Honourable senators, I’d like to thank the Progressive Senate Group for sharing their time with me today so that I might pay tribute today to the Right Honourable Don Mazankowski, who has left us at the age of 85.

Don was first selected in 1968 and then another six times, evidence that he was a trusted and admired politician, and that is said of only a few. In my years as a journalist, we had literally hundreds of conversations, on air and off, he as a member of the opposition, or as the Finance Minister or Deputy Prime Minister.

He was direct, fair, informed and always a voice of reason. He brought common sense to Parliament. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney described Don’s political and personal skills by saying, “He never broke a bridge.”

He was also the chief operating officer of government, and anybody knew that if you wanted anything to happen, you were to check it with Maz first. He knew his files; he was politically astute; and, most importantly, he liked people and therefore he understood this country.

He was inspired by Diefenbaker’s beliefs that the West should have a meaningful role and voice. He offered wise counsel in many corporate boardrooms, and later in life, he and I served together on the board of what would become the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute at the University of Alberta Hospital, run by Dr. Arvind Koshal, a protege of our former colleague here, the Honourable Senator Dr. Willy Keon. On his name and reputation, Don created a true centre of medical excellence in the Prairies for the West, and I know this to be true. The doctors and nurses at the institute saved my father’s life and gave us many good years that we cherished.

Today, our hearts are with you, Lorraine, and the family — today and going forward. And to Don, thank you for your service to Canada in all its forms, through all the years and in so many different ways. You were loved and respected, a rare feat and an amazing legacy.