Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition):

Honourable senators, it is an honour to rise to pay tribute to our colleague Senator Pépin as she prepares to retire from the Senate.

Georges Pompidou, the former Prime Minister and then President of France, once said:

A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of a nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service.

Honourable senators, Lucie Pépin has been a great Canadian stateswoman. She was written up in a book called Women of Influence, published, interestingly, in 1985, which was the year following Prime Minister Mulroney's landslide majority government election. Madam Pépin ran in that 1984 election as a Liberal in the riding of Outremont. She won. That was not exactly a time when many Liberal MPs would have been written up as "persons of influence."

However, Lucie Pépin has always forged her own path. She trained as a nurse, never expecting to end up in public life. I have read that she grew up expecting to lead a quiet life, raising a family and doing some nursing at the same time. However, in her work during the 1960s at the hospital, she saw women, especially from rural communities, suffering through annual child bearing. There was no information readily available in those days about birth control. In fact, contraception was illegal under the Criminal Code at that time. Meanwhile, many women could not afford the medical fees, so only came to the hospital when complications had set in.

Madam Pépin helped establish the first family planning clinic in Quebec and one of the first in all of Canada. Soon, she became head nurse. She worked to establish a Canada-wide network of hospital-based clinics, and throughout she was lobbying the federal government to change the Criminal Code. On July 1, 1969, they were successful: Parliament decriminalized contraception.

Honourable senators, it is easy to forget just how critical this was for Canadian women. As Senator Pépin said last March:

This freedom of choice, which women won with respect to their bodies, brought about changes in their lives. It was the impetus for becoming more active in society. It changed our socio-economic role.

Madam Pépin continued her work on behalf of women and health issues generally, serving as a representative and adviser to the Worth Health Organization, the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, and the Population Council. She became first Vice-President and then President of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Amongst other things, she was responsible for coordinating the lobbying efforts to formally recognize the rights of women in the Canadian Constitution.

After campaigning actively to encourage more women to run for Parliament, she decided that she should take her own advice. In 1984 she ran for election in the other place and, as I have said, she won. There, she continued to work for the rights of women, children and indeed all Canadians.

When you are an advocate for human rights and social justice, you care about a fair, open and accessible political system. It is not surprising that after her service in the other place, Madam Pépin served on the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing. She then served as a commissioner with the National Parole Board. In 1997, Prime Minister Chrétien summoned her here, to the Senate, to represent a division near and dear to his own heart, that of Shawinigan.

Throughout her almost 14 years here, Senator Pépin has continued to work to advance the causes of social justice, women's rights and the health of all Canadians. The committees she has served on are far too numerous to list, but I must single out her work on the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and especially the Subcommittee on Population Health, for which she served as deputy chair. That subcommittee recently did an in-depth study of determinants of health that resulted in five reports. The subcommittee found that Canada is falling seriously behind other countries like the United Kingdom and Sweden. It said that it is unacceptable for a wealthy country such as Canada to continue to tolerate such disparities in health. They warned that this disparity may widen — wise words that need to be spoken and need to be heard.

Honourable senators, I cannot end without speaking of Senator Pépin's work on behalf of Canada's military families. All Canadians are aware of the dedication and sacrifice of our soldiers, especially in these dangerous times. However, not everyone pauses to reflect upon the contribution made by their families who quietly support them while living with the ever-present fear for their safety. Senator Pépin has dedicated herself to supporting our military families.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!

Senator Cowan: Senator Pépin, in so many ways, you epitomize the best of this place. With dignity, grace and strong determination, you have fought for the rights of those whose voices were not always being heard. You have held high a vision of what Canada can and should be, and you have devoted your life to working to making it a reality for all Canadians.

Thank you for your years of service to Canadians and especially for your 14 years of work here. I wish to extend our very best wishes to you and to your family.

