1989 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 34th Parliament

HANSARD

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

Official Report of

DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

(Hansard)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1989

Afternoon Sitting

[ Page

6701 ]

CONTENTS

Tributes to Alexander Vaughan Fraser –– 6701

The House met at 2:07 p.m.

Prayers.

HON. MR. VANDER ZALM :

With the passing of Alex Fraser, British Columbia lost one of its true

champions who served the province with great honour and distinction.

Alex

Fraser's long and eminent political career began in his beloved Cariboo

region where he was elected commissioner of the village of Quesnel in

1949. He served as chairman of the village of Quesnel from 1950 until

1958, and was the first mayor of the town of Quesnel from 1958 until

He was first elected to the B.C. Legislature in 1969

and served for 21 consecutive years. In 1975, he was appointed Minister

of Transportation and Public Works and remained with the Transportation

portfolio until overcome by illness a few years ago. Alex Fraser was

truly a grass-roots politician who was loved and admired by his

constituents and respected by his political opponents and allies.

The

Alex Fraser Bridge, named in his honour in 1986, will be a lasting

legacy to the man who gave so much to the province he so loved. During

the past several years, those who knew Alex watched his struggle

against cancer with profound admiration. He was a fighter, but a

pleasant and cheerful one despite the suffering he endured.

British

Columbians will always remember him as a man thoroughly committed to

the betterment of life for the citizens of the province he so proudly

served. He was a man dedicated to his calling and his province. He was

a man of courage and conviction who will be sorely missed by all. Alex

has now found the ultimate peace.

On behalf of all British

Columbians I extend my sincere condolences to the members of his

family. I realize other members would like to make statements, and I

would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that when that is concluded we observe a

moment's silence. Alex Fraser was a great advocate of the proceedings

of this Legislature, and I think no greater tribute can be paid to him

than to have this chamber adjourn for the remainder of the day, and I

would ask the House Leader to so move at the appropriate time.

MR. HARCOURT :

In politics there are friends and there are foes, and there are rare

people who are both. Alex Fraser was one of those very rare individuals.

For

20 years Alex fought in this Legislature, and he fought very well and

very courageously for what he believed in. He fought hard and with

passion, and we on this side of the House felt the full sting of his

commitment to his beliefs and to the people that he represented.

But once outside the Legislature he set aside those partisan differences. He

had so many friends who may have differed on politics, but they were indeed

friends. What I will remember about Alex is that wry smile on his face when

he was about to say no to you for a project that he wasn't prepared to go

along with, or to say yes because he agreed. It didn't take him long to

say either. He was indeed a straight shooter.

was the king of the Cariboo. He knew that the best old-fashioned

political representation was to take care of the people who sent you

there, and he embodied that spirit of the B.C. interior. He symbolized

that rugged determination and individualism that is at the heart of

this province. Now he is gone. As Tennyson said: "God's finger touched

him, and he slept." But he has left a better Legislature, and he has

left a better province. He will, though, be missed.

He was

so close and had such a deep and abiding relationship with his wife

Gertrude and his family, and I would like Gertrude and his family to

accept our deepest sympathies for the loss. It is a sad day for us all.

MR. KEMPF :

Mr. Speaker, I shall be very brief, for at this time words are not

enough to express what I feel, and I'm certain that all members share

that feeling with me.

Alex Fraser will no longer occupy a

seat in this chamber, but his legacy will remain. His efforts on behalf

of not only his immediate constituents but all British Columbians will

be long remembered. My thoughts today turn to his family, who loved him

so very much. May we all ask that God be with them during this time of

their extreme grief.

MR. ROGERS : This is the first

time in 21 years that we can actually use the man's name in this House.

Alex would have insisted that we follow protocol. He loved this

chamber; he loved estimates in this chamber. There are very few members

of the executive council who enjoy day-to-day grilling during the

period of estimates, but he enjoyed it immensely. He enjoyed every part

of it, because he knew and understood his ministry, his constituents

and the job of this House, and he loved politics.

I recall

one occasion when Mr. Fraser spoke to a large gathering in Vancouver.

He was asked to stand, introduce himself and say something about his

constituency. He stood and said only two words, and they were all he

needed to say: "Fraser, Cariboo."

MR. R. FRASER : We

all expect death, Mr. Speaker, but when it comes we're never ready.

With Alexander Vaughan Fraser there was no doubt about his devotion to

his country or his province. I feel honoured to have known him, and my

wife Jone and I send sympathies to his family.

HON. MR. VANT :

I, too, rise at this very sad time. First, of course, I extend my

condolences to Gertrude, Louise and Bonnie Joy. For sure, Alex Fraser

was first and foremost a very dedicated servant of the people he served

in Cariboo but also throughout the province. I certainly will miss him.

