Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

1st Session, 41st Parliament,
Volume 148, Issue 9

Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker

Tributes

The Honourable Lucie Pépin

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.