Hon. Dennis Dawson:

Honourable senators, over 30 years ago, in 1980, when I was parliamentary secretary to Minister Lloyd Axworthy, who was then responsible for the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, I had the pleasure and privilege of working with my friend Lucie Pépin.

She was not only a member of the council, but she was also elected president during that period.

I would like to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of one of her partners in crime from that time, Florence Ievers, who was a member of the executive council and who has since had the opportunity to work with Lucie on many issues.

At the time, Lucie had already made a name for herself in the area of women's issues in Quebec.

Her successful stint with the council easily propelled her to a Liberal Party nomination, and she was elected in 1984. One year that the leader remembers well is the year I lost, but that is not why she remembers it.

Many of you will talk about this period, both in the other place and in this place, and it is true, madam leader, that beginning one's career in politics in opposition is never pleasant. Many of you will talk about this period as a kind of purgatory.

Instead, I would like to focus more on when Lucie was a member of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Like many francophone Quebecers, Lucie and parliamentarians from Quebec must work tirelessly on various fronts: defending federalism in Quebec and promoting the French fact. Being a feminist never stopped her from taking on all of these other challenges. Lucie is a Quebec nationalist, a woman who promotes Canada in Quebec, whether in her current senatorial designation of Shawinegan, her former designation of Outremont or in her beloved Saint-Jean, her favourite place.

On issues such as the law, the environment, foreign affairs or, most important of all for Lucie, the status of women, we must always think of the particular interests of Quebecers and especially of defending the French language.

I would also like to emphasize the fact that the promotion of French and respect for the Official Languages Act were not universal in 1980. Lucie and her colleagues on the council had to fight a major battle at the time: the debate on the Charter of Rights was the debate where, once again, she also had to defend women's rights, but at the same time, never forget that she was also a Quebecer and a francophone. She has had to engage in this ongoing debate ever since she was appointed to the Senate, just as she did prior to her appointment.

Even Minister Axworthy, who was responsible for the council, felt the effects. For those of you who remember, Mr. Axworthy was strongly criticized because he had taken the advice of Lucie, when she was the chair, on insisting that, yes, women's rights are important, but they still have the right to have that right protected in French. It was a priority for Lucie and has remained a priority since then.

However, Ms. Pépin's convictions, her determination and her diplomacy allowed her to succeed and to move the council forward in the right direction.

How many of you have heard Lucie say in this chamber:

Adjust your earphones. I'm switching to French.

Lucie always made the point — in caucus, in committee or in this chamber — that she had a responsibility to ensure a francophone presence and to defend the French fact.

This interest in the French language always remained a priority for Lucie, along with her passion for social causes, the plight of military spouses, and the interests of her riding or her senatorial designation.

Lucie always staunchly defended the French language in the other place as well as in the Senate.

Lucie, I hope I am capable of continuing your efforts after you leave.

Hon. Francis Fox:

Honourable senators, it is truly a pleasure and an honour to speak today to pay tribute to our colleague, the Honourable Senator Lucie Pépin, for her outstanding contribution to public life in our country and her dedication to the cause of women, families and health.

Those close to her know that her commitment began long before her involvement in politics. For instance, I am told that before Lucie was even old enough to get a driver's licence, she was borrowing the family car to go and help women who had to give birth alone. A nurse by training, she practised at the obstetrics department of Hôpital Notre-Dame, as Senator Angus pointed out. It does not surprise me in the least that she quickly became head nurse.

Her role as vice-president and president of the status of women council would lead her to consider politics as a logical option for advancing the cause of women. She was elected in 1984 and became the critic for the status of women, which would allow her to bring employment equity, among other things, to the forefront.

Among her most significant initiatives, Lucie Pépin advocated for enshrining women's rights in the Canadian Constitution. She formed the first Liberal women's caucus in 1984 and chaired the first caucus of women from all political parties. She became a major champion for the creation of daycare services. She advocated for female members of the RCMP to be part of the RCMP Musical Ride. She also advocated for women to become F-18 pilots. From enshrining women's rights in the Constitution to F-18 pilots, our friend Lucie was interested in all women's causes.

