Honourable senators, I rise today to pay homage to the Honourable Marcel Prud'homme for 46 years of public service to Canada. If you will indulge for me a few moments, I will use iambic pentameter and the theme from Dr. Seuss. It is called "An Ode to Marcel."
Prud'homme is his name, and French by fame, politics in life, always his game.
Liberal to the bone, and committed like stone, thinking out of the box, always to hone.
Lean and nice, he had little vice, learned to skate on political thin ice.
Elected nine times, as a champion of his riding, appointed to the Privy Council for service in guiding.
His vision was always to reach for the stars and he abhorred mediocrity, and raised up the bar.
"Persistence is golden," he would often say, it guides him strongly, to this very day.
As he said, you don't have to be wealthy, for good work to do, you can start a delegation, or start with just you.
You'll learn how our freedoms and rights came to be, you'll meet all of our heroes, and then you will see.
Our reputation will soar, opportunities surge, the pride of our country, will boldly emerge.
And stop complaining about winter right now, if we lived in Moscow, we'd be having a cow.
Fires and earthquakes, who needs any of that? All you need to survive is a warm coat and fur hat.
And I'll let you in on a secret, if you swear not to tell, it's freezing in Calgary, St. John's as well.
And Winnipeg has mosquitoes, Regina does too! From Russia to Lebanon . . . really who knew?
Next time someone berates us for those little stingers, let's collectively turn, and give them the fingers!
Don't dis the Chamber, then leave it discouraged, it takes lots of folks, with hearts full of courage.
Now speaking of Marcel, it's reported of late, that he's going through adventurous times, so let's not debate.
A lot of big factors, have contributed to it, we'll turn it around, I know Marcel can do it.
It's a watershed moment, as the economy slows, as regulation oppresses us, as we're kept on our toes.
But our country is strong, it's a great happy story, with hard work and commitment, we'll return to past glory.
And that brings me to the last point this day, never, never give up the fight, this sunny day.
If what you believe in has value, has merit, then follow your dream, and you'll achieve it, I swear it!
Honourable senators, be proud of this chamber, and of this city, be an oasis, we need no pity.
Marcel says, count your blessings, and spread good cheer, and the world will be, because we were all here.