Mr. Speaker, on January 9 we were saddened by the passing of the hon. John Wise. He was well-known for his active life in the community and his political accomplishments, but most loved for being John Wise the person, the friend, the mentor.
John Clayton Wise was a dairy farmer, a local reeve and the warden of Elgin County. He was a member of Parliament from 1972 to 1988 and was the minister of agriculture in two prime ministers' cabinets. Just being all of that would be an incredible accomplishment for most people, but John was much more.
John was the husband to Ann for 54 years. He was a loving and devoted father to Susan and Elizabeth and a loving grandfather to Jess and Grant. John was all of these things and more.
John Wise was my friend and mentor. I will miss his advice, but mostly our community and country will miss the man. My thanks to John.