Lucie Pépin has been sitting in the upper chamber for more than 14 years now. She has contributed with devotion to the advancement of a number of issues. She is a great humanist who has quietly devoted her time and energy over the past few years to the families of our soldiers. She has visited military bases across the country to meet the families of our soldiers in order to help the Canadian Forces develop policies to meet the needs of military spouses and children.

I have known Lucie for many years. I will miss having her in the Senate. She has always felt the need to see social justice flourish in the world, and she has had the courage and strength of her convictions. She is certainly a model for generations to come who also dream of changing the world.

Since the end of one stage is always the beginning of another, I would like to wish her good luck and much success in her future endeavours.

Hon. Serge Joyal:

Honourable senators, the retirement of Senator Lucie Pépin gives us the opportunity to highlight how beneficial it is to the Senate when a senator is appointed with care and with full respect for the institution's role within our parliamentary system.

When Senator Pépin was appointed to the Senate in 1997 — the same year Senator Sharon Carstairs became the first woman appointed as Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Senator Thelma Chalifoux, a Metis, became the first Aboriginal woman senator — there were 24 women senators. Today, there are 38.

But the number of women in the Senate has remained virtually unchanged since 2006. There is a tendency for that number to go down and back up again, and Senator Pépin will not be happy about this, because her first battle as head of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women was aimed at having women participate fully in Canadian politics.

Senator Pépin's greatest contribution to improving the status of women in this country is the recognition of women's right to choose and have control over their own destiny, just like men.

When the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was being debated in 1980, Senator Pépin was one of the primary spokespeople for the movement calling for the inclusion of section 28 of the charter, which recognizes full equality between men and women. I quote:

Notwithstanding anything in this Charter, the rights and freedoms referred to in it are guaranteed equally to male and female persons.

As a senator, Ms. Pépin helped change the face of the Senate and make it better able to address the social and human concerns of Canadians. Her background as a nurse made her the perfect person to speak up for those who were unable to do so, to remind us of the importance, if not the urgency, of their needs, as well as for the unsung heroes.

Senator Pépin looked out for military spouses, who are too often forgotten in debates on defence, which are primarily focused on arms, declarations of war and military power. Behind those on the front lines are those who remain at home alone to take care of the children, as they worry about whether their loved one will return at all or will return wounded in body or spirit.

Being very generous with her time, she often spends her weekends supporting the activities of military spouses through various resource centres. This is to her credit and to that of the Senate, where she has faithfully served these past 14 years.

With great concern for the fate of women and youth suffering from mental illness, Senator Pépin became the voice of those who, because of inadequate services, are left to fend for themselves in the street, people who are often abused and are losing their dignity.

This aspect of human need is what has always motivated Senator Pépin's commitment, in her work both inside and outside the Senate, to her social priorities.

Soft-spoken, but convincing, direct but always elegant, Senator Pépin is the kind of person whose arguments no one can ever refuse to listen to and respond.

Always sensitive to the plight of all minorities, she contributed to our debates here in the Senate at many critical moments. For instance, seven years ago, she made an invaluable contribution to recognizing minority rights with the passage of Bill C-250 to amend the provisions of the Criminal Code regarding hate propaganda.

In this way, Senator Pépin demonstrated that senators have a duty not just to reflect the partisan positions of their political party, but also to make a personal investment in order to lend a voice to those whom the majority tends to marginalize.

Always attentive to the work of the Senate, even when temporary health problems could have or should have kept her away from the debate, Senator Pépin was too honest and too generous to do anything but perform her duties as a parliamentarian fully and completely.

We can only hope, dear Senator Pépin, that you will find many other opportunities to contribute to our country, which can only benefit from your humanity, your generosity and the warmth of your deep convictions.

