Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to our esteemed colleague Senator Victor Oh as he prepares to retire from the upper chamber. Senator Oh has made significant contributions to the Senate and to the entire Canadian community.

Senator Oh was born in Singapore, and immigrated to Canada in 1978. He quickly became a successful entrepreneur in the Greater Toronto Area. Beyond his business endeavours, he became an active community leader, focusing on building bridges of understanding across cultures and helping newcomers establish themselves and start businesses.

Since his appointment to the Senate of Canada in January 2013, Senator Oh has shown unwavering commitment in several key areas. He has been a loyal Conservative, always willing to amicably work with his colleagues. He worked tirelessly on the Agriculture and Forestry Committee, often taking time during his summer break to visit farms across Ontario. His dedication to promoting agriculture and rural development has been commendable.

Senator Oh has also been steadfast, engaging with local communities to better understand and support their needs. His passion for community engagement extends to his efforts in promoting multiculturalism. He has been involved in numerous initiatives that celebrate Canada’s rich ethnic, religious and cultural diversity. Through his work, he has highlighted the importance of inclusivity and respect for all Canadians, regardless of their backgrounds.

Notably, Senator Oh has been a strong advocate for Asian Heritage Month, helping to promote and celebrate the contributions of Asian Canadians to our society. His work raising awareness of the Chinese head tax, as well as the redress given by the government in 2006, had a lasting impact in the Chinese‑Canadian community.

As we bid farewell to a colleague and friend, I want to express my gratitude for his years of service and dedication. Senator Oh, your engagement in the Senate, in the community and in our great nation has not gone unnoticed. Victor, as a leader and as a friend, I wish to personally thank you for your loyalty and friendship. As our team has become smaller, you never hesitated to step up to provide additional support. Therefore, Victor, on behalf of myself and our Conservative caucus, we thank you and wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.

Thank you, Victor.

Honourable senators, I would like to join with my colleagues in paying tribute to Senator Victor Oh as he takes leave of the Senate and heads into a well-deserved retirement.

Senator Oh was appointed to the Senate on the advice of former Prime Minister Harper in January 2013. Since that time, he has served as the vice-chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association and of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group. He has also been a member of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas and the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, and he has held executive positions in a number of parliamentary friendship groups, including Canada-Bulgaria, Canada-Indonesia, Canada‑Malaysia, Canada-Nordic-Baltic, Canada-Peru and Canada‑Singapore.

As Senator Plett mentioned, Senator Oh has served on various committees, including the Agriculture and Forestry Committee and the National Security and Defence Committee, and he served as deputy chair of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee. Senator Oh was also a member of the very consequential Special Senate Committee on the Arctic.

Over the years, Senator Oh has been involved in initiatives celebrating Canada’s cultural diversity. As Senator Plett explained, Senator Oh and his family immigrated to Canada and, since then, he has always represented his community with pride and distinction. After arriving in Canada, he helped other newcomers settle here and start their own businesses. His career, both in and out of the Senate, is a testament to Senator Oh’s attachment to his adopted country.

On behalf of the Government Representative Office, Victor, I want to wish you an enjoyable retirement with your lovely wife, Rosa, and time with your sons and their families and — most importantly — your grandchildren.

We’ll miss you.

Honourable senators, I also rise today to pay tribute to an esteemed and much-appreciated colleague the Honourable Senator Victor Oh.

Well before being appointed to the Senate of Canada, Senator Oh was already a champion of his community. In fact, throughout his life, Senator Oh has been dedicated to the Singaporean and Chinese diaspora in Canada. He played a crucial role in promoting and facilitating their inclusion in our country. I know this leadership was especially needed in recent years when Canadian people of Asian descent were unjustly targeted with racism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are lucky to have in their corner an advocate as passionate and devoted as you, Senator Oh.

You’ve also never shied away from helping people in need, often providing guidance with immigration and integration issues, as well as helping new Canadians contribute, start businesses and grow the country positively. You have helped and been part of the invaluable contribution that Canadians of Asian descent have had on Canadian society. For this only, the country is deeply indebted to you.

