to the Senate by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson at the recommendation of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 2000. He represented Alberta, sitting as a Liberal. In the Senate, he served as a member of the Standing Committee on National Finance, of the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, of the Standing Committee on National Security and Defence (SCONSAD) and on its steering committee, and as chair of the Subcommittee on Veterans’ Affairs. In each of the 37th, 38th, and 39th Parliaments he was elected Chair of the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources. In the 37th and 38th Parliaments he served as Chair of the Alberta Liberal Parliamentary Caucus. Following dissolution of the 37th Parliament Senator Banks was named to an all-party Committee of Parliamentarians from both Houses, given the task of advising the Government on the setting up of parliamentary oversight of security intelligence matters. He served on an ad hoc basis on several additional committees of the Senate. He was vice-chair of the Caucus task force on urban issues that produced Canada's Urban Strategy - a Blueprint for Action which Report led to an important national debate. Authored legislation items The Statutes Repeal Act, (2008) An Act to Amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act (2008) Auditor General Act (involvement of Parliament) (2010) Sponsored legislation items Canada National Parks Act (2000) Canada National Marine Conservation Act (2001) Act to Establish the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (2005) Act to Amend the Migratory Birds Convention (1994) Species At Risk Act (2002) Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (2005) Canada Border Services Agency Act (2005) Act to Amend the Criminal Code (justification for detention in custody) (2010) Death Banks died of leukemia on January 25, 2018, in Edmonton, Alberta. Titles, honours, and awards. Titles December 17, 1936April 7, 2000: Mr Thomas Benjamin Banks April 7, 2000: The Honourable Thomas Benjamin Banks As a former senator, Banks was entitled to be styled The Honourable for life. Honours In order, these ribbons symbolise Banks': Order of Canada, Alberta Order of Excellence, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Alberta Centennial Medal Awards Banks won the Sir Frederick Haultain Prize, the 1979 Juno Award for Best Jazz Album, the 1992 Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Variety Program (with k.d. Lang, for their performance at the Canadian