Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2025-09-17 16:00:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, NDP)",
        "fr": "Jenny Kwan (Vancouver-Est, NPD)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"8873071\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the NDP, I too rise to pay tribute to the late Hon. John McCallum. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873072\" data-originallang=\"en\">It has already been said in this place that he had many accomplishments. He was a recognized and respected economist; he was a recognized academic; he was a recognized parliamentarian; and of course he was a recognized diplomat. In the face of all that work and all that effort, though, before all of it, he was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a friend and colleague, and that is how I knew John: as a colleague in this place, as many, like me, have cited as their experience with John. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873073\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Like them, in 2015, when I was first elected, John was also in this House. He was the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. I was the critic for the NDP, and as a newly elected member of Parliament, I was so often lost in this place. Shortly after the election, a constituent phoned me to ask for help on an immigration matter. It was actually a family who needed to come and see their dying father before they departed. In my eagerness to support them, I did not know what to do. I picked up the phone, I searched the directory and I called John's office. I left a message and I was not sure if anybody was even going to pick it up, because it was early days after the election. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873074\" data-originallang=\"en\">Lo and behold, John McCallum called me back, and he put his office and his staff onto it, even though he did not have very much staff, as he said to me. However, he put people onto it and ensured that they would do their best to support the family, and that he did. I will never forget that moment in time when a minister picked up a call and responded to a call from an opposition MP in helping their constituent. That kindness was something that I will never forget about John McCallum, that level of responsiveness that he took to the job and that respect he has shown not only to me as a colleague but more importantly to his role as the minister of immigration in respecting the needs of Canadians. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873075\" data-originallang=\"en\">That was the John McCallum I was reminded of when I heard about his passing.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873076\" data-originallang=\"en\">I then thought about his work. As he cited at the time, being the minister of immigration was a significant job, because the government was working through the Syrian refugee initiative. It was an ambitious initiative and it was a tough one to accomplish, and that he did. There were some missteps here and there and everywhere, as in all things that we try to do. John McCallum, though, took to the job with a sense of humility, I would say. He was not bragging about that work and he was also open to what he could learn and what I, as the opposition critic, could offer to help him do that job better. I offered many different suggestions, and in the Syrian refugee initiative, there were many lessons learned.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873077\" data-originallang=\"en\"> One important lesson was for us to take in and utilize the knowledge of the communities of people who are new arrivals and have established themselves and have the language and cultural experience to welcome newcomers but do not really have a place in the established structure of resettlement services. I went to John and said, \u201cLook, we should be leveraging the strength of all Canadians in this effort.\u201d He said to me, \u201cWhat do you think we should do?\u201d I offered some suggestions, including helping these younger, newer organizations to build capacity, and for us to utilize their strength and harness their strength in the resettlement effort. That is exactly what he did.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873078\" data-originallang=\"en\">I appreciate a parliamentarian, a minister, who brings that kind of view to this place. After all, that is why we run for office. I am absolutely sure that was the reason John ran for office as well. It was to help Canadians so that we can support each other.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873079\" data-originallang=\"en\">The responsiveness of John as minister is something to be noted, but I also want to acknowledge something else. I remember when he left this place back on January 31, 2017, and he gave his final speech in Parliament. He looked back on what he felt was good, the things he accomplished, and he singled out two things in particular: \u201cthe nomination of Nelson Mandela to be an honorary citizen back in 2001 and, in particular, the Syrian refugees.