We can read on your official Senate profile that you are a bridge builder of understanding and collaboration between cultures. I believe there is no better way to define you and your many accomplishments. Senator Oh, you came to this institution in 2013, and, ever since then, you have made a mark on our parliamentary diplomacy. You were an active member of many associations, notably the Canada-China Legislative Association, the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group and many others.

Your expertise, tact and sense of humour — this is my preferred one — will be missed. You can be proud of the impact you’ve had in promoting the values and interests of this country on the world stage, and I know that you will continue to do so.

You are now entering a new phase of your personal and professional life. I hope you will enjoy this well-deserved retirement. I know you to be someone active and devoted to others, but I hope you can now take the time needed for you and your beautiful family, especially your wife, Rosa, and your sons, Daryll and Derek, as well as your three grandchildren. Today, colleagues, we lose an esteemed senator, a great diplomat and a devoted advocate. Today, however, our loss is his loved ones’ gain.

Senator Oh, in my name, and in the name of all senators from the Independent Senators Group, I wish you a happy retirement from the Senate of Canada.

Thank you. Meegwetch.

Honourable senators, it is now my turn to take the few minutes allotted to me to mark, in my own way, the retirement of my friend the Honourable Victor Oh. Over the last 11 years, I have had the great pleasure to spend time with Victor: to work, have lunch and travel with him. Each time I couldn’t help but see his kindness and the great respect he has for the people he knows.

I probably won’t surprise anyone by saying that Victor Oh has many friends and acquaintances here in Ottawa, in Canada and around the world. His photo album speaks for itself. For that matter, if you don’t have a picture with Senator Oh it’s because you haven’t been within 10 feet of him. Victor takes a picture of everything, and he gets himself photographed with everyone that he meets. Fortunately for him, we now have digital photos instead of 36-exposure rolls of film.

More seriously, I want to say that it has been a pleasure to work with Senator Oh on the Senate Agriculture Committee and National Security Committee. As part of our work on the Agriculture Committee, I remember very well our visit to the Shanghai International Agricultural Products Exhibition. His many contacts in China enriched the knowledge of all committee members who took part in that trip.

I also have fond memories of our mission as international observers during the 2022 presidential election in Kazakhstan. During his time in the Senate, Victor Oh multiplied his involvement in parliamentary groups and associations: Canada-China, Canada-Japan, Canada-Europe, Canada-Bulgaria, Canada-Peru and many others, and I can’t omit Canada-Singapore, an association with his home country.

For me, Victor Oh has been much more than a senator. He has been a true ambassador for Canada, looking to promote the beauty and the business opportunities of our country. Senator Oh was only 30 years old when he immigrated to Canada and became an entrepreneur in Toronto. His business and political roadmaps are remarkable. Indeed, just last Friday, friends, politicians of all stripes, business people and more than a dozen ambassadors from various countries gathered at a nearby hotel to celebrate his retirement from the Senate. That was impressive.

Victor Oh is leaving upon his retirement from the Senate, and I wish to thank him for all those years and for his friendship. Thank you so much, my friend.

Honourable senators, I rise to pay tribute to Senator Victor Oh. Today we celebrate a remarkable man known for his kindness and friendship to all who know him. Victor has devoted a lot of his time and energy not only to helping newcomers settle, integrate and prosper, but also to raising greater awareness and understanding about the culture, history and contributions of people of Asian descent and other backgrounds.

In addition, Victor has been a voice for non-citizen children and youth. For example, in 2017 Victor introduced a successful amendment to the Citizenship Act to allow permanent residents under the age of 18 to apply for citizenship separately from their parents or guardians.

Having no option but to wait until they were 18 years old or obtaining a rare ministerial waiver, such minors were previously left without access to citizenship and, in some cases, risked removal in adulthood. His amendment guaranteed equitable access to citizenship for children and youth whose parents were unwilling or unable to apply at the same time.

In the end, Victor secured 47 votes in favour of his amendment from colleagues on all sides of the aisle. He has always been good at bringing people together.

Following Royal Assent in June 2017, Victor also successfully called on the federal government to update the related regulations since children or youth who applied with their parents or guardians were required to pay a processing fee of $100, while those who did so separately were charged $530.

