Hon. Claudette Tardif (Deputy Leader of the Opposition):

Honourable senators, I am pleased to pay tribute to the Honourable Jean Lapointe. He is a great humanitarian who is deserving of our respect and deep gratitude. He is a great artist whose memorable journey has left us with lasting works and who has received and is still receiving well-deserved honours.

He is a great senator who is not afraid to speak his mind, with passion and humour sometimes, but whose words are always able to captivate his audience.

Since his appointment to the Senate on June 13, 2001, by the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, Senator Lapointe has carried out his duties admirably, with generosity, kindness and dedication.

His experience and commitment to the disadvantaged were put to good use in the Senate.

Senator Lapointe, allow me to point out in particular the fact that you wanted and were determined to make our society better when you introduced and defended with firmness and perseverance your private member's bill to restrict video lottery terminals and slot machines to certain locations. Senator Lapointe, you clearly demonstrated your humanity and your sincere conviction in tackling some serious social problems head on.

I am convinced that your efforts were not in vain and that your attempts to make Canadians aware of gambling addiction will bear fruit.

For my part, Senator Lapointe, I would like to tell you that I am very grateful for your affinity with and understanding of francophones in minority situations. I sensed true empathy on your part and sincere support that I will never forget. Coming from one of the great Quebecers who is so attached to his French language and an ambassador of La Francophonie through his works, I am touched by your desire to understand and promote the reality of francophone minority communities.

Senator Lapointe, do not forget that your actions, throughout your parliamentary career, have contributed to the evolution of our institution. You acquitted yourself honourably through the years you spent in the Senate. You will remain a source of inspiration for your colleagues.

I extend to you and your family my best wishes for happiness and health. I hope you will have new challenges, both personal and artistic, so that we will continue to be moved by and to enjoy your great talent for a long time.

Thank you, Senator Lapointe.

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Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool:

Honourable senators, I will use all my time to talk about my dear colleague, Senator Lapointe, which should make him happy, as he stood up a few years ago to speak out against the practice of certain senators who apparently take advantage of tributes to others to talk about themselves.

Today, I bid farewell to a politician who continues to fight against video lottery terminals, to a philanthropist who founded La Maison Jean Lapointe, but also to an actor, and especially, especially, a singer whose songs I still listen to today. His songs were the inspiration for my thanks and tribute to him, so I am sure that he will love what I have to say, even if it does not rhyme.

We all have a role in life, we come, we go.
Like all those crooner types
Who were born in Naples,
He was a gift from above.
He shared his words, his language, his magic,
His mindset not always moderate.
In a vast, snow-covered country,
I remember the good ol' days of music,
Gone, long before the TV flickered.
There are enough who believe
That a song could never change anything.
But if we all sang together?
Songs are lessons about life.
They give us hope of moving forward.
The possibilities are endless.
Every song is a new lesson.
Every step a new connection,
Moments of sheer happiness.
Everyone can play the jester.
Playing with someone's life.
With their silly somersaults,
And their big feet tripping them up,
Combatting false masters, now that is freedom,
In word and in action!
And in the landscape,
On the other side of the clouds?
Behind every cloud is a sun,
Enticing us to sing.

And thanks to you, Senator Lapointe:

They will see a wonderful country,
And their minds will fill with memories.

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Hon. Céline Hervieux-Payette:

Honourable senators, my first meeting with my dear friend Senator Lapointe goes back to the days of Les Jérolas when, as a young producer, I hired them — Jean Lapointe and his friend Jérôme Lemay — as the opening act for Félix Leclerc. The event was a resounding success, especially since it was a fundraising dinner for the Liberal Party. His career was off to a good start.

Within this noble institution, it is clear that bonds of friendship are formed based on shared values and objectives. One shared objective that is not always at the forefront, but which has cost our friend Senator Lapointe dearly, is his faith in Canada. Senator Lapointe has always stood up to Quebec and has never joined the Quebec separatist movement. He has always stood his ground, even when his close friend Félix had different ideas. He has always defended Canada.

We are all the richer for having Jean Lapointe in our midst. He has 300 songs and over 30 films to his credit. Few of us here can boast such creativity.

Today, I would like to give him a little gift. I will reintroduce his bill amending the Criminal Code to limit the devastation caused by video lottery terminals and I will become its sponsor.

I would like to say a few words about the professionalism of Senator Lapointe regarding his commitment to this cause. He has undertaken extensive studies of the resulting damages; he has wonderful research files and I hope that I will be able to borrow them, so that we will not have to start all over again. I hope that our colleagues on the other side will see the light and support this bill which, in my opinion, has extraordinary worth in terms of reducing the poverty and misery of thousands of people who are addicted to video lottery terminals.

I would also like to thank him. At the start of my seal campaign, he was not entirely convinced that it was a great cause. I had to plead my case. He pleaded this case with his son and eventually wrote us a song, putting great experts like Brigitte Bardot, Pamela Anderson and Paul McCartney in their place. His sense of humour, which shines through in his songs as well as his career in general, allows us to put things into perspective.

