Statement made on 15 February 2011 by Senator Elizabeth Hubley, Senator Joseph Day and Senator Claudette Tardif
Hon. Elizabeth Hubley:
Honourable senators, it is my honour to rise today to pay tribute to former Senator Jim Tunney. Senator Tunney and I were appointed to the Senate on the same day in 2001. We sat as seatmates in this chamber and served together on the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. I am saddened by his passing.
I was always impressed by Senator Tunney's knowledge and passion for farming and for the agricultural industry. From a young age, Senator Tunney knew he wanted to farm. He loved farming and it was a way of life for him and his family. He was a fourth generation farmer who loved the land.
Honourable senators, Senator Tunney was not only an accomplished dairy farmer, he was also an advocate for the agricultural industry, both here in Canada and abroad. From 1993 to 1998, he made frequent trips to Russia and Ukraine on behalf of the dairy industry, where he consulted with farmers and helped them to develop a farm marketing board.
Senator Tunney served as a director of the Dairy Farmers of Canada for 18 years, of the Dairy Bureau of Canada for 8 years, and of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board for 12 years. Last September, in recognition of his lifelong contribution to the farming industry, Senator Tunney was inducted into the Quinte Agriculture Wall of Fame.
Senator Tunney was a self-educated man, an avid reader and a strong supporter of the educational system. He was active in his community and served as a trustee on the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board for 16 years. He was also a proud supporter of his local plowing match and an advocate for local Aboriginal communities, including the Alderville First Nation.
Senator Tunney's time in this chamber was too short; nonetheless, he made an important contribution to agricultural policy through his work on the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. He brought to this institution vast knowledge of the agricultural industry and a passion for supporting the small- and medium-sized farmer.
Not surprisingly, considering his name and background, Senator Tunney could barely make it through a day in Ottawa without someone asking if he was "the Tunney" of Tunney's Pasture. He was not, but he took the question with his typical good humour.
On February 1, I met with the Dairy Farmers of Canada at their reception for parliamentarians. I was delighted that so many recalled Senator Tunney and his uncompromised dedication to the dairy industry. Mr. Ron Maynard from Prince Edward Island, a member of the national board, recalled that Jim Tunney was a quiet gentleman — maybe even shy — until he stood to speak. Once he began to speak, his demeanour would change immediately and this quiet man spoke with confidence, knowledge and enthusiasm. His colleagues' respect for him was remarkable.
A strong family man, Senator Tunney will be missed by his family and friends. All those whose lives he has touched will also sincerely miss him.
I know all honourable senators join me in expressing deepest sympathies to Senator Tunney's sons, Karol and Ed; his daughters-in-law, Susan and Karen; and his five grandchildren.
Hon. Joseph A. Day:
Honourable senators, it is my pleasure to rise today to pay tribute to the late Senator Jim Tunney. Senator Tunney served in the Senate from March 8, 2001, to June 16, 2002, just a few months more than one year. Though Senator Tunney served only a short time in this place, he established a reputation as a trustworthy and hard-working individual. He was ably assisted during his time here by Ms. Trish Renaud, who was not only his executive assistant but also a great friend. They made a great team together.
Growing up in the small town of Grafton, Ontario, east of Toronto, Senator Tunney spent most of his life operating a dairy farm in the region. He knew the meaning of hard work and he knew that hard work brought good results. It was putting into practice that philosophy of life that made him such a well-liked and highly respected senator.
Senator Tunney served as a director of several agricultural and dairy boards including the Dairy Farmers of Canada, for 18 years; the Dairy Bureau of Canada for 8 years; and the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, for 12 years. On top of all this he was a trustee for the separate school board in his area. These contributions to his community speak to Senator Tunney's character in a manner that words would not do justice.
Honourable senators, one of my favourite stories about Senator Tunney speaks to his tenacious personality. It is a story about the farm that he and his wife of 37 years, Gladys, operated during their life together. As a young boy, Jim Tunney admired a local farm close to his home. As a teenager, he would walk past that farmhouse and say to himself, "I am going to buy that house one day." When he had the chance, he would knock upon the farmhouse door and inform the farmer that he wanted to buy the house. The farmer used to laugh at Jim and tell him to come back when he had some money. The farmer clearly underestimated Senator Tunney and his frugal ways. One day while in his early twenties, Senator Tunney walked up to the farmer's door and once again said, "I would like to buy the farm." He handed the farmer the money to buy the farmhouse and the farm, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Honourable senators, when I first came to the Senate, I joined the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. Coming from New Brunswick, I was looking forward to working on forestry issues. The committee chair was Senator Leonard Gustafson and the deputy chair was Senator Jack Wiebe, and on the committee was Senator Jim Tunney. I learned a great deal about agriculture but very little about forestry. We have some wonderful memories of our committee's travels together in Northern Ireland and visiting local farms. One of the highlights of my time in the Senate was serving with Jim Tunney on that committee.
Senator Tunney is survived by his two stepsons, Karol and Ed; their wives, Susan and Karen; his grandchildren, Paul Shaw, Karl Shaw, Dennis Blackburn, Stephanie Shaw and Todd O'Rourke; and his siblings, Patrick and Kathleen Tunney. Senator Tunney, despite his short time here, was a credit to this institution.
Hon. Claudette Tardif (Deputy Leader of the Opposition):
Honourable senators, I did not know Senator Tunney as I was not a member of this chamber when he was a senator. However, in the past few months, I have heard only great things about this former senator from Ontario. In fact, this past week I received a note from former Senator Eugene Whelan asking me if I could read in the Senate what he had to say about his long-time friend, James Tunney. Here is what he wrote:
During my very long public career I have met many people from around the world, from every walk and way of life, from kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers, dictators and top corporate executives, yet none have left such a long and lasting memory as Jim has; Jim stood tall amongst all of them.
In his early teenage life he quit school to work on his uncle's dairy farm. This gave him a very strong work ethic and provided him with first-hand knowledge and understanding of farming, especially dairy farming. This led to Jim establishing his own successful dairy farm.
His dedication to the agriculture industry and particularly to the dairy industry as their representative on the Ontario Milk Marketing Board will be remembered for a very long time. As Minister of Agriculture for Canada, I often sought out Jim's advice or opinion when I had tough decisions to make. However, sometimes I didn't even have to ask for his opinion, because he would already be on the phone calling me, the Minister of Agriculture, with his opinion on what should be done to solve the problem. I always valued Jim's thoughtful advice and candour; he was a great representative for the Dairy Farmers of Canada.
Many times Jim would also call our home in Amherstburg, and if I was not there, he would talk with my wife Liz at length, and give her the message. She would relay all of Jim's messages very carefully to me, and it developed into a long-standing family relationship over many years; sadly our last conversation by phone was only three weeks before Jim left this world.
We will always remember Jim Tunney as a great representative of the dairy farmers, and if I was ever thought to be a good Minister of Agriculture for Canada, it was because of people like James Francis Tunney helping me to do my job.
I will never forget.
We in Canada have lost a strong voice for agriculture and a great Canadian; a real Canada builder.
It is signed:
With my Deepest Respect and Fond Memories, Eugene Whelan.
This is a great testament to a wonderful man. I wish to take this opportunity to extend my sincere sympathies to the late Senator Tunney's family.