\u201d We should always remember that. Why it stood out is that it showed Canada's compassion and kindness, and it showed that Canada is different. In nominating Nelson Mandela, who is an icon of social justice, that is also what it stood for.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873080\" data-originallang=\"en\">Let me close with a quote. John McCallum said the following:</p>\n<blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"8873081\" data-originallang=\"en\"> what makes me really proud is not that we got the job done, although that is good, but that at a time when so many countries around the world are closing their doors to refugees, ordinary Canadians across this land have come out and have welcomed our newcomers with open hearts. That is what makes me very proud to be a Canadian. </p>\n</blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"8873082\" data-originallang=\"en\">Those were the words of John McCallum in this place on his way out as a parliamentarian. For that, I honour you. I honour your work. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873083\" data-originallang=\"en\">I thank his family for his service to our community and for sharing him. Last but not least, I say let those words be a reminder of what we need to continue to do, especially during these very difficult times in the global community.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"8873071\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, je prends aussi la parole, au nom du NPD, pour rendre hommage \u00e0 l'honorable John McCallum, qui nous a quitt\u00e9s r\u00e9cemment. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873072\" data-originallang=\"en\">Ses nombreuses r\u00e9alisations ont d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9voqu\u00e9es \u00e0 la Chambre. John \u00e9tait un \u00e9conomiste reconnu et respect\u00e9. Il \u00e9tait aussi un \u00e9minent universitaire, parlementaire et, bien s\u00fbr, diplomate. Il a certes accompli beaucoup de choses, mais c'\u00e9tait avant tout un fils, un fr\u00e8re, un \u00e9poux, un p\u00e8re, un ami et un coll\u00e8gue, et c'est ainsi que je l'ai connu. Il \u00e9tait notre coll\u00e8gue, comme de nombreux d\u00e9put\u00e9s l'ont \u00e9galement dit en parlant de leur relation avec John.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873073\" data-originallang=\"en\">Comme eux, en 2015, lorsque j'ai \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9lue pour la premi\u00e8re fois, John \u00e9tait \u00e9galement pr\u00e9sent \u00e0 la Chambre. Il \u00e9tait ministre de l'Immigration, des R\u00e9fugi\u00e9s et de la Citoyennet\u00e9. J'\u00e9tais porte-parole du NPD, et, en tant que d\u00e9put\u00e9e nouvellement \u00e9lue, il m'arrivait parfois de me sentir un peu perdue. Peu apr\u00e8s les \u00e9lections, un de mes concitoyens m'a t\u00e9l\u00e9phon\u00e9 pour me demander de l'aide au sujet d'une affaire d'immigration. Il s'agissait en fait des membres d'une famille qui avaient besoin de venir voir leur p\u00e8re mourant avant leur d\u00e9part. Malgr\u00e9 mon empressement \u00e0 les aider, je ne savais pas quoi faire. J'ai pris le t\u00e9l\u00e9phone, j'ai cherch\u00e9 dans l'annuaire et j'ai appel\u00e9 le bureau de John. J'ai laiss\u00e9 un message, sans savoir si quelqu'un allait donner suite, car nous \u00e9tions encore au tout d\u00e9but de la l\u00e9gislature.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873074\" data-originallang=\"en\">Eh bien, \u00f4 surprise, John McCallum m'a rappel\u00e9e. Il a mis son bureau et son personnel sur le coup \u2014 et ce, m\u00eame s'il n'avait pas beaucoup de personnel, comme il me l'a dit \u2014 et s'est assur\u00e9 qu'ils feraient de leur mieux pour aider la famille, et c'est ce qu'ils ont fait. Je n'oublierai jamais ce moment o\u00f9 un ministre a r\u00e9pondu \u00e0 un appel d'une d\u00e9put\u00e9e de l'opposition afin de venir en aide \u00e0 l'un des concitoyens de cette derni\u00e8re. Je n'oublierai jamais cette gentillesse de John McCallum, la sensibilit\u00e9 dont il faisait preuve dans son travail et le respect qu'il avait t\u00e9moign\u00e9 \u00e0 mon \u00e9gard, certes, mais aussi \u00e0 l'\u00e9gard de son r\u00f4le de ministre de l'Immigration et des besoins des Canadiens. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873075\" data-originallang=\"en\">C'est ce John McCallum qui m'est revenu \u00e0 l'esprit lorsque j'ai appris son d\u00e9c\u00e8s.