Mr. Speaker, I would like to join with my colleague from the NDP, and offer, on behalf of all the members of the Bloc Quebecois, our sympathy to the Harding family. I have not had the opportunity to know Mr. Harding personally nor to sit with him during my 12 years here, but as a member of the environment committee I was often reminded of his brilliant contributions. That was during the early days of the green battle, as it was called in the House of Commons.
I have also heard about the brilliant comments he made when the War Measures Act was introduced and how he ferociously fought for democratic action instead of military intervention. The people of Quebec are grateful to him for this.
Mr. Harding was an alderman for 20 years, an MLA from 1945 to 1966 in his native province of British-Columbia, and then a member of Parliament here, in Ottawa, between 1968 and 1974, where he served his province, his constituents as well as his party with great know-how and stood up for the social democratic principles his party abode by.
Today, the members of the Bloc Quebecois salute Mr. Harding's great contribution to our democracy and extend their most sincere condolences to his family.