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Longest Serving Member Of The Senate Lowell Murray Retiring With Little Fanfare

Longest Serving Senator Retiring With Little Fanfare
Flickr: scazon

The longest serving member of the Senate is retiring next week with little fanfare.

Senator Lowell Murray, who was appointed in 1979 by former prime minister Joe Clark and refused to sit as part of the amalgamated Conservative caucus, is retiring on Monday, Sept. 26 on his 75th birthday.

He was ardently opposed to the PC-Canadian Alliance merger and is one of two senators who kept the 'Progressive-Conservative' title and sat as independents. (Alberta's Elaine McCoy is the other).

Murray has served in the Senate for 32 years. He was former Government Leader in the Senate from 1986 to 1993. Despite he long track record as a parliamentarian, his office told The Huffington Post Canada Wednesday that no tributes are planned for him next week. Retiring senators are often treated to warm speeches about their contribution to the upper chamber. Conservative Sen. Vim Kochhar, who was appointed at age 73 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and retires today, will be hosted at a small event next Tuesday when the Senate resumes its sittings.

Murray's staffer said the Senator didn't want any tributes — although she noted, that didn't prevent anyone from standing up and saying something.

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