(February 1, 2012)Tribute to Mr. Claude Emery
Honourable senators,
I rise today in tribute to an exceptional researcher, writer, fisheries expert and gentleman, Claude Emery, a long-time analyst with the Library of Parliament, who passed away suddenly on January 11, 2012, at the young age of 53.
I know many senators have served on the Fisheries and Oceans Committee over the years, and we all greatly respected and admired Claude's knowledge and skill. I first met Claude in the late 1980s. I was relatively new to the Senate, and one of my first committees was fisheries and oceans, which, at that time, was chaired by the Honourable Jack Marshall. The committee was a strong and hard-working one and proved to be a great learning ground for myself and for Claude. Even then, he was known for his meticulous research, his clear concise writing and his outstanding work ethic. Never one to complain, Claude devoted himself to his work. He was a prolific report writer and would produce virtually flawless reports right on the first draft. You could literally pick up a copy of a report and know that Claude had written it because the words were all so well chosen and the content so clearly explained. As those of us who have been here a while know all too well, that level of skill is very rare indeed, and in this case, I would say it was unparalleled. Claude could seamlessly weave together research and testimony to produce a report that truly reflected the thoughts, opinions and styles of all committee members. Again, as we know, that is an incredible feat. He could be called upon at any time and would always welcome questions and requests with seriousness, with respect and with patience. Indeed, most often he would know the answers right off the top of his head, but he would always follow up later, quietly, discreetly, with additional information and sources that went to the heart of the issue. That is just the way Claude was. He was quiet, humble, never one to draw attention to himself but always going above and beyond his duty. Joe Gough, a former colleague and friend of Claude's, described him best when he wrote: . . . Claude displayed a thoughtful, patient, and gentle personality. He never showed off his great knowledge of fisheries and oceans matters, because he had an even deeper knowledge of how to treat people. . . . the Library of Parliament and the Senate have lost a gentleman of singular dedication and ability. Honourable senators, I know you join me in offering sincere condolences to Claude's mother, his family and friends and, indeed, his colleagues.