A big thank you, Senator Lapointe, for having supported this cause. I am certain that you will continue to do so. The fight is not over; sealers from the Magdalen Islands and Newfoundland as well as the Inuit people still need Jean Lapointe to help me with this battle, in which we are up against Europe, after all. This is not a small-scale battle.

For me, the memories are memories from here. I am sure that we will still spend time together as friends. I will continue to count on his sound advice as I appreciate his good judgement on things in general. At the beginning, people asked me what an artist was doing in the Senate and I told them it is essential that the Senate have talented people like Senator Lapointe because these types of people have heart and spirit and are very sensitive.

Thank you for everything, Senator Lapointe.

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Hon. Lucie Pépin:

Honourable senators, today we mark the upcoming departure of a fellow senator for whom I have the highest regard.

An African proverb states, "Wood may remain ten years in the water, but it will never become a crocodile." We could say the same about Jean Lapointe, the artist. His nine and a half years in the Senate did not turn him into a politician. He remained the same artist we admired on stage and on television.

"Senartist" Lapointe, as he has dubbed himself, is a guy who takes a no-holds-barred approach and expresses his true opinions. Our distinguished colleague was not one to engage in doublespeak or to conform.

He wanted nothing to do with partisanship. As we saw in an interview last weekend, "Senartist" Lapointe most often voted according to his conscience and his own understanding of the issues.

Senator, thank you for your frequent reminders that, in the Senate, toeing the party line should not be the norm. Above all, senators must be free spirits.

Everyone knows that artists are very humane individuals who are quick to recognize and oppose injustices. Senator Lapointe, with his kind and generous nature, is no exception. He demonstrated this here by acting as a guardian angel to the general public, minorities and the underprivileged. It was in the spirit of protecting the weak that he tabled his bill to remove video lottery terminals from certain locations.

We know that the senator always wanted to limit the time devoted to tributes and so we can best pay tribute to him by keeping them brief.

I stand as a witness that Senator Lapointe did not like long speeches. When I was Speaker pro tempore, he would often rise to ask a senator to shorten his or her remarks.

My dear senator, I will stop here just for you and close by wishing you much happiness in your return to the stage. I hope that what lies ahead will be just as rewarding as your already rich career.

Fair winds, dear artist.

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Hon. Francis Fox:

Honourable senators, it is with great pleasure that I take the floor today to speak about the career of a man who left his mark on his era as an artist, humorist, author, singer-songwriter and actor. The entire francophone population of Canada has enjoyed his remarkable talents.

He has received many awards: a Genie for his supporting role in One Man and a Jutra award for Le dernier tunnel. We all remember his brilliant turn as Duplessis in the series by the same name. And as we know, his movie career is not over.

Jean Lapointe's efforts to help our society progress and improve began before his appointment to the Senate. One initiative to his credit is the founding of La Maison Jean Lapointe. It was an honour for me to preside over the annual oyster lunch to raise money for the foundation for three consecutive years. That organization has helped many people overcome their struggle with addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling.

As a senator, his bill on video lottery terminals helped to advance the debate on gambling addictions throughout Canada. I have no doubt that his efforts will one day pay off. He will go down in history as the one who led the charge on this important issue.

Jean, for your social commitment, for your ongoing efforts to advance your initiatives and for your contributions to this caucus, we all owe you a debt of gratitude.

Let me tell everyone else, those who have not had the pleasure of being in the Liberal caucus, that when Jean Lapointe spoke to the caucus, everyone listened — especially when he sang his message.

If I may speak on behalf of everyone here, Jean, you are loved and respected by us all. And speaking of those who love you, I would like to salute your family, your staff and your friends, who are with you here today to celebrate your time in the Senate, just one part of your rich career.

With that, Jean, I say "Sing us your Song," for you still have much to say, much to do and much to contribute. We will miss you dearly.

Goodbye for now and good luck.

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Hon. Bill Rompkey:

Honourable senators, there I was, minding my own business in room 200. We were practising for the Christmas concert. Senator Lapointe was playing the grand piano up in front and there was a lull in the proceedings, so we started to sing together. Then he suddenly said, "Why don't you join me? I am going to the Air Canada Centre to the Chrétien tribute, so why don't you join Senator Ringuette and me?"

When I picked my jaw up off the floor, I still found it difficult to speak. However, we went, and he rehearsed us and made sure that we were ready to perform. I remember being at the Air Canada Centre and saying to myself, "Now, don't be nervous," although my knees were shaking, "just keep your eyes on Jean Lapointe, and everything will be okay." We got out on stage, and fortunately, the lights were all down in the Air Canada Centre. There was a spotlight on the stage, so I could not see anyone. It was as if there was no audience there at all, but there was and I knew I had to keep my eyes on Jean.

I just want to say to Jean that it was one of the most memorable experiences I have had, and he made it possible. Maybe when people speak about me, they will not say, "He served in Parliament for 40 years," but "He is the guy who sang with Jean Lapointe."

