SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Tributes
The Honourable Nancy J. Hartling, O.N.B.
December 10, 2024
Honourable senators, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to our dear colleague Senator Nancy Hartling. Nancy and I were named to the Senate around the same time, and it has been a privilege to share these years alongside her.
Recently, as I was listening to her speech at second reading on Bill C-332, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (coercive control of intimate partner), I was touched by her empathy for and dedication to the defence of people, mostly women, suffering from injustices and violence. I was also touched when she mentioned that it would be one of her last speeches in the Senate. I felt at that moment that her speech was a perfect representation of who Senator Hartling is and what she stood for all her life.
Indeed, as a former social worker, she has always been a strong voice for disadvantaged people, especially families, as well as an ardent proponent of social justice and a fairer society.
It was also, I believe, a beautiful, full-circle moment, during which one of her final speeches echoed her maiden speech in this chamber, delivered on December 6, 2016. She then rose to pay tribute to the fallen women of the Montreal École Polytechnique tragedy and spoke in a poignant way, denouncing this femicide as well as any violence against women. She was alerting us then, in her very first intervention, to what is an ever-growing phenomenon. From beginning to end, she will have been their voice in the Senate.
I also wish to take the time to personally thank Senator Hartling for the work she did in sponsoring Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment and violence), the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, in 2018. This important bill set the stage for the work of the Senate Human Resources Subcommittee, which produced a new Senate harassment policy in 2021. If Senate employees feel safer going into work having a modern and robust harassment policy to protect them from abuse, they can commend Senator Hartling on her unwavering support.
At a moment when the country is suffering from many social problems, such as a housing crisis and a drug epidemic aggravated by a lack of mental health resources and support, we will miss her expertise and thoughtful advice.
Dear Senator Hartling, I know, however, that you will continue to be a leading force on these issues, even after your retirement from the Senate. As you have said in this chamber, once a social worker, you never stop being a social worker.
Senator Hartling, in my name and those of all your colleagues and friends from the Independent Senators Group, I wish you and your family the very best. You are cool, calm and respectful. Please know that you have only friends in this place.
Thank you. Meegwetch.
Honourable senators, I am pleased to rise today on behalf of the Government Representative Office to pay tribute to our retiring colleague, Nancy Hartling.
As you know, colleagues, Senator Hartling has been a fierce advocate for issues affecting women and families, founding the non-profit organization Support to Single Parents Inc., of which she was the executive director for 34 years. Senator Hartling was also a founding member of St. James Court Inc., an affordable housing complex for single parents, and was the co-chair of the provincial Minister’s Working Group on Violence Against Women.
It was no surprise that shortly after her appointment to this chamber, Senator Hartling continued her advocacy, delivering her first remarks, as Senator Saint-Germain noted, by commemorating the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women, and calling on all of us here, and particularly on us men, to unite to enact change and end violence against women.
Again, as Senator Saint-Germain noted, Senator Hartling’s work to improve New Brunswick and Canada continued by sponsoring Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment and violence), the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, which amended the Canada Labour Code to strengthen the existing framework for the prevention of harassment and violence, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, in the workplace. This legislation has had an impact on many Canadians and helped make our workplaces safer for all.
Senator Hartling, your advocacy and work have inspired so many, both within this chamber and outside of it. We were both appointed to the Senate around the same time — the fall of 2016 — and we joined the Independent Senators Group shortly thereafter.
During that time, I always appreciated and admired your openness, thoughtfulness, compassion and commitment to working collaboratively and by consensus. You always listened to all sides of an issue; that has been a hallmark of your time here, and it’s something to which we should all aspire.
Let me come back for a moment — again, echoing Senator Saint-Germain — to your very first speech in this chamber, in which you said:
On my first day here on November 15, the Peace Tower was lit in purple. Today our flag is at half-mast, reminding us to eliminate violence. I believe I am in a hopeful place.
Senator Hartling, you have certainly made this a hopeful place, consistently pushing to make things better for women, families, New Brunswickers and all Canadians.
Once again, on behalf of my colleagues in the Government Representative Office, thank you for all you have done. We wish you all the best and a happy retirement.
Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to our departing colleague, the Honourable Nancy Hartling, as she prepares to take her official retirement from the Senate of Canada on February 1, 2025.
Prior to her career in the Senate, Senator Hartling was an advocate for socio-economic issues affecting families, gender equality, mental health and juvenile diabetes — to name but a few of the many important issues she has championed.
Appointed to the Senate in 2016, Senator Hartling has served on various committees, including the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans and the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights. Senator Hartling also served on the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, where we often sat side by side getting to know one another before committee sessions and between panels of witnesses. I know from our conversations how much she is looking forward to spending more time with her beloved family in her retirement. I’m still waiting for your answer to my question about the secret to your incredible youth.
