Honourable senators, I rise today on behalf of the Government Representative Office to welcome Senator Muggli to the Senate of Canada and to wish her a very happy birthday.

Senator Muggli, your exceptional career speaks for itself. Your numerous roles — including as the executive director of St. Paul’s Hospital, as a child welfare worker and as a social worker — will serve you well in the Senate.

With over 35 years of public service, I have no doubt that you have developed a unique perspective and expertise. I look forward to you adding your voice to the important debates we have in this chamber.

Colleagues, I would be remiss as well if I did not mention the impressive work that Senator Muggli has done in and for her community and the many boards on which she has served. I have every confidence, senator, that you will bring this same passion for bettering your community to the Senate.

As I shared with your new colleagues yesterday, as a new senator there is a somewhat steep learning curve, and the work ahead will not always be easy. However, every one of us in this chamber has been in your place before, and I believe I speak for all of us when I say this: Please, do not hesitate to reach out for advice and support wherever you can find it and whenever you need it.

I look forward to working with you in the weeks and months ahead. Once again, on behalf of the Government Representative Office, welcome, dear colleague, to the Senate of Canada.

Honourable senators, as the CEO of St. Paul’s Hospital during the COVID-19 crisis, it is reasonable to say that Senator Muggli knows how to keep a cool head, one of the most important prerequisites to fulfill our role as a chamber of sober second thought.

In fact, with the growing complexity of public health issues, such as infectious epidemics and mortality associated with the use of increasingly potent opioids, your expertise in this area will greatly impact our work. A famous Chinese scholar once said that walking 10,000 miles is better than reading 10,000 books — a saying that underlines the importance of experiencing for oneself rather than relying on the accounts of others. Senator Muggli, you are in the first category.

In fact, the most valuable knowledge is often acquired through practice, and this is why, for nearly 35 years, Senator Muggli has demonstrated her availability and dedication to the well-being of her community in Saskatchewan and beyond. Alongside her professional career, she distinguished herself through her community involvement and achieved these accomplishments through hard work, dedication and humility. In view of all of these successes, it’s fair to say that she is a pillar of the social fabric of the Prairies. When facing challenges, Senator Muggli has always demonstrated responsibility and courage.

Colleagues, the role of a senator can only be fulfilled by people with a thorough knowledge of the issues they are dealing with. In fact, Senator Muggli’s knowledge and contribution have been recognized by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and organizations, creating bridges between the different peoples inhabiting this land.

On behalf of the Independent Senators Group, I warmly welcome you, Senator Muggli, and wish you a very happy birthday. You will certainly remember this particular one.

Your professional background will not only make you a tremendous senator, but also an invaluable colleague, someone with whom we are delighted to work going forward.

Thank you, meegwetch.

Honourable senators, I would like to welcome Tracy Muggli from Saskatchewan to the Senate. She is the fifth senator to be sworn in this week from the cohort named this summer.

My colleagues have provided her biography, but I would like to mention a few important and defining facts about Senator Muggli, which will help paint a better picture of her future contributions to this place.

Senator Muggli was born and raised in the village of Muenster, Saskatchewan, which has a population of 430 individuals and is located nine kilometres east of Humboldt on Highway 5, better known to most of us as halfway between Saskatoon and Wadena. The village is extremely proud of her appointment. I know this because it says so on the village’s website.

It mentions the details of her appointment right after the announcement that the village is accepting applications for the Honour Our Veterans Banner Program. The good news is that prices have remained the same as last year. Banner applications can be dropped off at the village office, either in person or through the mail chute. I love small towns. I know you do too.

According to our sources, the senator has a bias for The Rolling Stones and “Downton Abbey.” Both of these can be useful because in this place sometimes things rock and roll and at other times a carefully crafted story is needed. You will fit right in here.

In all seriousness, you and all colleagues here have been called to this place to fill an important role: to represent their region, to carefully review legislation and to examine national policies that will affect all Canadians, including those 430 individuals in Muenster.

I am pleased to report to senators that sometimes — I’m sure it happens to others — when there’s an appointment, you receive a call from somebody who knows you and the person who has just been appointed. That is what happened to me. The person on the other end of the line was so enthusiastic, so proud, and wanted to assure me that we had one of the great Canadians coming into our midst.

All who know her say that she will bring to the Senate a great depth of knowledge, strong leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to community. We will greatly benefit from her contributions as we conduct the nation’s business.

Senator Muggli, your voice and experience and perspective are needed here. The values that you received in Muenster and in rural and metropolitan Saskatchewan are most welcome and needed here, and we in the Canadian Senators Group look forward to working with you.

Honourable senators, it is my pleasure, on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group, to welcome a new member to the chamber. What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday, Senator Muggli, by beginning a brand‑new chapter in your life.

As Senator Tannas was welcoming our new senator colleagues yesterday, he reminded us of the number of different career paths that are represented here. I was waiting and waiting for him to mention social workers, but perhaps he forgot about us.

As a social work educator, one of my favourite things to do was to welcome new social work students every fall. In my remarks, I would say there are basically two tracks in social work: those who choose to use their positions for social control and those who choose the path of social justice.

Senator Muggli, I was very excited to learn that another social worker was appointed to this place and especially pleased to read your bio and to see that, like mine, your social work career has been on the social justice path.

I welcome you, and I look forward to working with you as you bring your experience as a social justice advocate to this chamber and to our study of legislation. Your previous work in mental health and addictions, in health equity, in child welfare, in health care, in health services administration, in social work education, in public policy, in public service and, probably most importantly, in community development will be very helpful and foundational to your work here. You will be well prepared for the challenges you will face as you navigate your new role here in the Senate.

Your dedication to public service, to social justice and social change highlights your commitment to using your position wherever you are placed to lead the changes you want to see in the world. I know you will represent your province well, and as a fellow social worker, it is my pleasure, on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group, to welcome you to the Senate of Canada. We truly look forward to working with you.

May I say again, happy birthday! Asante.