All of this happened before my appointment. However, one of my current staff members, Jean, worked with Victor for a few years and closely supported his work on this amendment. She shared that a few months later the two of them attended a ceremony in Mississauga, where they met a group of siblings who had gained citizenship due to his successful amendment. It was an incredibly touching and unforgettable moment for both of them.

These contributions stand as a testament to Victor and his unwavering commitment and compassion. He championed the rights of vulnerable children and youth, and has had a lasting and positive impact on the lives of tens of thousands in Canada who are now full and permanent members of this country.

Victor, you should be immensely proud of this legacy. Congratulations on your retirement. I wish you and your family all the best and I hope that our paths cross again, maybe on a golf course in P.E.I. Thank you.

Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to a beloved friend and colleague Senator Victor Oh, as he prepares to take his official retirement from the Senate on June 12, 2024.

Prior to the Senate, Victor was a successful entrepreneur and an active community leader in the Greater Toronto Area. He served his community with great pride, built bridges of understanding and educated others on the importance of culture, heritage and community ties.

In 2013, Victor Oh was appointed to the Senate of Canada to represent Ontario. During his time as a senator, he became a champion and a voice for the voiceless. He advocated for the rights of vulnerable groups, including seniors, youth and migrants, and took important initiatives that helped strengthen cultural diversity in Canada. He served on many friendship groups and associations, and served on the National Security and Defence Committee and the Agriculture and Forestry Committee, to name a few. He was also the critic and sponsor of several important pieces of legislation.

Your dedication and tireless work in the Senate will not be forgotten. Senator Oh, we have worked closely with one another for more than a decade. We have been part of the Conservative caucus, both in government and in opposition. We have often stood together to vote on important bills and motions. We have attended many events together in support of communities, organizations and important celebrations or causes. We have enjoyed wonderful meals and conversations about family, community and life. I’ve witnessed first-hand your genuine commitment and selfless dedication to the people you serve.

You are a champion of the Chinese-Canadian community, not only in the GTA but across Canada. Beyond your community you have built bridges to many other ethno-cultural communities. I haven’t met an ambassador or high commissioner who doesn’t call you friend.

I’m happy to call you a friend as well. For more than a decade, you have served your regional and national constituents well. You have served Canada well in your role as senator. As your time as a senator is nearing its end, Senator Oh, I wish you all the best as you embark on this next chapter of your life with your beloved family surrounding you.

Rest assured this is not good-bye, dear Victor, but see you soon.

Honourable senators, the first thing to say about today’s tributes to Senator Oh is that we are late to the game. There have been at least five events for our honourable colleague over the last few weeks in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa, and there will be more to come.

I’m not talking about Prosecco and cheese in an office with a few chums. The events I attended were full-on extravaganzas attended by dozens of people, some of whom had travelled long distances to attend. In fact, at a not-so-surprising surprise party for Senator Oh at the Westin Hotel last week, ducks and lambs were sacrificed in his honour. The 100 or so guests at the event included his colleagues from here and the other place, dignitaries from across town, and probably a dozen ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic corps.

There’s no question about Senator Oh’s ability to hobnob with movers and shakers. What is less known are his connections with the entire spectrum of Canadian society, especially within the Chinese community. For example, at a different Ottawa event to mark Senator Oh’s retirement, held in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, a room full of Chinese Canadians from Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto feted him with song, dance and, yes, more sacrificial duck.

The reason why Senator Oh left a mark with such a broad swath of society is that he enjoys meeting people from all walks of life, and he believes in the importance of being friendly with everyone. He will talk to anyone, regardless of their politics, and he’s not afraid to go against the winds of public opinion in building friendly relations with other countries. He has, on occasion, paid the price for his trust in others and for his lack of guile, but he has been loyal to those to whom he owed loyalty and a good friend to those who truly appreciated his friendship.

Senator Coyle shared an anecdote with me that is illustrative. Reflecting upon a shared trip across Canada’s northern territories, she said:

His sense of wonder at the beauty of the lands and his deep respect for the people we met, from Iqaluit to Inuvik, from Yellowknife to Whitehorse, made Senator Oh a delight to travel with. An inveterate shopper, he even managed to satisfy that itch in remote Cambridge Bay.

