Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to pay tribute to my predecessor. Although we do not have the same political affiliation nationally, I think the fact remains that Mr. Dionne has been an efficient member of parliament.
Marcel never liked heckling and off the cuff remarks, but he would set goals for himself and usually achieve them.
What I have tried to share with Marcel for several years is first and foremost the love of our region and passionate dedication to our riding. I recall that during the 1984 election campaign a slightly negative article was written by a journalist from outside Quebec, which was somewhat unfair to our region and to the city of Chicoutimi in particular.
I remember how passionately Marcel set the record straight here in the House in order to restore the good name of our region and particularly that of our city, Chicoutimi, at the national level. He was successful because a correction was made in a national forum.
Marcel worked hard on very concrete issues like the ones mentioned a moment ago by my colleagues. The port of Grande-Anse was indeed his greatest achievement. Also the base in Bagotville benefited from his repeated representations. Goodness knows how important it is in a region like ours to look after an infrastructure such as the base in Bagotville. Otherwise its role diminishes. We must therefore continually remind the government of the value of having in Quebec a facility as strategic as this one.
On the social level Marcel was heavily involved with a team that is massively supported by the people of the region and a great source of pride to us, les Saguenéens. Then, of course, he was also the president of the Fédération des producteurs de pommes de terre. After coming to our region in 1963, he ran a potato operation which created a number of jobs and is a source of regional pride to this day.
I remember that Marcel and I had differences of opinion on occasion. I recall, for instance, that between 1981 and 1984 we did not see eye to eye about the old port of Chicoutimi where some housing was planned. We did not agree on this concept, but it was the one that eventually won out after public consultations.
He never held it against me. On several occasions he told me “I think giving the river back to the people instead of building housing in the old port was the right way to go”. He recognized that.
My most recent memories have been particularly of his courage in the face of his illness. God knows, he met the challenge with great courage and for a long time seemed to have gained the upper hand.
On behalf of my party and myself I express our most sincere condolences to his entire family.