Honourable senators, as a member of the dream team, I rise today to share a few words about my colleague senator Jane Cordy, whose work and advocacy I have long admired.

As has been mentioned, she was appointed in 2000, only the third woman from Nova Scotia. Senator Cordy’s capacity to teach and lead by example is admirable. When I first arrived in the Senate, she was able to answer questions that I did not even know I had. It is easy to imagine that she was a very engaged and inspiring teacher. When she attended an event that I hosted in Nova Scotia last year, I was able to witness her connection with former students who shared special memories of their time together with such warmth and affection.

While many of our colleagues have already talked about Senator Cordy’s leadership of the Progressive Senate Group, her work on committees and her interventions on too many files to even mention here, I want to bring to you some of her lesser-known work today, outside of her impressive leadership.

Did you know — well, yes, you do know now because of her speech if you were listening — she has been an advocate for the sickle cell community in Nova Scotia and across this country for many years? That work is so very special. Senator Cordy has been instrumental in the advocacy for more awareness about sickle-cell anemia. Senator Cordy identified an underserved community and used her position as a senator to advocate for them and with them. I sincerely thank you on behalf of all of them.

I also witnessed Senator Cordy’s deep compassion when we were visiting federal prisons during the fact-finding trips for our Human Rights Committee’s study of prisoners’ rights. While the visits to the prisons were a shock for most of our committee members — I think Senator Pate and I were the only ones who had been to prisons before —

— I will always remember Senator Cordy’s sensitivity, compassion, care and love that she shared with the people with whom we met. She sees humanity in everyone everywhere. To say that I will miss her, her wisdom, her kindness, her allyship and her support is an understatement.

Senator Cordy, also known as “Lady Jane” in our group, I wish you the very best as you move on to your next chapter.

Honourable senators, I too want to rise to offer a few well-deserved words of tribute to Senator Cordy.

I came here in 2009 as a young, rambunctious Conservative, and across the aisle, I saw Senator Cordy, a vociferous Liberal who would fight hard for her region and the things she believed in. Some would say she was probably as partisan as I am on most days.

Of course, Senator Cordy and I had the good fortune of working together — as she mentioned — during the expense scandal that the Senate went through. The smart money at the time was betting that this would be like oil and water and probably the worst thing that the Liberal and Conservative caucuses could do, but Senator Cordy and I did three things. We argued hard on issues, but we listened with open minds and open hearts, and we always found consensus in the best interests of the institution because we knew, fundamentally, that wherever we stood on the political spectrum, we were here to serve Canadians. I have to say that our achievements during that time to make this place more accountable and transparent could not have been done if I had not learned some of those valued principles from Senator Cordy. To me, she is a role model and a teacher.

During that difficult time, she showed leadership. We made some tough decisions that we take for granted today. Today, you see broadcasting in the Senate, you see expense disclosures of senators on websites of the Senate and you see the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration being made fully public and broadcast, but some of these small reforms of the time were revolutionary, and there was a lot of pushback. However, Senator Cordy and I believed they were necessary in the modern era, and we fought hard for them.

I’m proud to say that although we served during a moment of existential crisis in the Senate, we never had a vote. We never had a disagreement in an Internal Economy Committee meeting on any issue. We figured things out between us. That’s one of your great legacies and tributes to this institution, and there are so many. You served on so many committees, Senator Cordy, and I won’t go through all your achievements, but your mark has been left in this place. Everyone said to me, “How did you work with somebody so partisan?” I said, “She is partisan, she is strong, she is smart and she believes in what she believes in,” but the words that always come to mind about Senator Cordy are “kind” and “nice.”

The fundamental things I learned from her are that you can be firm, strong and even combative about the ideas you believe in, but you can do it in a dignified, nice and gentle way. There’s something about Senator Cordy that typifies who she is: She has the art of being able to tell people to go to hell in such a way that they will ask her for directions.

I keep saying to people, “She is kind and nice, but she’s not a pushover. She is one of the strongest women senators I have ever seen in this institution.” She is a strong voice for Atlantic Canada, the Liberal Party and the independent Senate. I want to say this to Bob Cordy and to your beautiful family: Thank you for sharing this wonderful lady with this institution. The institution has been better for it.

Jane, I wish you a wonderful future full of health and happiness to you and to your family. God bless you.

Honourable senators, I rise today on the unceded lands of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation to honour, thank and celebrate our remarkable colleague — the humble and effective leader — the Honourable Jane Cordy.

Jane has served this chamber, the people of Cape Breton, the people of Nova Scotia, the people of Canada and the people of the world with great distinction for almost 25 years. Our former Senate colleague and my guest today, General Roméo Dallaire, who honours us with his presence, asked me to share his observations on our colleague. He said:

Jane is known for always keeping a sensitive human focus. She is a very solid, hard-working senator, truly exemplary for others.

This praise is indisputable and resonates loudly for all of us. Jane is definitely a role model for me. Colleagues, as you heard, since Confederation, 107 Nova Scotia senators have been appointed to this chamber. As Jane said, she is woman number three in all of history to represent Nova Scotia. Margaret Norrie was the first in 1972, Sister Peggy Butts was the second in 1997, Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard is number four and I am number five of those 107. Colleagues, I believe we are all happy to see our chamber better reflect Canadians, with approximately half of our membership being women and with the growing diversity in our membership today. Jane, Wanda and I have talked about our desire to see more of Nova Scotia’s capable women appointed to this chamber. There are 10 Senate seats for Nova Scotians, and we will be down to two women when Jane Cordy leaves us.

Honourable colleagues, Senator Jane Cordy had a distinguished career in education and community service before she joined this chamber. She will be leaving behind such an important legacy here. Her work on mental health and addiction; seniors and aging; children and education; multiple sclerosis, sickle cell disease and other inherited blood disorders; and NATO, gender security and Canada-U.S. relations are all to be commended and have a significant impact. What has also been impactful is Jane Cordy’s generous, positive and inclusive approach to leadership. In recognition of her leadership talents, her interpersonal skills, her intelligence and her role in forming and building the new Progressive Senate Group, Jane was chosen to serve as its leader and has played a critical role in the success of that group.

Jane, you are a friend, an outstanding senator and representative of our province, and a good and kind person. Honourable senators, please join me in wishing Senator Jane Cordy a happy retirement with Bob, Alison, Michelle and those precious “grands.” Thank you.