I had the pleasure of working with Senator Oh on the remembrance of the one-hundredth anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which included a solemn ceremony in this chamber on June 23, 2023, and a rally that brought 4,000 Chinese Canadians from across the country to Parliament Hill. I know Senator Oh will continue to advocate for the rights of Chinese Canadians after he steps down from the Senate.

Colleagues, I want to let you in on a little-known factoid that Senator Oh and I might be long-lost relatives. You see, while he is an “Oh” and I am a “Woo,” based on the Chinese character, our family names are the same. In Mandarin, we are both “Hu,” and the word for “two Hu’s” in Chinese is “Erhu,” and an erhu is a traditional musical instrument that is like a fiddle with two strings.

Senator Oh came to the Senate before I did, so he is the first string on that instrument. It has been my privilege to be the second string and to perform a few “gigs” with him these eight years of our time together in the upper house.

Victor, I wish you a very happy, healthy and fulfilling retirement. I hope you and Rosa will now find the time to do the things you were too busy to do while you were a senator, and I hope it includes more than golf. I hope you will join me from time to time to play some tunes together for the causes that we share. The erhu will not sound the same with just one string.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Woo spoke in Mandarin.]

Honourable senators, I also rise to pay tribute to our dear friend and colleague Senator Oh.

Senator Oh is known for many things but especially his compassion, kindness and selfless dedication. A testament to the immigrant experience, he arrived in Canada from Singapore, carrying with him not just his personal journey but also a profound commitment to uplifting Asian communities across our nation.

His tireless efforts have echoed throughout the hearts of those he serves, ensuring that the voices and needs of Asian Canadians are heard and addressed. From advocating for cultural preservation to championing educational initiatives, Senator Oh’s leadership has fostered a sense of belonging and empowerment within the Asian community. His journey serves as a reminder to us of the transformative power of compassion and resilience.

Senator Oh’s kindness is something I have had the privilege of experiencing first-hand. In 2017, we worked closely together on advocating for reforms to the immigration detention system for children. We worked closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and government officials to make sure the government was taking the necessary steps to look after the rights of refugee and immigrant children in care to ensure that our most vulnerable children are treated with dignity and respect.

But, senators, he did not stop there. Some of you might remember Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to action number 94), to which Senator Oh introduced crucial amendments that enabled refugee children in government agencies or foster care to obtain citizenship. These amendments have helped to streamline and ensure equitable access to citizenship for individuals under age 18, transforming the lives of minors in care. Senator Oh’s remarkable efforts have laid the groundwork for current initiatives that aim to extend the protections offered in Senator Oh’s amendment to children who have aged out of government or foster care.

Further, Senator Oh’s impact within marginalized communities in Canada has been nothing short of transformative. His lifelong commitment to bridging cultural divides has not only encouraged mutual understanding and unity but has strengthened Canada as a whole.

We have all heard of his dedication to serving others and his unwavering commitment to fairness having left a mark on all who have had the privilege of working alongside him. Thank you, Senator Oh, for your work in seeking rights for children in care and government agencies, and for all the other work that others have mentioned in this place. Thank you. We wish you best of luck in your future endeavours, and we know that you will be using your Rolodex for your next challenges. Senator Oh, we will miss you very much in this place. I will miss you. Thank you for your dedication to our Senate.

Honourable senators, Senator Oh and I were appointed the same day, January 25, 2013, along with Senator Batters, former Senator Beyak, whom some of you may remember, and former Senator Doug Black, whom some of you may also remember.

It’s always special. You always have a special group when you’re appointed with your colleagues. That little cohort always remembers that time, and it’s always very special, and I have those feelings, obviously, for my colleagues who are both here, Senator Batters and Senator Oh, but, Senator Oh, this is your day. I probably won’t get to give a tribute to Senator Batters because she’s so much younger.

Senator Oh and I, of course, have been seatmates. We have been committee mates. We’re caucus mates, both in the national and in the Senate caucus. Victor has always been there to cover me at committee. You’re sometimes my first call because I know you’ll be there. And I know I’ve helped you out on occasion. We’ve sat on many committees together, and we’ve travelled together.

