Statement made on 29 June 2012 by Senator James Cowan
Hon. James S. Cowan (Leader of the Opposition):
Honourable senators, I wish to associate myself with Senator LeBreton in thanking people for what they have been through and what they have done in the last while.
I want to thank His Honour for his patience and wisdom, and the calming influence that he has had on us from time to time when we have been a little out of hand. It is appreciated and we do acknowledge that today.
The Clerk and the table officers constantly demonstrate the expertise we need in keeping us, for the most part, on the straight and narrow, from a procedural point of view at least.
To the Senate Debates staff, the transcribers and all the pages, we do know the hard work and the long hours that they put in and we appreciate that. I am always amazed at the ability of the Debates staff to report what we say into both of Canada's official languages and to make it readable the next day.
The security staff shows an unfailing professionalism and courtesy to us all on a daily basis. We should appreciate the fact that they make this a very safe workplace for all of us. That is not something we should take lightly.
We also often make unreasonable demands upon our own staff and they respond, for the most part, cheerfully and always willingly to the demands we make upon their time. We do not say it often enough, but we appreciate what they do for all of us.
To all honourable senators, I wish you a very pleasant summer. I hope you have a restful vacation over the summer and that perhaps we will return in the fall in rather better humour than we leave today.