Mr. Speaker, it was with great sadness that many of us learned of the recent passing of Mr. Gilles Landry, the Minister of Political and Public Affairs at our High Commission in London.
Only 48 years of age, Gilles had spent 25 years in the Canadian diplomatic service. He was an active promoter of both the Commonwealth and the Francophonie and had previously represented this country in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Paris. Gilles was one of the key people behind the reopening of Canada House.
I had the pleasure of working with Gilles last year and this year in connection with Sierra Leone. I greatly admired the intelligence, the hard work and the obvious dedication that he brought to his work representing this country abroad.
Our foreign service attracts some of the best and the brightest this country has to offer. Gilles was among the best of the best.
Our deepest condolences go out to the family, the friends and the colleagues of Mr. Gilles Landry.