Hon. Claudette Tardif (Deputy Leader of the Opposition):

Honourable senators, it is with some emotion and great pleasure that I speak today to pay tribute to our dear colleague, Senator Lucie Pépin. She is a remarkable, caring woman and a very kind colleague who deserves our respect and our profound gratitude. She is a great parliamentarian with a unique career whose passion, devotion and pioneering actions not only advanced women's rights, but are a source of inspiration for many Canadian women to enter politics. She is a woman of great class and elegance who made herself heard in order to advance her ideals. She is a model of perseverance for the women of our generation.

Since her appointment to the Senate by the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien on April 8, 1997, Senator Pépin has faithfully carried out her duties by drawing on her experience, knowledge, generosity, goodness and devotion. Her sincere commitment and her determination to change things for women and children, military wives and veterans have been recognized across Canada. Senator Pépin has stood up for social justice causes throughout her years in Parliament. She has clearly demonstrated her humanism and her convictions by coming to the defence of military wives, among others.

Very early on in her life, she tackled serious problems head-on, at a time when very few women were addressing such controversial issues. She was a great pioneer whose actions and tenacity advanced the cause of women.

Dear Lucie, you are a person who seeks consensus, a unifying force who likes to go out with colleagues and friends for a good dinner, an enjoyable evening, a good party.

You are always happy, smiling, full of life, and I can say that I have very much appreciated your company and your friendship.

Dear colleague, your actions throughout your parliamentary career have contributed to the evolution of our institution. You remain a source of inspiration for all of us. Your contribution to active political life and to our democratic institutions is invaluable to future generations.

Dear Lucie, please accept my best wishes for health and happiness in the coming years.

Hon. Paul J. Massicotte:

Honourable senators, I would like to take a moment to talk about my friend, Senator Pépin. Unfortunately for us, she will be retiring on September 7.

It is difficult to limit a tribute to someone like this to a few words. Her contributions and accomplishments are many. As some honourable senators have pointed out, Senator Pépin has been involved in Canadian politics in many ways, most notably as a member of Parliament, then as a senator for the senatorial designation of Shawinegan. She has always represented the interests of Quebecers and Canadians with passion and conviction.

Her experience in the health field and her interest in human rights made her a pioneer for the cause of women, particularly with respect to contraception.

She is also known for her commitment to military wives. Because of her close contact with families, she became an advocate for and a sort of godmother to military wives. She would often act as an intermediary between the government and military families, and she was able to raise the profile of those who stay behind and quietly make great sacrifices.

Her human kindness and unconditional generosity toward this cause show that a politician is able to move issues forward without partisanship and without seeking political credit.

Senator Pépin has always been a reliable, honest and open person. She is an extraordinary human being and she has been a model parliamentarian for all of us. We were privileged to have worked with this great woman, who, with her many accomplishments, provided an invaluable service to the people of Canada.

Senator Pépin, you can leave with your head held high, because your work both inside and outside this chamber has been outstanding. I tip my hat to you and wish you a retirement filled with much happiness. The time has come for you to dedicate more time to your family, to your grandchildren whom you love so much, about whom you have spoken so much, and who are here with us today. You have the respect of your peers on Parliament Hill and across Canada. We will all miss you. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement, my dear friend.

Hon. Marie-P. Poulin:

Honourable senators, long before being appointed to this place in 1997, Lucie Pépin had forged out a name for herself as a crusader for social justice and human rights. Her dedication to advancing women's health set a high benchmark for all of us, as did her advocacy on behalf of women's equality.

Lucie Pépin is a woman of many colours — a nurse who helped pioneer new ground in family planning, gynecology and obstetrics. She was in the forefront of establishing Quebec's first out-patient birth planning clinic back in 1966 and she subsequently was instrumental in the creation of a network of hospital-based clinics.

At a time when it was risky to talk publicly of sexual matters, Senator Pépin was in the vanguard of efforts to inform young people about issues of sexuality, maternity, contraception and abortion.

