Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to pay tribute to a lion and a legend. The Right Hon. Don Mazankowski served Canadians with dignity and integrity for two decades as the MP for Vegreville. As deputy prime minister he was called the “minister of everything”, and apparently the prime minister's instruction to everyone else was to “run it by Maz”. He said he was inspired by Diefenbaker's visit to Vegreville and his message that the west must play a meaningful role in national business.
Maz was a powerful voice for Alberta, for the west and for our role in Confederation. He never forgot where he came from while he was in Ottawa. A staunch advocate for his riding, where he is much loved, he was said to have no enemies after over 20 years in politics, which really is a remarkable feat on its own. I cannot say the same for me after only five.
After a political life, Maz kept giving in other ways to countless charities and causes. Selflessly, he even declined a seat in the Senate. A former MLA in Lakeland said, “Maz did politics the right way, tenacious but gracious, argumentative but not mean-spirited, hard-nosed but soft-hearted.”
I thank Lorraine, Roger, Sheryi Ray, Morgan, Mackenzie and all the Mazankowski family for sharing him with Canada. We are all better for it.