Mr. Speaker, we all know how difficult political life can be. When a political figure disappears, it is only fitting to reflect briefly on the career of the deceased.
A political career spanning 46 years is very long and it certainly shows how much trust the people of Alberta had put in Mr. Manning.
What is impressive is the innumerable decisions that had to be made by this politician during his career, decisions which had an impact on the life of his loved ones and which were dictated, I am sure, by an extraordinary sense of duty and great respect for democracy.
Mr. Manning certainly was committed in the purest sense of the word. For all these reasons, the members of my party join me in extending our deepest sympathy to the leader of the third party, who was sorely afflicted by the passing of his father.
Going beyond political differences, we must bow down before great men and women and this, we always do. There is no doubt that, with a career spanning 46 years, including many years as premier, Mr. Manning was one of the great ones.