Her strong sense of social justice led to her appointment to many key positions, both in Canada and abroad, whether it involved serving on a committee to examine inmates' parole or, more recently, one to address family violence in the Canadian Armed Forces. As we all know, when Senator Pépin accepts a responsibility, she will not be satisfied with half measures. She has visited almost all the military bases in Canada.

Indeed, her reputation as an advocate for social justice and women's health and rights has not been limited to this country: Lucie Pépin commands an international stature.

Without a doubt, she is truly a remarkable Canadian, a multi-dimensional woman with a wealth of experience and skills. She has been a valuable asset for our institution and for Canada.

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer:

Honourable senators, I would like to add my tribute to those made by my colleagues. The issues that are dear to us, such as women's rights and health, immigration and refugees, the rights of children and daycare, at some point joined us in a common mission. Entire generations have paid, are paying and will pay tribute to you, and will equate your name with the word "help." Help for the smallest, help for mothers, help for adolescents — especially adolescents — and help for women.

You are one of the founding members of Passage House, a house where young prostitutes find protection and assistance. With your invaluable help, the children in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood have quality daycare while their mothers, immigrant or refugee women, take language courses.

On my last trip to Uganda, my native country, I had the honour of being welcomed by the head of a maternity hospital. This female doctor welcomed me because she knew Senator Pépin very well. Your reputation, senator, has reached far beyond North America.

We join our voices today to thank you for sharing with us your passion, warmth and sincere friendship. I hope that the beautiful days of your retirement will brighten the years to come and that you will come visit us from time to time. You will be missed, Senator Lucie.

Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck:

Honourable senators, I should like to join with others in paying tribute to our colleague Senator Lucie Pépin. For more than 14 years, she has made a tremendous contribution to the work in this chamber and in its committees. Through her hard work and dedication, she has been a great source of inspiration to all who have had the opportunity to serve with her.

I had the privilege to serve on the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, where she was a member for many years. She certainly showed great attention to detail, a broad knowledge of the subject and made a tremendous contribution to that committee.

As has been said, the senator's work did not simply begin when she came to the Senate. Other speakers have listed the many organizations and causes to which she has lent her talents and accomplished so much over the years. Let me just say that over the span of her entire career, she has shown a tremendous commitment and dedication to the people of Canada and to the world. She will be greatly missed in the Senate, but I am sure that she will continue to work on those issues that mean so much to her.

It has been both a pleasure and a distinct privilege to serve with her. Senator, I wish you good health and lots of happiness.

Hon. Roméo Antonius Dallaire:

Honourable senators, I would like to talk about my connection with Senator Pépin, not in the context of her political life, but in the context of my family and the families of those with whom I worked for 36 years.

On Saturday, I visited my mother, who lives in a long-term care centre in Longueuil. She is 92 and has been a Liberal since 1957. Her MP at the time was Prosper Boulanger. When I told her you were leaving the Senate, she recalled the days when you and Senator Lise Bacon worked within the party for the cause of women. She is very grateful and she remembers.

Although she has been a Liberal her entire life, her long-term care centre is named after René Lévesque. She sometimes has a bit of a problem with that. Elizabeth also sends along her greetings. This evening, the board of directors at the Valcartier Family Centre will move a special motion in your honour. The purpose of the motion will be to thank you and to tell you what it means to have such a wonderful woman in such a significant place for the country take an interest in military families.

Let us not forget that these families are not only forgotten, but sometimes they are not understood. This still goes on in this male-dominated organization and we know it happens often. Woe betide the base commander who has not implemented the recommendations you made during your previous visit when you told him there were still some shortcomings.

Many senior officers and general officers, including the Chief of Defence, as well as the chair and deputy chair, have said you have had a positive and important influence.

We depend on your objectivity and not on your political bias. We also depend on your humane impartiality when it comes to these families.

I would like to point out something that has not yet been mentioned concerning one of your initiatives, dear Senator Pépin. The fact is, we now have a significant number of women veterans within the Canadian Forces. Some of those women have been injured in overseas missions, in F-18s or on the ground, with their boots in the dust and the heat.

