Mr. Speaker, today I would like to draw the attention of the House to the tenth anniversary of the Cirque du Soleil, an organization that has acquired international fame.
Over the years, many awards have confirmed the genius of these performers, including the gold medal of the second international circus festival in Genoa, the gold medal of the fifteenth Festival mondial du cirque de demain, held in Paris, as well as several other awards in Europe, Asia and America.
Now ten years old, the Cirque du Soleil is still a remarkable testimony to Quebec's place in the world, with its 580 employees, including 162 performers, and an operating budget of several million dollars.
A total of 6.5 million spectators have seen their performances, and another 1.5 million are expected to attend this year.
Here is an outstanding example of what Quebecers can achieve when they act independently.