That will make me very happy, and it is something that I would treasure.

Thank you for your service to the Senate and for your friendship.

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Hon. Marie-P. Poulin:

Honourable senators, I join you in paying tribute to Senator Jean Lapointe, a great public servant in every sense of the word, as today's statements express so well.

As a raconteur, lyricist, composer, singer, songwriter, actor and so much more, he continues to please his fans around the world and here at home in Canada.

When I was a radio producer a number of years ago, I had a certain bias. I played Jean Lapointe records during every one of my daily broadcasts. Since 1950, Senator Jean Lapointe has been playing a key role in traditional and modern francophone culture. Despite his celebrity, it was the man of compassion I came to know here in the Senate.

As we know, the Jean Lapointe Foundation runs rehabilitation centres in Quebec to help those suffering from addiction. A dear friend of mine spent some time in one of the Jean Lapointe centres. One day, I confided in our colleague that my friend was having a tough time. Jean asked me, "What is your friend's name and telephone number?"

The next day, I received a phone call from my friend. He was laughing so hard he could barely speak. Senator Jean Lapointe did indeed call him, but my friend thought someone was playing a trick on him. He hung up on Jean Lapointe not once, but twice. Jean finally managed to keep my friend on the phone and have a heart-to-heart talk with him.

Jean Lapointe, you have brightened the lives of many. You have given them hope and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As a famous singer with an unequalled sense of humour, you may know that old musicians do not retire; they decompose — but not for many years to come, I hope.

Senator Jean Lapointe, I will miss you.

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Hon. Roméo Antonius Dallaire:

Honourable senators, it is with great humility as a junior member of the Senate that I speak today to pay tribute to one of our senior members, the most senior member, who is leaving us today.

I had the opportunity to see Senator Lapointe on the show Les coulisses du pouvoir, last Sunday, talking about what inspired him to serve his country not only in a historical and artistic sense, but also in terms of influencing the politics of the land.

Son of a Liberal member of Parliament, who sat from 1935 to 1945, Jean Lapointe was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and an Officer of the National Order of Quebec. He is a member of the Académie des Grands Québécois. He has won Genie and Jutra awards many times over. How many kilometres he has travelled throughout this country, in all kinds of weather, alone, far from family, during his career as an artist. How many times he has risked his life on those roads to bring joy, humanity, interest and expression to people in theatres and living rooms in Quebec and elsewhere. And then there is his success in Paris and internationally.

Despite all that time away from his family, but supported by them despite his absence, he also agreed to come to Ottawa to, once again, spend more hours and days separated from them.

Senator Lapointe said:

I came here to serve. And so I contend, I state, I insist and I know that the Senate is the guardian angel of the people, of minorities and of the poor. Because, in contrast, when the party line comes into play, when that is brought to committee and highly competent people testify, that is when partisan lines begin to blur. . . .

Senator Lapointe, you still continued your efforts. You did not give up when these complications arose. On the contrary, you continued to perform with emotion. There is nothing more honest than to see the passion in the eyes and on the face of someone convinced of his mission, someone who is trying to convince others who do not have the same perception of humanity or the same sensitivity to humanity.

You have been a soulmate to me, as I am one of those trying to survive day by day. Every day, the hope is to survive until tomorrow. You understand these emotions, you understand these statements and you understand the enormity of the task at hand.

Jean Lapointe, I salute you.

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Hon. Tommy Banks:

Honourable senators, most of us in the rest of Canada have the disadvantage of not fully appreciating or understanding the way in which and the extent to which Quebecers and other members of the francophonie in Canada appreciate, understand and hold in such high esteem their creative artists. Therefore, we cannot fully appreciate the story that Senator Poulin told us when she explained to us her friend received a phone call from Jean Lapointe, and it seemed like it must be a joke because it was not possible that Jean Lapointe would actually be calling him.

We therefore also cannot appreciate the iconic stature that Jean Lapointe occupies in the Quebec pantheon of great artists. He is an actor, a musician, a comedian, a raconteur and an author, and he brings great distinction in those respects to this place, as he always has.

Like Senator Rompkey, I have the great honour of saying that I once actually played with Jean Lapointe, and it is one of the most important moments of my life. We will miss you greatly.

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Hon. Mobina S.B. Jaffer:

Honourable Senator Jean Lapointe, my esteemed colleague and dear friend, Senator Lapierre, Senator Léger, you and I all joined the upper chamber together in June 2001. I am very happy that Senator Léger is here with us today. I feel that we are all connected here.

Your departure will certainly leave a void that can never be filled. However, your words and your famous works will often echo here, reminding us that you are always with us.

The Senate process has always been important to you, and you have never had trouble expressing how it made you feel. Sometimes that took courage. I tip my hat to you and your undying, daring attitude. That is not something all of us share.

Senator Lapointe, I will always associate my time in the Senate with you as we arrived here at the same time and during that time, I have come to admire you.

Senator Lapointe, I will miss you.

Please click here to read more tributes to the Honourable Jean Lapointe, O.C.

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