Not only have some women veterans been injured, but there are some whose families have paid the ultimate price, such as the Goddards, whose daughter was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.

These women regard you as their godmother. They even see you as a Mother-Teresa-type figure, considering the lengths you go to to try to ease their concerns.

I salute you. I salute you as a former Canadian Forces member and I salute you on behalf of my family, which has benefitted from the fruits of your labour.

I also salute you for having had the courage to be a member of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, when we all know that that committee does not appeal to many of the women of this institution.

You are the "grande dame" of the Senate. You are the "grande dame" of Saint-Jean. You were the "grande dame" of the officer cadets at the Military College, especially the young female officer cadets who will begin their careers knowing that such a "grande dame" brought their concerns to the attention of the highest levels of authority.

I salute you and will always think of you fondly, my dear friend.

Hon. Jane Cordy:

Honourable senators, I too would like to say a few words in honour of our colleague Senator Lucie Pépin.

As others have stated, Senator Pépin has spent a lifetime advocating for women's health and equality issues on both the provincial and federal levels. Beginning early in her career, Senator Pépin fought for women's reproduction and fertility rights. She has since been integral in ensuring legislation protecting women's rights to contraception and to having access to family planning clinics.

Senator Pépin was able to bring her passion for social issues to federal politics as the Member of Parliament for Outremont from 1984 to 1988. During her time in the House of Commons, she acted as opposition critic for the Status of Women. I remember being in awe of Senator Lucie Pépin when she came to Nova Scotia to speak to the Nova Scotia Women's Liberal Commission. Little did I know that I would be privileged enough to work with her over the years in the Senate of Canada. Senator Pépin was able to continue her efforts on Parliament Hill when she was appointed to the Senate in 1997.

I had the pleasure of serving with Senator Pépin on the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. During that time the committee undertook two major studies focused on Canada's health care system and Canada's mental health, mental illness and addiction policies. Both studies have highlighted many areas where Canada has to take steps to improve the care of Canada's most vulnerable.

Lucie, I must also applaud your efforts of support for the families of our military personnel. As many of our Canadian Armed Forces personnel are increasingly stationed around the world, their families are left behind. It is not an easy task for these partners of military personnel, who are often raising young children and moving around frequently. It is important for us to provide all the support we can for our military families. Your message of supporting our troops by supporting the military families is an important one.

Senator Pépin, on behalf of all Canadian women and the families of our troops, I want to express gratitude to you for all your efforts and many accomplishments over what has been an amazing career. So many owe you a huge debt of gratitude.

Lucie, my best wishes to you and to your family on your retirement.

Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool:

Honourable senators, I, too, would like to pay tribute to Senator Pépin with some personal and humorous remarks.

I remember well the first time I met Senator Pépin, long before we were in the Senate. It was in my province, my corner of the country, in Tracadie-Sheila, when I was involved in Dames d'Acadie and Senator Pépin was president of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Lucie Pépin came as a guest speaker. Afterwards, Senator Pépin was not pleased with the television offerings at Tracadie-Sheila's only motel. She asked for her money back and came to my family's home to sleep — this was back when Bleu Nuit was on.

My colleague's career has certainly been very impressive, and since others have summarized it so well, I will not do the same. However, I would like to speak about three issues that both Senator Pépin and I are passionate about and work to promote. The first is women's health and family planning, in particular. In fact, Senator Pépin had come to talk to Acadian women about family planning. A thousand thank yous, Lucie Pépin, for your work on these issues. Thanks to you, women today live better and are freer.

The second issue is women's rights. You were president of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Senator Pépin, and you know how much progress women have made in 50 years. You also know how much further there is to go. I hope that you will keep up your efforts in this area. You can count on me to help you.

