Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I wish you all the best Mr. Blaikie, and thank you for all the work you've accomplished in the House and on this committee.
As Mr. Chambers pointed out, you're the Jedi warrior who's always willing to come to the committee's rescue when its work gets bogged down. I'm therefore a little worried about how things will go from here on.
Are we going to end up with an endless process of systematic obstruction or will we persist with the flying pig socks that Mr. Chambers gave us?
Not only have you contributed greatly to the committee and the House, but your efforts and your social and political commitment are based on sound values.
You care about what happens to ordinary people. You help to improve their circumstances in a pragmatic and concrete working framework based on a search for effective solutions. Well done.
You're going to have some new and rewarding challenges to deal with, not the least of which will be working with the premier of Manitoba, who in my opinion is the most dynamic of Canada's premiers. I wish you all the best in these endeavours.
Living in Ottawa while your family stays in your riding, and not being able to see your children as much as you would like, is definitely a major sacrifice. From now on, you'll be much closer to them.
As our colleagues said, I can well imagine you back in the House again, with an even stronger presence. That would be a great privilege for us.
To conclude, I'd like to say that in my view, you are the very incarnation of the Canadian left, close to the unions, close to ordinary people, and prepared to work on concrete issues with a view to making improvements. That has earned you my total respect.
I'm going to use an expression that was previously applied to another Canadian politician. Thanks to your firm and constructive approach and your deeply rooted values, you provide quiet strength to the committee, to Parliament and to your political party. We are truly going to miss you.
We wish you the very best for the future.
Don't hesitate to come and see us or to contact us if we can work with you in any way.
Thanks for everything. Congratulations, my friend!