Funeral of the Honourable Pierre Claude Nolin

On April 30, 2015, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, attended the funeral of the Honourable Pierre Claude Nolin, Speaker of the Senate.

Born in Montreal on October 30, 1950, Speaker Nolin was married and the father of three children. In the Senate, he served on various committees, including the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration; the Standing Committee on National Security and Defence; the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations; the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources; the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade; the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament; the Senate Special Committee on the Anti-Terrorism Act; and the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs. Speaker Nolin occupied various leadership positions with the Conservative Party since 1984. On November 20, 2013, he was unanimously elected Speaker pro tempore of the Senate and, on November 26, 2014, Governor General David Johnston appointed him Speaker of the Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Harper.

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, delivered remarks on this occasion.

Mr. Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada, paid tribute to Speaker Nolin, who he appointed to the Senate on June 18, 1993 for the senatorial division of De Salaberry (Québec).

The service was held at the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal.

Mr. Nolin's children said their last goodbye to their father.

During the service, the Governor General was sitting beside the Prime Minister and his spouse Laureen Harper.