Finally, I tip my hat to your open-mindedness towards developing countries, Senator Pépin. Your efforts in the health sector have undoubtedly helped save lives and improve conditions for people who are less privileged than we are. I applaud your efforts to promote democracy for women in some of these countries — your time in Vietnam has already been mentioned. I am president of the Réseau des femmes parlementaires de la Francophonie, and we have taken up this torch. I regret that we were not members at the same time and able to work together. You would have been a wonderful asset.

Dear Lucie, you are a remarkable woman and a great human being, and I sincerely thank you, on behalf of my fellow sisters, parliamentarians or not, for everything you have done and for what I am sure you will continue to do in the coming years.

I will always be happy to see you again. Enjoy your retirement and enjoy your time with the children.

Hon. Joseph A. Day:

Honourable senators, I am pleased to join my colleagues in paying tribute to Senator Lucie Pépin.

Since my first day in this chamber, I have always admired her grace, her intelligence and her steely determination when working on issues that are important to her.

Although Senator Pépin has taken on a number of causes during her time here, as you all know, it is her concern for the well-being of military families that has stood out the most to me.

When I was appointed to the Senate, I became a member of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, of which Senator Pépin was already a member. She had already developed the reputation of a parliamentarian who was concerned not only about the fate of our soldiers abroad, but also about the impact our decisions had on military families. The spouses of our soldiers are also true heroes, because they give the gift of their better half to defend our country here and abroad. More often than not, these heroes are primarily women who raise their families on their own while their husband is on a mission.

Senator Pépin would rightfully say that it is up to us to support these women when they need us, and not only when their spouse is wounded or killed in combat. To quote Senator Pépin: "These women are just as dedicated to the Canadian Forces. Their lives, too, are shaped by the military, with its frequent moves and a lifestyle a world apart from that of civilians. These women and their children live in unique circumstances and must often face numerous financial, professional, personal and emotional challenges."

Many support groups and organizations have been created to provide assistance to military families. We owe Senator Pépin a debt of gratitude for contributing to their establishment.

Honourable senators, I know I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that, thanks to her leadership in this area, we will continue to look after military families and ensure that they get the support they deserve.

Honourable senators, I have spoken many times with Senator Pépin about her beloved Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and I want honourable senators to know that there is a huge military presence in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Senator Dallaire has mentioned the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, but there is also a large air force base there, and I have no doubt that the influence of those two bases on Senator Pépin has helped develop her huge dedication on this particular matter of military families.

We have invited the air force to attend at room 256-S this afternoon from five until seven o'clock, and I hope honourable senators will have the chance to drop by so that the air force may say a proper "good-bye" to Senator Pépin.

Hon. Joan Fraser:

Honourable senators, nearly everything has been said, certainly enough so that anyone reading today's Debates of the Senate will understand just how much we all realize what a privilege it has been to work in the same place as Senator Lucie Pépin.

I know I am not the only one who feels very humble when I think of the long list of things she has accomplished in her life. But in order to put a more human face on the portrait that will appear in the Debates of the Senate, I would like to add two small details that I have always found charming, as Lucie knows.

First of all, imagine our amazing, beautiful and elegant Lucie, who regularly attends the Saint-Tite western festival. Picture her in her cowboy hat and boots, taking part in everything with legendary enthusiasm. I think that is a great image.

The second thing is that this extraordinary woman of elegance with the soft voice and the sweet smile is a rally car racing driver, and if you have ever had the privilege of having her drive you from Ottawa to Montreal, you believe it.

When Lucie Pépin commits to doing something, she goes for it.

On a personal note, I would like to thank her. When I arrived in the Senate, Senator Pépin was the deputy whip on our side. We all know how intimidated people can feel when they arrive in the Senate. It is new, a bit strange and rather intimidating. For me — and I know this is true for dozens of other senators — it was the warmth, generosity and enthusiasm of Lucie Pépin that quickly made me feel welcome and able to contribute, at least a little bit, to the work of this institution that Lucie has served so well.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lucie.

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