Mr. Speaker, I rise sadly today to pay tribute to a man with whom I had the honour and privilege to work for over 10 years as an organizer and political adviser for the Quebec Liberal Party.
He was a man who believed in a strong Quebec inside a strong Canada. I remember a man who believed in the full and strong participation of all Quebecers in the political process, regardless of their ethnic origin.
But I rise not to speak of his political accomplishments, which are many, but to remember the human side of the man we call Robert Bourassa.
I remember he would rather drink a glass of milk than anything else. I remember he loved Chinese food. I remember he always started off his days by swimming laps in the pool. I remember he always had vegetables in his car.
I remember the first time I met him and we spoke. He was crammed with his feet up to his chin in a used car that I used to drive around as a political organizer. In that position he made a commitment to me and to other Quebecers that night-I was a novice at the time-that he had a deep commitment to public service and to ensure that members of Quebec's cultural communities continue to play a strong role in Quebec's future development.
I extend my sympathies to his family and his wife-
In short, I remember.