Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I rise in the House today to honour a dear friend, a former member of Parliament, and senator for Labrador for nearly four decades, Mr. William Rompkey, who died on Tuesday.

Mr. Rompkey served tirelessly as the member of Parliament for Labrador for 23 years and the first and only Labradorian in the Senate of Canada for 16 years. He was an educator, an author, and an elder statesman.

Mr. Rompkey served with tremendous integrity, loyalty and care for the people who sent him to this House.

Mr. Rompkey’s footprint remains forever in the lands of Labrador. He secured the first-ever investment for the first links of the Labrador highway. He secured investment for the first airports in remote north and south communities. He also invested in the changing times of the fishing industry and the mining industry.

He was a close friend and mentor throughout my life, since my first travels with him as a young teenager. Today, I would like to ask all colleagues in the House of Assembly, because I know all Labradorians and Canadians share with me in offering our condolences to his wife Carolyn, his children Hilary and Peter, and all of his friends.