Honorary degree citation - Bryce Mackasey*

By: J.W. O’Brien, November 1970

Mr. Chancellor:

I have the honour to present to you a former student of this University, member of parliament for Verdun, and Minister of Labour in the Government of Canada, the Honourable Bryce Mackasey.

Bryce Mackasey has made his name through speaking his mind on behalf of people of Verdun, of Montreal, of Quebec and of Canada. For eight years he has been the hard working and much appreciated representative of a constituency which in its amalgam of French and English speaking citizens symbolizes the bedrock of our city. For two years he has been an active Minister of Labour, with a gift for settling problems, combining as he does a sense of personal responsability with the ability to create an effective administrative system. Mr. Mackasey has also served Canada internationally both as a representative at the United Nations and through a variety of missions on behalf of the government.

Bryce Mackasey has never made any secret of his liberalism - spell it with a small '1' or a large 'L' as you wish. Knowing that our concept of democracy depends upon the proper functioning of the party system, he has never forgotten the true purpose of that system or the fundamental requirement that government emanate from the people and serve their needs. Bryce Mackasey was born and has lived all his life in Quebec. He was elected to the Federal Parliament in 1962. Three years later he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Health and Welfare, and in 1966 Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour. He became Minister without Portfolio in February 1968 and Minister of Labour the following July.

Mr. Chancellor, it is an honour to present to you, on behalf of University Council, and by the authority of the Board of Governors, the Honourable Bryce Mackasey, Minister of Labour of Canada, that you may confer on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

* deceased