SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Black History Month

Honourable senators, I rise today to mark the beginning of Black History Month, a time to reflect not on a separate history, but on a foundational pillar of our Canadian story. This is a history defined by grit, excellence and unwavering commitment to the promise of this country.

We are speaking of people who, in the face of systemic barriers, refused to wait for a path to be cleared. They cleared it themselves.

We see this resolve in the life of Lincoln Alexander, a proud Conservative who broke every glass ceiling in Canada’s Parliament as the first Black member of Parliament, the first Black federal cabinet minister and Ontario’s first Black lieutenant-governor.

We see it in the defiance of Viola Desmond, who demanded that Canada reconcile its laws with its values, and in the courage of Willie O’Ree, who stepped onto the ice for the Boston Bruins and proved that our national game belongs to everyone.

This same thread of excellence runs directly through the history of this very chamber. We look to the legacy of Anne Cools, who made history as the first Black person ever appointed to the Senate.

Following in that trail-blazing tradition was our former colleague Don Oliver, yet another proud Conservative and a steady voice for the idea that every Canadian should have the opportunity to succeed based on their own work and their own character.

Colleagues, having had the privilege of serving with Senator Cools and Senator Oliver and of being under their tutelage, I can say with complete sincerity that they truly represented the very best of Canada and of this institution. That same standard was later furthered by the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean in her service as Governor General.

Their stories are woven into the same fabric as that of the Black Loyalists of the 1700s, the No. 2 Construction Battalion of the Great War and the streets of Little Burgundy in my hometown of Montreal, where legends like Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones turned a neighbourhood into a global cultural powerhouse.

Honourable colleagues, these are not just Black stories; they are the iron and timber of the Canadian identity. These Canadians did not simply endure; they transformed this country. They took the ideals we discuss in this chamber — justice, opportunity and the rule of law — and worked to make them a reality for everyone.

Our country is stronger, freer and more prosperous because of their work. We owe it to their legacy to ensure that the merit and contribution they championed remain the bedrock of our national character.

Thank you, colleagues.