Condolences started pouring in following the death of Senator and former Alberta cabinet minister Elaine McCoy. McCoy who was born in Brandon, Man, passed away in Ottawa on Tuesday at the age of 74.
McCoy had attended the University of Alberta before she pursued a career in law. Post which she was elected as the MLA for Calgary-West from 1986 to 1993, during which time she served as the minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Women’s Issues, Labour, and Human Rights.
She had styled herself as a Progressive Conservative even though that party had merged with the Canadian Alliance in 2003 to form the modern Conservative Party of Canada.
McCoy wore the title as a symbol of what she called her fiscal conservatism and more progressive social values.
Moreover, she was appointed to the Senate of Canada by former Prime Minister Paul Martin on March 24, 2005. She was also a founding member and the first leader of the Independent Senators Group and had later joined the Canadian Senators Group from its inception back in 2019.
The ISG is currently the largest caucus within the Senate.
In a statement on Tuesday, Senator Speaker George J. Furey said that Senator McCoy, who was a respected member of the parliamentary community, shall be greatly missed by her colleagues in the Senate.
Premier Jason Kenney also stated a statement of condolence upon learning of her demise.
Kenney further said that he particularly appreciated working with her as she took a leadership role in fighting the recent legislation that undermined Alberta’s resource industries. Elaine was a very persuasive and unapologetic advocate of the Alberta workers, and the province’s role as a responsible energy producer as well.
And, further added that in recent years, Senator McCoy had faced significant health challenges, but none of which stopped her from working hard to represent Albertans in the Parliament of Canada. For that, and also for a lifetime of public service, he is deeply grateful.