One of Senator Oh’s greatest contributions to this chamber and to Canada has been his contribution to parliamentary diplomacy. I think that the event that Senator Woo mentioned on Friday and here in the chamber today and other times when you’ve welcomed so many of the diplomatic corps to our chamber and to our Senate, to our Parliament, is a great testament to what you’ve done for parliamentary diplomacy.

One of the things that Senator Oh has continuously said to me, maybe just in the last three or four years, is he wants to buy some of my remaining years. Look, it’s his last day in the chamber. The price is now the highest. I know a win-win when I see it. Therefore, with leave of the Senate, and notwithstanding the Constitution — Victor, I know I would be called out of order on that.

Colleague, friend — Victor — it’s a rare moment that I truly regret to say “happy birthday” to a friend, and that’s today.

Honourable senators, how do I even begin to describe the richness and joy of the friendship that Senator Oh so generously brought to my life and the lives of all of us in this chamber? My dear Victor, from that warm handshake and hug on day one, you fostered a bond of trust, warmth, insight, balanced with that remarkable, mischievous sense of humour.

We’ve had many conversations about our common path in this great land: immigrants to this plural nation that afforded us a substrate and a canvas upon which we wrote our stories, adding to a tapestry that is Canada today, and yet never imagining in our wildest dreams that we would be given this privileged platform on which to continue our advocacy.

I have marvelled at the respect and appreciation that you have earned amongst not only your constituents but the broader community and your Senate family. Your advocacy for the Asian community and your stand against anti-Asian discrimination has been principled and deeply woven on your fundamental beliefs of fairness and equity.

The ease with which you interact in a respectful manner with all strata of society is a lesson for us all. And, yes, there have been moments of humour. Indeed, there have been moments of humour, as when you introduced me recently to one of our central Asian ambassadors as your brother. The ambassador did a double take with a rather quizzical look, to which Victor immediately responded, “Same mother, different fathers.” Surprisingly, the ambassador’s expression quickly returned to normal, and business continued.

And so, as we bid you farewell to embrace the next chapter in your life, hamba gashle, as we say in Southern Africa in true Zulu benevolence: Go in peace, my friend. The aura in this chamber will dim as you depart, and your presence will be missed, yet always felt. Xie xie, brother. Thank you.

Honourable senators, I stand in tribute to Senator Oh as a mark of admiration, respect and love for a dear friend and colleague. I am grateful to have had the pleasure of working alongside Victor for the last decade. Victor is a generous, supportive and patient man who always takes the time and makes an effort to include everyone. Part of our Asian culture is showing love for your family and friends through the sharing of food. I believe most of us have been blessed enough to be on the receiving end of his generosity.

I specifically remember a holiday lunch he hosted in his office. Senators, MPs and staff were all invited, and Victor assured us that we were about to sample the best Asian dishes our national capital has to offer, and none of us were disappointed.

Victor has worked with different communities, and I have personally seen him engage with groups across the Greater Toronto Area and Canada. His commitment to community was evident when he accompanied the Senate Committee on Human Rights on a fact-finding mission on Islamophobia. Although it is not an issue that directly affects him, it was a testament to his commitment to the Greater Toronto Area’s Muslim community.

One quality that I respect and admire in Victor — and we’ve all seen that — is he walks up to everyone, introduces himself and engages them in conversation. Victor, I will miss your friendship and loyalty. You supported many of my events because I asked you to. Last night you had your own dinner, and yet you took the time to come to my event. Thank you, my friend.

Those of us who know him well will agree with me that once he made a commitment, he never let you down. Victor is that special friend that everyone should have.

Victor, I will miss the way you would walk up to me and say “Hey, Salma,” and then we would proceed to make a plan together. But Victor, knowing you, I know that you won’t rest on your laurels. I have already heard about your plans for the summer. I think we will miss you more than you will miss us, but I wish you and Rosa happiness and health as you begin this next phase in your life. I’ve said it, but I want to emphasize that when we are back in September and I see your empty chair, I will miss you and your gentle call of “Hey, Salma.”