Statement made on 03 February 2011 by Senator Frank Mahovlich
Hon. Francis William Mahovlich:
Honourable senators, I rise today to pay respect to one of our former colleagues, a dedicated parliamentarian, proud Torontonian, Canadian, and steadfast Liberal supporter.
On January 17, the man known as "The Rainmaker," Keith Davey, died at the age of 84. He will be remembered by many in this room for his tireless efforts as an effective National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada as well as for his successful role in achieving electoral victories for both Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau. He played a large role in shaping the face of Canadian politics with many new and innovative strategies.
He was also charismatic and convincing. My former teammate, Red Kelly, tells the story of when he was first approached to run as a Liberal Party candidate for member of Parliament in 1962. He had lunch with Lester Pearson and Keith Davey. Since Red Kelly had a young family and a flourishing career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he shared his hesitation with the two men.
Mr. Pearson understood his reasons, but Keith Davey, determined to have Red Kelly as the Liberal candidate for York West, pulled the Prime Minister aside and told him not to agree with Red Kelly's reasons not to run. Ultimately, it was Keith Davey who finally convinced Red Kelly to support the Liberal banner. He did so tirelessly as a member of Parliament for two terms while still playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Keith Davey was appointed to the Senate in 1966 on the recommendation of Prime Minister Pearson. He served the people of Ontario in this capacity for 30 years. When he retired, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He was also a dedicated family man and will surely be missed by his wife, Dorothy, as well as his children and grandchildren. His enthusiasm and passion for politics seem to have been passed on to at least one of his sons, Ian, who served as Chief of Staff to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff.
To paraphrase Senator Segal, who spoke about him shortly after his passing, he was a true competitor in that he wanted to win but he always remembered basic civility and was never mean to the other side in a personal way. To embody that fine balance in politics is both rare and admirable and will be greatly missed by many in the world of Canadian politics.