group to pay tribute to an outstanding colleague, Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie, who is leaving us after almost nine years of service.

As Canada’s first senator of Haitian origin, she had already accomplished a lot before joining the Senate of Canada. She spent 35 years transforming home care and geriatric care in Quebec and advocating for a dignified end of life.

Into this chamber, Marie-Françoise, you have brought compassion, wisdom and a quiet strength that inspires us all.

She shepherded Bill S-209 through the Senate. This bill designated March 11 as Pandemic Observance Day in memory of COVID-19 victims.

From her, we inherit Bill S-201 on sickle cell disease, which represents a major step forward for thousands of Canadians of African descent.

Every Black History Month, Senator Mégie has taught us about prominent Black community figures in the fields of literature, the arts, science and sports.

In addition to being a senator, she is also a caring mom. After receiving the call about her appointment, she asked her daughters, Sarah and Aïda, “Will it be a problem for you if I’m not around as much for the grandchildren?” They answered, “Of course not, mom, go for it. You deserve this, and we’re proud of you.”

Yes, you have served your country with dignity and grace.

On parliamentary missions and sometimes on the train, I discovered that Marie-Françoise is a digital novice. I will miss laughing with her over technological challenges. We had better watch out, since she plans to take computer classes to learn how to use social media. She is also going to reconnect with two of her passions, decorating and dancing, so don’t be surprised if you see Marie-Françoise on TikTok soon.

Dear Marie-Françoise, my colleagues in the Progressive Senate Group and I all wish you an excellent retirement.