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873076\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'ai ensuite pens\u00e9 \u00e0 son travail. Comme il l'a dit \u00e0 l'\u00e9poque, le poste de ministre de l'Immigration \u00e9tait important, car le gouvernement en avait plein les bras avec l'initiative pour les r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s syriens. Cette initiative ambitieuse \u00e9tait difficile \u00e0 mettre en \u0153uvre, mais il l'a fait. Il y a eu de faux pas ici et l\u00e0, comme dans tout ce que nous essayons de faire. Je dirais toutefois que John McCallum a assum\u00e9 ses fonctions avec humilit\u00e9. Il ne se vantait pas du poste qu'il occupait et \u00e9tait \u00e9galement ouvert \u00e0 ce qu'il pouvait apprendre et \u00e0 ce que je pouvais lui offrir, en tant que porte-parole de l'opposition, pour mieux faire ce travail. J'ai fait de nombreuses suggestions, et nous avons tir\u00e9 de nombreuses le\u00e7ons de l'initiative pour les r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s syriens.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873077\" data-originallang=\"en\">L'une des le\u00e7ons importantes que nous avons tir\u00e9es, c'est que nous devons prendre en compte et utiliser les connaissances des communaut\u00e9s de nouveaux immigrants qui se sont \u00e9tablis et qui ont l'exp\u00e9rience linguistique et culturelle n\u00e9cessaire pour accueillir les nouveaux arrivants, mais qui n'ont pas vraiment leur place dans la structure \u00e9tablie des services de r\u00e9installation. Je suis all\u00e9 voir John et je lui ai dit: \u00ab \u00c9coutez, nous devrions tirer parti de la force de tous les Canadiens dans cet effort. \u00bb Il m'a demand\u00e9: \u00ab Que devrions-nous faire, selon vous? \u00bb J'ai fait quelques suggestions, notamment aider les jeunes organisations plus r\u00e9centes \u00e0 renforcer leurs capacit\u00e9s et utiliser leurs forces dans le cadre de l'effort de r\u00e9installation. C'est exactement ce qu'il a fait.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873078\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'estime les d\u00e9put\u00e9s, les ministres, qui pr\u00e9sentent ce genre de point de vue \u00e0 la Chambre. Apr\u00e8s tout, c'est la raison pour laquelle nous nous lan\u00e7ons en politique. Je suis absolument certaine que c'est \u00e9galement la raison pour laquelle John l'a fait. C'\u00e9tait pour aider les Canadiens afin que nous puissions nous soutenir les uns les autres.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873079\" data-originallang=\"en\">La sensibilit\u00e9 de John \u00e0 titre de ministre m\u00e9rite d'\u00eatre soulign\u00e9e, mais je tiens aussi \u00e0 mentionner autre chose. Je me souviens du moment o\u00f9 il a quitt\u00e9 la Chambre, le 31 janvier 2017, et o\u00f9 il a prononc\u00e9 son dernier discours au Parlement. Il \u00e9tait heureux des choses qu'il avait accomplies, et il a parl\u00e9 de deux moments en particulier: \u00ab la nomination de Nelson Mandela comme citoyen honoraire en 2001 et, surtout, les r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s syriens \u00bb. Nous ne devrions jamais l'oublier. Ces moments sont sortis du lot parce qu'ils ont d\u00e9montr\u00e9 la compassion et la gentillesse du Canada et que ce pays est diff\u00e9rent. Par la nomination de Nelson Mandela, une figure embl\u00e9matique de la justice sociale, le Canada a montr\u00e9 qu'il pr\u00f4nait lui aussi cette valeur.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873080\" data-originallang=\"en\">Permettez-moi de conclure par une citation. John McCallum a d\u00e9clar\u00e9:</p>\n<blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"8873081\" data-originallang=\"en\"> [...] ce qui me rend vraiment fier, ce n'est pas le travail que nous avons accompli, bien qu'il soit une bonne chose, mais plut\u00f4t le fait qu'\u00e0 une \u00e9poque o\u00f9 tant de pays partout dans le monde ferment leur porte aux r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s, les Canadiens ordinaires d'un bout \u00e0 l'autre du pays les ont accueillis \u00e0 bras ouverts. Voil\u00e0 ce qui me rend tr\u00e8s fier d'\u00eatre Canadien. </p>\n</blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"8873082\" data-originallang=\"en\">Ce sont les paroles de John McCallum alors qu'il pronon\u00e7ait son dernier discours \u00e0 la Chambre. Par cons\u00e9quent, je lui rends hommage et je salue son travail.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"8873083\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je remercie sa famille de l'avoir partag\u00e9 avec nous pendant qu'il remplissait son devoir civique. Enfin, et surtout, ces paroles nous rappellent ce que nous devons continuer \u00e0 faire, surtout en cette p\u00e9riode tr\u00e8s difficile sur la sc\u00e8ne internationale.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2025/9/17/jenny-kwan-1/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/jenny-kwan/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/4248/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "13120526",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Oral Questions",
        "fr": "Questions orales"
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Hon. John McCallum",
        "fr": "L'honorable John McCallum"
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2025/9/17/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2025%2F9%2F17%2F"
    }
}