Mr. Speaker, I stand in the House today to pay tribute to the late Ed McCullough, a pioneering member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and former member of Parliament for the Saskatchewan riding of Moose Mountain. Mr. McCullough passed away on Sunday at his home in Cannington Lake after a lengthy illness. He was 85 years old. Born in Moose Jaw, he grew up on his farm near Ponteix in southwest Saskatchewan.
Ed McCullough was first elected in 1945 as one of 18 CCF MPs from Saskatchewan. Although defeated in 1949 he was re-elected in 1953 and in 1957.
Ed was known as a very generous man to all who knew him. He farmed near Cannington, was active in the co-op movement and was a long time member of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and other local co-ops.
Ed was a man of vision and very highly principled. He was a Canadian pioneer who contributed greatly to the quality of life in his community, his province and his country. He was an inspiration to the people who knew him and throughout all of his life worked to promote co-operative principles.
The funeral is being held today in the Wawota United Church. On behalf of the New Democratic Party caucus and all members of the House of Commons I would like to offer my condolences to his wife Madge, to his daughter Peggy Monson and her family, which I know very well, and to all of Ed McCullough's family members.