Mr. Speaker, we were greatly saddened to hear of the death yesterday of François Gérin.
After making a name for himself throughout Quebec as a criminal lawyer, he came upon the federal political scene in 1984 under the Progressive Conservative banner, as the member for Mégantic—Compton—Stanstead.
On May 18, 1990, with the Meech Lake agreement's failure looming, he made the announcement in this House that he had decided to sit as an independent.
Realizing sovereignty was the only possibility for the future of Quebec, he joined with Lucien Bouchard in founding the Bloc Québécois.
This ardent defender of funding by the people, this man of conviction and principle, was also a man of flexibility, one who respected his adversaries and was respected by them.
His deeds will forever remain part of Quebec's history and the progress of its people toward full sovereignty.
The Bloc Québécois wishes to extend its sincere condolences to the family and friends of François Gérin.