Honourable senators, I want to begin my statement by saying how wonderful it has been here for the past two weeks. What a real pleasure it has been to be back in the chamber and to be able to do this kind of work together.

My words will be short, but my feelings are very long and deep. I want to pay tribute today to the team that works with me. I want to do that not only on a personal basis, but also to acknowledge that these are all young people and that the national group of volunteers that have been working with me, particularly on the bill to lower the voting age to 16, are volunteers for the most part. My team helps to support them. I really owe so much to each and every one of them.

In particular, someone is leaving my office today, someone who is a former student who came to Ottawa to work with me and has been with me for the last three years. On her very first day, she was working with Senator Pate and I and other members of the Aboriginal Peoples Committee when we made the first amendment that moved us forward on Bill S-3 and actually changed that law.

I want, with my thanks, to also say farewell to Katrina Leclerc and wish her all the best in her doctoral studies. Thank you.