Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Patriots Day. By dedicating the Sunday closest to November 23 to the memory of those who fought for the fundamental values of freedom and democracy-as my colleague from Hochelaga-Maisonneuve mentioned a few moments ago-Quebecers want to pay tribute to the patriots who did everything they could to leave us a country we can call our own, a country that meets our aspirations.
Their contribution to the history of Quebec and Canada is unquestionable. In fact, on October 7, the Maison nationale des Patriotes, located in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, received a prestigious award from Parks Canada. This house, which once belonged to merchant and patriot Jean-Baptiste Mâsse, has been converted into an interpretation centre. Visitors are reminded of the events that led to the patriots rebellion in 1837 and 1838, when those who were then called "Canadians" fought against the British colonial regime.
Since each brick and each stone of a building is essential to its construction, each action taken by these patriots must make us proud of these men and women-