My friend, Mauril Bélanger
Re: Longtime Liberal MP’s legacy is anthem change, Aug. 17
Earlier this week an exceptional Canadian left us; thankfully, his legacy remains.
I had the privilege of working for and, for far too brief a time, alongside Mauril Bélanger. And he was intimidating! Mauril was intimidating because he was smart (a member of Mensa), hard-working (early to work, always present at community events) and perhaps most of all, his judgment was just.
Mauril was always a straightshooter. I first met him when I was a Young Liberal at the University of Ottawa in the late 1980s; Mauril was already well known in the Liberal party as the go-to guy to chair controversial meetings. He treated friends and foes with the same respect and regard for due process.
Mauril was always openminded, however, you had to convince him through facts and strength of argument. You always had to do your homework before trying to convince Mauril of a certain course of action because you could be sure he, Mauril, had done his homework. He told you, politely and with elegance, exactly what he thought on a certain subject.
Mauril was tireless in pursuing justice whenever and wherever it was required. This explains why he was involved in student government at the University of Ottawa. The same can be said for his principled and active support for the Montfort Hospital, or for designating our national capital as an official bilingual city. He was not daunted by the task of convincing the federal government to modify its policies so that deportations to countries undergoing civil strife, like Burundi, would cease as long as those perilous conditions prevailed. And, of course, we all know about his efforts to change the English lyrics to our national anthem ...
Mauril’s friendships were not subject to small-minded political tribalism. He had friends on all sides of the House of Commons: Liberals, Conservatives, New Democrats and independents. Reading the heartfelt reactions to his death from all Parliamentarians would soften the hardest hearts.
Mauril Bélanger was an exceptional constituency representative and parliamentarian, a tireless advocate for those arraying themselves against powerful interests. His constituents were justified in lending him their confidence election after election.
Two months ago, more than 1,000 people showed on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum to take part in the ALS Walk for Ottawa-Gatineau.
Mauril was not the only person there living with ALS, but he was the reason many of us were present.
Although the plan was to take part in the entire 10-km walk, it was raining hard in unseasonably cold weather. Mauril asked to return. I accompanied Mauril and two of his brothers back to the museum. All the walkers save one were gone. This one fellow — an older man — approached us, stopped, respectfully removed his hat from his head, and said, slowly and deeply to Mauril, “Merci, monsieur Bélanger.”
Thank you, Mauril, for your life’s dedication to public service. Greg Fergus, member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer
Mauril’s friendships were not subject to small-minded political tribalism. He had friends on all sides of the House of Commons ... Reading the heartfelt reactions to his death from all Parliamentarians would soften the hardest hearts. — Greg Fergus, MP