Mattawa to honour Speaker of the House Gilbert Parent

Mattawa and District Historical Society
News Release

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On Sept. 6th The Mattawa and District Historical Society is proud to announce the unveiling of the Hon. Gilbert Parent P.C. Display Sunday, September 6, 2009. at the Mattawa and District Museum.
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Information about the honoree

Speaker of the House Gilbert Parent

Gilbert (Gib) Parent was a respected Ontario parliamentarian, best known for the two terms he served as Speaker of the House in Ottawa.

"As speaker of the House of Commons . . . he was the face and voice of respect and civility in the House, and that is how he will be remembered - as a dignified public servant, dedicated to the common good of his fellow Canadians," said current Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

Gilbert (Gib) Parent, the youngest of five children, was born in 1935 in Mattawa, Ontario. His father, Nelson Parent, was a WWI veteran who had survived the poison gas attacks but never fully regained his health. When Gilbert was five years old the family moved to Welland in Southern Ontario where his father found work as a janitor in a local theatre. Gib Parent was an enthusiastic athlete playing football, baseball, hockey and basketball. At Notre Dame High School he met Father Patrick Fogarty who became a major influence in his life. Father Patrick realized the Parents did not have the means to send their son to college so he helped Gib obtain a football scholarship to St. Joseph's College in Indiana. Father Patrick even paid the boy's train fare.

Parent's football career came to a sudden end when he was seriously injured in an automobile accident after his freshman year. In a larger college this might have meant the end of his education but fortunately the baseball coach at St Joseph's asked him to try out for the team. By making the transition from halfback to catcher, Parent was able to retain his scholarship and complete his studies earning a Bachelor of Science degree. He continued his education by obtaining a teaching certificate from the Ontario College of Education,

His first foray into politics came when he won a seat on the Welland County Roman Catholic Separate School Board. He would also become board chair.

In 1974, he sought and won the Liberal nomination for the federal election. He defeated the incumbent Conservative as the Trudeau Liberals formed a majority government. Barely a month later the thrill of victory was overshadowed by personal tragedy. His only son was killed when hit by a car.

Gib Parent was re-elected in 1979 and 1980. Prime Minister Trudeau named him parliamentary secretary for three terms. He started with the Minister of Veterans Affairs (1977 to 1979) then moving to Labour (1979 to 1981) and finally to Fitness and Amateur Sport (1981 to 1983). He also served as Chairman of the Liberal Caucus for three years including the difficult period leading up to the patriation of the Canadian constitution in 1982.

He served more than 20 years in Ottawa and the only time he ever lost an election was to Allan Pietz during the Mulroney sweep (in 1984).

Mr. Parent decided to make another run for elected office in 1988. He took back his old seat from Pietz who had defeated him in 1984. This time the Liberals were in Opposition and he became Critic for Youth and later for Labour. He ran again in 1993 defeating his nearest opponent by nearly 14,000 votes.

On January 17, 1994 members gathered to choose their Speaker for a Parliament that promised to be filled with excitement and tension. Parent let his name stand for Speaker. After 6 ballots and nearly 7 hours, including an unprecedented tie on the fifth ballot, the task of presiding over the new House was entrusted to him.

In July of 2000, Parent came back to visit his birthplace, Mattawa. "This is the first time I've been here since my election as Speaker of the House," said Parent, " and it's nice to be back home again!" During his visit he spent time with his close relatives and visited the Madadjiwan Centre, where he was officially made a member of the Algonquin Community.

He held the Speaker of the House post until his retirement in 2001. He retired from political life in 2005.

Parent who had been recovering from colon cancer surgery, died of pneumonia in Toronto Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

As stated earlier, Parent always did his best to ensure that MPs comported themselves with dignity, respect and civility in the strenuous debates that occurred during his terms as Speaker of the House. Considering the headstrong positions during debates in the 35th Parliament, this proved to be a major accomplishment.

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