Senate pays tribute to Percy Mockler, including words from Mulroney just before his death

Article content

OTTAWA • The Senate of Canada has paid tribute to a “legend” of New Brunswick politics, including with words penned by former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney just days before his death.

Percy Mockler reaches the Senate’s mandatory retirement age of 75 on Sunday.

Thursday marked his last day in the upper chamber.

That led to an unprecedented tribute that stretched more than an hour long with 22 different speakers, capping off a career that included 24 years in the provincial legislature as a Progressive Conservative MLA, a half decade in Ottawa as part of Brian Mulroney’s administration, and, most recently, 15 years as a senator.

Leader of the Opposition Donald Plett began by calling Mockler a “dear friend, a loyal team player, and a great Conservative.”

“Percy has dedicated his life to serving others,” Plett said. “He made the decision many years ago that he would focus on improving the lives of the people of New Brunswick and all Canadians.”

Throughout, Plett said Mockler “remained the same humble guy.”

Sen. Marc Gold, the government representative in the Senate, said, to him, Mockler “stands as a model of what it is to be a senator,” someone compassionate in his convictions, unapologetic in his beliefs, but with a profound respect for his colleagues on all sides of the chamber.

Speech after speech referenced “the little guy from St. Leonard” who grew up with a single mother and a family on welfare, and who took his humble upbringing and used it as a platform to look out for others.

His capacity to rally people together, his ability to listen, his kindness, his tireless fight to reduce poverty, and his advocacy for Acadian rights and the French language were highlighted.

Fellow New Brunswick Sen. Pierrette Ringuette serenaded Mockler with a song in her tribute, rewriting the song “Lache pas la patate,” sung by Acadian Zachary Richard, and a favourite saying of the outgoing senator meaning “don’t give up.”

“Happy retirement, my friend, don’t ever give up,” Ringuette concluded.

New Brunswick Sen. Krista Ross read tributes from Bud Bird, and former premiers Frank McKenna and David Alward.

New Brunswick Sen. David Adams Richards called him a “legend in New Brunswick.”

“He’s a champion of the underdog and the forgotten his entire life,” Richards said.

“So many obligations and so many avenues for the betterment of Canada and his fellow Canadians and rarely would we hear it from him, his life of service underplayed because of his own humility and his hard-win integrity.”

New Brunswick Sen. Rose-May Poirier read a letter from former Premier Bernard Lord, who called Mockler a man of “exemplary integrity,” and another from former Prime Minister Stephen Harper who said, from humble roots, Mockler “reminds all of us in Canada that with passion, relentless hard work, and dedication, we’re only limited to our imagination.”

Poirier then read a letter that Mockler’s office received from Mulroney on Feb. 20, just nine days before he passed away.

“Dear Percy, during the course of two leadership campaigns, and two general election campaigns, you proved to be a tireless, exceptional organizer, and wise counsellor, crucial to my success in New Brunswick,” Mulroney wrote in a letter.

“But, above all else, you are a true, steadfast, and loyal friend, and (wife) Mila and I love you and your family enormously.

“Your service in the Senate has brought honor to you, your country and your beloved New Brunswick. So, Percy, I would like to pay tribute to you by saying, Thank you.

“Thank you for everything you have done for me and for Canada. I will always be grateful for your friendship and proud of your support. The years pass, but there are things that are unforgettable, and our friendship is one of them.”

Mockler then gave a final speech that traversed how his upbringing shaped his career, then crediting “great leaders,” including Louis J. Robichaud, Richard Hatfield, Lord, and Mulroney, who shaped his politics, while thanking his family.

“I will miss the Senate,” Mockler said. “I was honoured and privileged to be here, I am leaving today knowing that I have done my best.

“If there is one thing that should never change in politics, it’s teamwork.

“Like a hockey team, each caucus and party plays wearing its own team colours, however, the logo they all sport on their jerseys is that of the Canadian Maple Leaf. Even though they’re not on the same team, they have to work together, we have to work together, because the goal of every politician must be the same: improving the quality of life for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”