%2010-19-01.JPG) OTTAWA
- (Web posted March 13, 2002 @ 5:15 p.m.) - The House of Commons honoured The
Right Honourable Herb Gray for the almost 40 years of service he gave to Canada
by calling him to the Bar of the House on Wednesday.
In Canadian history people have usually been
called before the bar for an unpleasant reason.
But Gray was there to be praised for his work and he was the first person to be
let inside the bar.
The event gave Gray the opportunity to say a
proper good-bye to the House of Commons where he served the people of Windsor
West for more than 39 years.
Gray, who was dubbed the Gray Fog for his
uncanny ability to deflect Opposition MPs questions, retired from politics in
January after he was left without a portfolio in the wake of a cabinet shuffle.
The prime minister kicked off the tributes
to Gray.
"This is one of those very rare days in
this place where we amaze Canadians by setting aside our partisan differences to
offer a singular tribute to a singular man of this honourable House,"
Chretien said.
Gray sat at the southern end of the House of
Commons as tributes rained down upon him from Chreiten, and members of all four
opposition parties.
His family witnessed the spectacle from the
visitor's gallery, as did Liberal Party icons such as Mitchell Sharpe.
Canadian Alliance Leader John Reynolds used
the occasion to poke some good-natured fun at the Liberals, and even at his own
party.
"Herb Gray could be admonished for his
incredible loyalty to his constituents, his party and his leader. Does he not
know this kind of behaviour is no longer in vogue? No one does it anymore,"
said Reynolds as the Liberal benches erupted in laughter.
The Canadian Alliance almost fell apart last
summer because of political infighting over the party's leadership.
Tory leader Joe Clark delivered what was
probably the funniest line of the afternoon when he compared himself to Gray.
"I regard him as a sort of companion in
charisma," said Clark with a dead pan delivery.
Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe praised
Gray as a pillar of the prime ministers he served, and New Democrat MP Lorne
Nystrom teased Gray about his love of pop music.
"His love of rock and roll and of
visiting discos soon became legendary around Ottawa and Windsor. He also had a
sense of humour," said Nystrom.
"Mind you, being a member of the
Liberal government requires a sense of humour.
Gray made fun of his reputation for dealing
with Opposition MPs in his response to the accolades from his former colleagues.
"Mr. Speaker, I must begin by saying
that today is an exception to my usual practice. I have to tell you I accept the
premise of each and every word spoken in the House today."
Gray also encouraged
all the MPs to work together to build a better Canada.
"I urge you all to continue your work
here in this House and with all Canadians so that together you will strive to
seek, to find, and not to yield in building an even better Canada in a much
better and peaceful world," he said.
|
