Thank you, Chair.
I do want to take a moment to acknowledge the immense contribution to this place of my close friend and our colleague, Arnold Chan.
I know he would want us to focus on our work, to move forward with what we need to do. When I visited him a few days ago, his concern was not about himself, but rather how everyone else was doing. He knew where he was going and wanted to make sure that the rest of us were going to carry on. He wanted to know what was happening here, to discuss our work in procedure and House affairs, where we sat together, and to pick up on the most recent gossip from around the Hill.
He loved this place. He lived this place. Of course, being Arnold, he apologized profusely between laboured breaths that he would probably not be able to join us at caucus the following day or at the House this fall.
On behalf of all of us here, I want to send my best to Jean and their three sons. We are with them at this difficult time.
To Arnold, we will remember to follow our hearts and to use our heads. As we do, Arnold, you will always be with us.