Mr. Speaker, I am honoured and I feel deeply privileged to rise in the House today on behalf of my colleagues in the Liberal caucus to remember and pay tribute to the Hon. Deepak Obhrai.
His sudden death on August 2 took my breath away, and I think that is true of everyone who sat with him in the House. I offer our deepest condolences particularly to the members of the Conservative caucus, who feel this loss most deeply. They are, however, not alone in mourning this loss of a valued colleague and a dear friend to all of us.
My last conversation with Deepak happened just four weeks before his untimely death. It was, as might be expected, at the Canada India Foundation's annual Global Indian Award dinner. Deepak walked into the room that night with both a deep and genuine humility and, at the very same time, as if he owned the room. He wore his trademark scarf. He extended warmth to both friend and stranger, humour to all and the occasional jab to me and the one other Liberal who was there.
We were after all honouring the former prime minister, Stephen Harper, so our side was justifiably under-represented. Deepak took great pleasure that night in the award offered to Mr. Harper, but I was quick to tell him that the CIF award and honour belonged as much to him as to the former prime minister for his constant care and attention to both India and to Canadians of Indian descent.
Deepak was an internationalist. An air traffic controller by profession, he seemed happiest getting on a plane to represent Canada and the government in literally almost every country of the world. He brought with him strong diplomatic skills, a passion for human rights and a deep and abiding care for the world's poor and those needing Canadian development assistance. This was genuine, persistent and important to him.
It was a long journey from his birthplace in Tanganyika, or Tanzania as it is now called, his education in India and the U.K. to his true home, which he found in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The member for Ottawa South told me today that while Deepak was a great citizen of the world, he was even more a grateful Canadian whose love of this country fuelled every day of his life as a parliamentarian.
Dean of the Conservative caucus at the time of his death, he loved his party and the opportunities that it gave him to succeed personally as a newcomer to this country, and to remind all of us of the tremendous gifts that immigrants and refugees bring to this country. He was passionate about inclusion, insightful about discrimination and had an innate sense of fairness and generosity.
When I was appointed parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, I went to him for advice. He had a lot of it to give. He had held that position longer than any other parliamentarian and he was generous with it. He loved to tell me stories of his travels and meetings with world leaders, not to promote himself as much as to entertain me. He loved to tease and even torment me, taking great glee in his gentle but persistent partisan ways.
The member for Scarborough—Guildwood reminded me this morning he was not shy about media attention and happily used the moniker “Deepak from CPAC”.
There were many firsts in his life. He was proud to be the first Hindu elected to the Canadian Parliament. He was proud of both his African and his Indian heritage. He was proud of his many election victories and of becoming dean of his caucus. He was proud to become a member of the Queen's Privy Council.
However, I think he was most proud of the voice he provided for newcomers to this country, encouraging them to follow in his footsteps to take their rightful places in leadership, in community, in business, in Parliament, in professions and in government.
Deepak, you befriended me as a new member of Parliament, an opposition critic for multiculturalism, a novice committee chair and neophyte parliamentary secretary. Many in this House had the privilege to call you friend.
Today, we all remember you with fondness. We commit this day to maintaining your passion for justice, human rights and inclusion. We especially give thanks to your beloved wife, Neena; your very proud children Priti, Kaajal and Amman; and your adoring grandchildren Davin Jacob and Evasha. They shared you with the people of Calgary, Calgary East, Calgary Forest Lawn, the people of Canada and the people of the globe, and allowed you to offer your gifts to make this world a better place.
Thank you, Deepak.