Senator Rosemary Moodie

Honourable senators, it is my honour to rise today to give tribute to an honourable senator, a leader, a mentor, a dear friend and sister — Mobina Jaffer.

Senator Jaffer, congratulations on your illustrious career, a career that includes many highlights, such as being named Queen’s Counsel, chairing both the Human Rights Committee and the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee and being Canada’s Special Envoy for Peace in Sudan. As many have mentioned, your career is marked by many incredible firsts.

You moulded your career with persistence and with focus in the face of significant trials: expulsion from your homeland of Uganda, health issues that have challenged your ability to work as freely as you would want and facing racism and sexism within this very institution. Despite these trials and challenges, you have become the effective, strong and compassionate legislator that you are today.

These challenges have never silenced you. You never wavered. You turned your pain into purpose, and I, for one, am thankful that you never gave up. Despite these challenges, you have also stayed faithful to who you are, to your family, your faith and your values.

Despite your sharp intellect, political savvy, broad experience and deep connections, you remain humble and kind. Few can go through decades in politics and maintain their integrity as you have.

You have a large legacy, dear friend, not just for the legislative work that you have led but for the impact you’ve had on the people you have met. That is why you are loved and appreciated and why you will never be forgotten.

As Chair of the African Canadian Senate Group, it has been an honour for me to work with you. I congratulate and thank you on behalf of our group. We are proud to count you as a founding member. We hope to do your legacy real justice.

Thank you, friend. I’ll miss you terribly. Enjoy your retirement.