Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great parliamentarian. Sadly, John Glass Williams passed away in July. A 15-year veteran of the House of Commons, John served the people of St. Albert with class and distinction. Born in Scotland, John immigrated to Canada as a young man to continue a career in finance, working for the Royal Bank before starting his own accounting business. In 1993, he answered the call to serve his country and was elected as a Reform Party member of Parliament.
John served as the chair of the public accounts committee for many years, exposing corruption in the sponsorship scandal and publishing his widely read “Waste Report”. After retiring, he continued in public service, leading the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption. John was a mentor to me from when I was very young, and I will always remember our get-togethers at his farm outside Morinville.
He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, particularly his wife Christine and his children, Allan, Munro and Vienna. John was also a man of deeply held Christian convictions, and his courageous stand for the truth, both secular and spiritual, will not be forgotten. He has served his country and his God well. May he rest in peace.