Hon. Jerahmiel S. Grafstein:

Honourable senators, I rise to pay tribute to the late Doug Fisher. Doug Fisher was a giant of a man. He was oversized in everything he did: war veteran, librarian, teacher, miner, forest ranger, political giant killer — he defeated C.D. Howe — member of Parliament, hockey fanatic, political commentator and journalist par excellence.

For me, the passing of Doug Fisher marks the end of the Canadian giants of journalism — Blair Fraser, Bruce Hutchison, Charlie Lynch and Bill Wilson, just to name a few. All of those journalists were members of the fourth estate. They understood war and understood peace. Each was a coherent, cogent writer who had a deep, facile knowledge and sense of Canadian history, Canadian politics, Canadian personalities and international affairs. That knowledge radiated in each of their columns. We will not see their kind again.

Doug, whom I first met when he was running as an NDP candidate in Toronto, was different. I was an active organizer in York Centre when he ran a distant third as the NDP candidate; but we came to know each other, and I came to respect his erudition.

Doug, as many men on the left of the political spectrum, abhorred Liberals. He had that secret streak: He was a secret admirer of conservatism. This streak seems to run through many of our friends in the NDP. However, we shared some common interests. He was a book lover, and whenever we met on the street or for coffee in the West Bloc we played a little game. He would ask, "Have you read this book?" I would say, "Yes, and by the way, Doug, have you read this book?" "Of course," he said. We were both voracious readers. He read everything. He was a collector of newspaper clippings, which became a treasure trove for him when he launched his career as one of Canada's most informed, intuitive and political journalists.

He made some exceptions in his hatred of Liberals. He admired John Munro, especially because John shared his love of hockey when Doug served as chairman of Hockey Canada. Doug, as you recall, co-authored a definitive history of Canada's sporting heroes. Doug admired John Turner and John Diefenbaker because, like him, they were fervent believers in Parliament.

We also shared an admiration for my late father-in-law, known as "What-a-Man, Sniderman," who was an outstanding baseball pitcher and hitter in the 1920s and 1930s in Canada.

Honourable senators, the fourth estate has fallen and become fragmented. No longer will we see giants such as Doug Fisher, so influential in the public affairs of this nation. We are the worse for it and we will not see his like again.

My condolences to his family and his many sons, some of whom have followed in their father's footsteps and taken up distinguished careers in the media.

It is said that stars light our horizon long after the stars themselves have vanished in space. Doug's memory and his prodigious written record will live with us as a bright testament to his greatness and brilliance. He will be remembered as a man who wore proudly the mantle of every man.

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