Posted on 11 December 2009
“Honourable Senators, yesterday, our former colleague, the Honourable Jean-Robert Gauthier, passed away at the age of 80. He leaves behind significant accomplishments that contribute to a stronger Canada, a more balanced Canada, a Canada more rooted in its rich history of two official languages, two founding nations.
Jean-Robert began his private life in 1929, in Ottawa. Very early, he had to develop his survival instincts. Following the abandonment of his father at the age of 3, he was placed in an orphanage. When he turned 6, he moved in with his grandfather, Dr Louis-Philippe Gauthier, a former federal Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, later Clerk of the Senate of Canada.
In 1960, Jean-Robert began his public life, first as a school trustee, then as Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1972 to 1994, and finally as Senator from 1994 to 2004.
All his accomplishments, in education, in health services, in official languages, to name a few, rest on a basic principle essential to the continued unique growth of Canada: the rights of the linguistic minorities that must be protected by the Constitution, the legislations, the regulations.
Yes, the Honourable Jean-Robert Gauthier gave the following expression its true meaning: "to have the courage of one's convictions".
With my parliamentarian colleagues here today, I offer our sincere condolences to his wife Monique, their children, their grandchildren."