NLIS 3
November 18, 2002
(Executive Council)
 

I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Robert French and Mr. Herbert Pottle, who devoted their lives to public service and accomplished much in their time of service.

Bob French contributed a great deal to his town, his district and to the province initially as a businessman and then in his capacity as an elected representative at both the municipal and provincial levels. In his years of service to the people of the province he acted as Opposition critic for Tourism, Culture and Recreation, for Municipal and Provincial Affairs and, most recently, for Labour. He also served as the Party Whip in the House of Assembly and a member of the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Assembly.

Mr. French was also an active volunteer, and helped promote sports such as softball and hockey, as well as the 1996 Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games in the Conception Bay South area and across the province. He was first elected as the Member of the House of Assembly for Conception Bay South District on February 22, 1996.

Herb Pottle, like Mr. French, also had an active and distinguished political career. The last surviving member of Newfoundland�s commission of government, he was a man of integrity with a diverse career in the public service. He was a psychologist, a United Church student minister, a commissioner, a cabinet minister, an author and a devoted family man. Upon his retirement he served as United Nations welfare advisor to the government of Libya and worked for the federal Department of Health and Welfare in Ottawa.

Both of these men were active advocates for the people they represented and, without a doubt, they served their constituency, their communities and their province honourably through their years of service. It is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of both distinguished gentlemen and kindly ask the speaker to extend condolences to their families on behalf of all members of the House of Assembly.

2002 11 18                     1:50 p.m.