In the chamber and beyond, Senator Hartling proudly served New Brunswick and continued her work advocating for, and being the voice of, the voiceless.
Senator Hartling, thank you for your dedication and service to Canadians as a senator for New Brunswick. I would also like to acknowledge Senator Hartling’s family for their love and support throughout her years as a senator.
On behalf of the Conservative caucus, please accept our best wishes as you begin the next chapter of your life.
Honourable senators, I join my fellow colleagues in marking the departure of Senator Hartling from the Senate after eight years of service in this place.
When we pay tribute to our departing colleagues, we often note the big accomplishments in a person’s career such as key positions they’ve held, notable awards and big-ticket legislative initiatives. Senator Hartling has had many of these throughout her professional career and here in the Senate. My fellow leaders have listed a number of these. I’d like to take a different path.
The Canadian Association of Social Workers lists six core values. I’d like to highlight two of those in relation to Senator Hartling. The association says that Canadian social workers’ values include respect for the inherent dignity and worth of persons and service to humanity. We’ve seen these values in spades during her time here. She has often advocated against gender-based violence and in favour of social equity through her numerous interventions in this chamber and in committee. This clearly demonstrates her commitment to these core values.
Of her 62 speeches in the Senate, 41 of them were Senators’ Statements dealing with topics affecting Canadians every day, such as diabetes awareness, intimate partner violence and racism. However, societal changes do not happen overnight or with grandiose gestures. I’m hopeful that Senator Hartling will agree with me that true change can mostly occur only through small and frequent gestures and actions.
There’s an ancient saying from the Chinese philosopher Laozi: “Great acts are made up of small deeds.” I’d like to highlight some of Senator Hartling’s smaller, impactful deeds that have had, and will continue to have, an effect and impact across Canada.
She made a difference when she spoke about the Senate and being a parliamentarian to Mr. Kieller’s Grade 5 class at Columbia Park Elementary School in British Columbia. She inspired us by telling senators about the remarkable story of Rebecca Schofield, a young woman from Moncton who, while battling cancer, inspired the social media phenomenon of #BeccaToldMeTo, which encouraged people to perform acts of kindness.
Senator Hartling told us about the opening of the new hospice residence Albert House in Moncton, how palliative care can be taxing on hospitals and that there are better alternatives. She helped spread the word about supporting our health care and grocery workers during the pandemic and yelled out on Twitter to “stay the blazes home” on World Health Day in 2020.
Finally, I often saw Senator Hartling in the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, reach out to witnesses during her questioning to help them further explain their position or hone their arguments. I saw this time and time again, to the great benefit of those witnesses and the committee. She always applied her great skill with kindness and respect to help those individuals say what they needed to say, thereby amplifying their important impact on the work of the committee.
These small deeds lead, and have led, to great acts. They are also a sure sign of a great social worker and a great senator.
Senator Hartling, on behalf of your colleagues and friends in the Canadian Senators Group, we wish you a happy retirement. All the best to you in your future adventures.
Honourable senators, I am truly privileged to rise today, on International Human Rights Day, to pay tribute to Senator Hartling on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group.
As you have heard, Senator Hartling was appointed to the Senate as an independent senator for New Brunswick in November 2016, following quite an outstanding career focused on empowering families and addressing social issues.
Her work has always been grounded on principles of economic and social justice and human rights. She is a member of the Order of New Brunswick and received the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case for her community service. Her career in advocating for children’s and women’s rights carried through to her work in the Senate. My colleagues have spoken about that very well today.
In addition to her contributions in the chamber and in committees, her other contributions include serving as co-chair of the All-party Juvenile Diabetes Caucus and the Canada-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Working with Senator Hartling to bring awareness and attention to social work on the Hill has truly been a highlight of my time here. Senator Hartling, I have appreciated your kindness, compassion, friendship, allyship and deep commitment to human rights. I have learned a lot through watching your leadership in action.
As I was reflecting upon the opportunity and privilege to give this speech, I thought there was no better way to end than with a quote from you on leadership.
This is a quote from Senator Hartling:
Bold leadership means social and economic justice especially for girls and women. I believe collaboration, building partnerships and empowering others will lead to a more inclusive society with an improved quality of life for all Canadians.
Senator Hartling, thank you for your years of dedicated service to help improve the quality of life for all Canadians.
I want to thank Don, your family and your friends for sharing you with us. To say that I will miss you is an understatement. I will especially miss the look, the nod and the messages that you would send without words, the messages that didn’t need words. I thank you for all of that, and I wish you the very best as you enter your next chapter.
Asante. Thank you.
