Honourable senators, I rise today as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and on behalf of my esteemed counterparts, Senator Patti LaBoucane-Benson, Senator Bernadette Clement, Senator Rebecca Patterson and Senator Judy White, as well as our entire scroll team to pay tribute to Till Heyde who has skilfully and faithfully guided our daily scroll —

And he has been a tremendous wealth of knowledge to all of us and to this chamber.

After more than two decades with the Senate, today is Till’s final sitting day before his retirement. He leaves behind a legacy that will be felt for many years to come. His knowledge of our Senate Rules, procedures and parliamentary history has guided countless decisions and helped shape the standards and traditions we rely on today.

He holds a deep respect for this institution and the foundation on which it was built. He is truly one of the keepers of the Rules in this chamber, a guardian of its processes, a protector of its traditions and an example of professionalism at its finest.

Honourable senators, as Till enters his well-earned retirement, we not only celebrate his years of service but also the tremendous impact he has had on each of us and on the institution he served with such dedication. Till, we wish you the very best as you embark on this next chapter of your life. We hope you enjoy some well-deserved rest and, as Senator LaBoucane-Benson said to me, more time with your lovable cat, Annalise.

Another important member of our Senate family, Gérald Lafrenière, is also retiring in the new year, so this is our last opportunity to thank him for over 30 years of combined service.

He retires after serving as the sixteenth Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments on an interim basis from December 2020 until May 2024, and as Deputy Clerk, Legislative Services of the Senate since May 6, 2024.

Gérald, thank you for your strategic counsel and dedication for over three decades.

Honourable senators, please join our entire scroll team in thanking Till Heyde and Gérald Lafrenière for their decades of dedicated service, and we congratulate them on their well‑deserved retirements.