Honourable colleagues, as senators, we are involved in many activities outside of the Red Chamber. From time to time, some of us may be given awards and recognition for accomplishments and other good deeds. It would be impossible to recite them every time an award or recognition is given. However, on this occasion, I want to take a minute to recognize a current colleague and a former colleague who have truly achieved something quite extraordinary.

Senator Mary Jane McCallum, as some of you know, has been appointed as chancellor of Brandon University, the first Indigenous person and woman to serve as chancellor of that university. Our former colleague Senator Murray Sinclair was appointed as chancellor of Queen’s University.

Former Senator Sinclair is fond of saying words to the effect of, “It was education that got us into this mess,” referring, of course, to residential schools. He has always said in the follow-up to that comment that it is education that will get us out of this mess.

He and Senator Mary Jane McCallum are at the pinnacle of responsibility at two prestigious universities in our country. We look to them to help us get out of this mess.

Congratulations, Senator Sinclair and Senator Mary Jane McCallum.