Hon. Marty Klyne: Honourable senators, I rise to pay tribute to the esteemed Dr. Jane Goodall, who has honoured the Senate and our country with her visit here today.
As you know, and as Her Honour just acknowledged, Dr. Goodall is a world-renowned primatologist, conservationist and United Nations Messenger of Peace. She is also the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, a leading organization working around the world to save wildlife.
Dr. Goodall’s legendary discoveries about our closest living relatives — chimpanzees — have revolutionized humanity’s understanding of our relationship with animals. Dr. Goodall used science to prove what many Indigenous peoples have always known: We are not separate from our fellow creatures, but connected to them.
In short, Dr. Goodall’s discoveries sparked a revolution of empathy. Her life has been devoted to protecting nature. Her message has never been more urgent when it comes to addressing the climate crisis, biodiversity and animal welfare. These are shared priorities for the Honourable Murray Sinclair and me, and I hope for you as well. I have a message to share from Senator Sinclair:
Senators, I regret being unable to join you in hosting the esteemed Dr. Jane Goodall at the Senate, a place which I have thought of as Canada’s council of elders.
Dr. Goodall is truly an elder of our global society, and a hero who inspires us to do better by all creatures of creation with whom we share this earth. I trust you will take to heart her wisdom that we must act now to protect the natural world, a necessity according to both science and Indigenous knowledge.
Dr. Goodall, you have done extensive fieldwork and research with chimpanzees, who form political alliances to achieve their goals. This is excellent preparation for your visit to Parliament. Thank you for your unceasing efforts to protect wildlife, including your conservation initiatives with Indigenous partners in Africa. You are a source of endless hope to people — especially youth — working to save our beautiful planet, and the sacred and innocent animals who deserve our compassion. We will never give up.
Senators, I trust we will transform inspiration into concrete actions to protect the natural world. In honour of Dr. Goodall, and out of respect for all our relations, I trust that we will jointly answer this call.
Thank you. Hiy kitatamihin.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!