SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — The Honourable Manuelle Oudar

Colleagues, I’m pleased to rise today to talk about the Honourable Senator Manuelle Oudar’s exceptional career. On December 2, Senator Oudar was awarded the 2024 Prix Hommage, the highest and most prestigious distinction of the Institut d’administration publique du Québec.

This award is presented each year to an individual who is clearly outstanding and has been recognized by their peers for management excellence or their influence on public administration in Quebec. I’m sure you’ll all agree that these criteria perfectly describe Senator Oudar and her remarkable career in the Quebec public service.

I had the privilege before our time in the Senate to witness this remarkable journey. Let me state a few of her accomplishments. In the 30 years she spent in the Quebec government, she was assistant deputy minister at the Ministry of Education, deputy minister at the Ministry of Labour, then president and CEO of the Commission for Labour Standards, Pay Equity and Occupational Health and Safety.

Under her strong leadership, which was described by her peers as unifying, influential and imbued with humanism, the commission received numerous prestigious recognitions, including the United Nations Public Service Awards, an international recognition of excellence in public service.

All this is to say, colleagues, that I was not in the least surprised when I heard that she had received this prestigious award. It is truly a recognition of her devotion and dedication to the people of Quebec.

All of these accomplishments earned her an appointment to the Senate of Canada in February 2024. Now, all Canadians will be able to count on Senator Oudar’s knowledge, expertise, know-how and equanimity.

I’d like to take this opportunity to emphasize how the open and respectful attitude she has had since her arrival in the Senate and her interest in understanding the institution and contributing constructively to it will be key to her success in this new chapter of her already exceptional career. I’m sure of that. Manuelle joined the Senate of Canada less than a year ago, but she has already begun to make her mark, professionally and conscientiously.

Dear Manuelle, on behalf of all the members of the Independent Senators Group, I’m so pleased to congratulate you on receiving this tribute award from the Institut d’administration publique du Québec. It is a well-deserved honour.

Thank you. Meegwetch.