When his illness hadn't completely overcome his ability to come to the

buildings, I enjoyed very much meeting with him on

[ Page 6702 ]

a daily basis. I will cherish for the rest of my life his very practical, sound advice.

is quite true what the hon. Leader of the Opposition said, that in a

sense we are enemies, but there was still that kind of friendship that

endured. For sure, he hated socialism, but he didn't hate socialists.

There was that respect which was mutual. We can all certainly

appreciate his unique style.

Another thing about Alex Fraser was that over the many years of public service — which amounted to 40 years this year —

he always retained that special, unique sense of humour. With that he

managed to not get too emotional. He survived some tough times. Even

with his terminal illness, he still retained that sense of humour and a

very keen interest in everything that happened here in this chamber

and, indeed, throughout the province.

Alex also knew how to

handle civil servants and how to get things through the system. His

legacy will not only be the Alex Fraser Bridge, but in every corner of

this province, there's very tangible evidence of his good work as the

Minister of Transportation and Highways over many years.

Always

he was inspired by his love for the people of the whole province,

especially for the people in the Cariboo. One thing that always

impressed me was the vast multitude of people he knew on a first-name

basis.

He, of course, followed in the footsteps of his

father, John A. Fraser, who was also a member here from 1912 to 1916

and also served in the federal House. I can always remember him at the

fall fair saying to a young lad: "Oh yes, I knew your father," or "I

knew your grandfather." Alex Fraser's career, along with his father's,

spanned more than one generation. For sure, he was inspired by his love

of the Cariboo and, above all else, its people.

For him, as

a very astute politician, his own constituency was always number one.

He served Cariboo well and, indeed, the whole province very well.

MR. GABELMANN :

This morning when I heard the news on a radio broadcast, the first

thought and image in my mind was the glint in Alex's eye when you were

talking to him about a political issue. He would give you an answer

which you knew was "no, " but was said in a way that didn't allow you

to think that he wasn't really saying yes. He loved to parry in debate,

whether it was one-on-one as so many of us had with him for so many

years, or whether it was here in the estimates, which the second member

for Vancouver South (Mr. Rogers) said he enjoyed so much.

I first met Alex when I was 22 in 1966. He was mayor of Quesnel. William Speare

had resigned his seat, which he had won a few months earlier, in order to allow

Robert Bonner to enter the House. I remember very well driving to Quesnel from

UBC — where I was at the time — every weekend to knock on doors for Hartley

Dent, who was our candidate in the by-election. At every door you would hear

people say: "Why wasn't Alex our candidate?" Alex was Mr. Quesnel

and Mr. Cariboo, and a few years later when he ran in 1969, he demonstrated

that very well.

remember him particularly well when I was sitting over there, and he

was sitting over here. In that gravelly voice of his, he would take

positions on behalf of the official opposition of the day, which we

well knew were having quite an impact in helping to do us in. He did

his job as an opposition member very well indeed. In 1975 and in the

subsequent ten years that he sat as a minister, I think all of us who

had the opportunity to work with him — and against him, but mostly to work with him —

found a man of extraordinary ability not of the kind that is so often

measured, but a basic ability founded upon an integrity that all of us

respected.

Mr. Speaker, along with all other members of this House, I will miss Alex Fraser very much indeed.

MR. SERWA :

I rise today to add to and express my condolences to the family of Alex

Fraser. I would like to read into the record today the last letter that

I sent to Alex Fraser, dated April 12, 1989:

Alex Fraser, MLA,

Cariboo

Dear Alex:

I spoke briefly in the House today in support of fund-raising

for the Canadian Cancer Society.

There isn't a day that goes by in Victoria when your

presence here isn't missed. Perhaps one of my greatest personal regrets

is that I have not had the opportunity to really get to know you.

The day after the last provincial election, I met with Bill

Bennett for the purpose of familiarizing myself with the qualities and character

of the people that I would soon meet. As Bill spoke about the members of the

House, one by one, on both sides of the House, he spoke of strong points and

weak points. Alex, when he came to you, he simply said: "Alex is the best

politician in the House." I cannot conceive of a greater tribute to a colleague

than that statement by a much respected Premier. He spoke glowingly of you,

your work, and of your commitment and the ministry you led.

You have achieved many splendid things for the people during

your political career. All British Columbians are in your debt.

MR. SPEAKER : Will hon. members please rise for a moment's silence.

Hon. members rose.

MR. SPEAKER : Thank you, please be seated.

HON. MR. RICHMOND : I know that I speak for every member in this Legislative Chamber when I move that the House do now adjourn.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 2:26 p.m.

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