1st Session, 41st Parliament,
Volume 148, Issue 153

Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker

The Late Mr. Art Phillips

Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, Vancouver lost its visionary and Canada lost a champion in March when former mayor Art Phillips passed away. In 1968, Mr. Phillips helped launch the centrist political party The Electors’ Action Movement and was elected to city council. Five years later he was elected mayor, a position he held for four years. He would also go on to serve briefly as Member of Parliament for Vancouver—Centre.

As mayor, Mr. Phillips helped to preserve iconic Vancouver neighbourhoods like Strathcona and Chinatown and fought hard to help grow Granville Island.

The Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and former Premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell, called Mr. Phillips the best mayor Vancouver ever had. High Commissioner Campbell said:

He changed the face of the city but more importantly he changed how we feel about it. The improvements in quality of life, living downtown, waterfront walks, and protecting neighbourhoods are all the results of Art Phillips’ leadership. His respect for people, his kindness and his ability to find agreement were all reflected in an exemplary public life.

Current mayor Gregor Robertson called Phillips a “champion of livability and inclusivity” saying:

With today’s passing of Art Phillips, Vancouver has lost a visionary leader and citizen who made an indelible mark on the city. He helped shape Vancouver through his vision and commitment to public service.

As a long-time resident of Vancouver and a senator from British Columbia, I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Art Phillips. My thoughts and prayers remain with his family: his wife, Carole Taylor; his six children; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Honourable senators, Art Phillips was an amazing man who gave his life to serve Vancouverites and Canadians alike. His legacy and the values he promoted will continue to live on. They are the true spirit of Vancouver, a great city that I am proud to call home.

Honourable senators, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that we also have a great mayor from Vancouver in the chamber, Senator Larry Campbell.