Mr. Speaker, all New Brunswickers were saddened at the recent passing of the hon. Fern Dubé.
First elected to the New Brunswick legislature in 1974, he served his province for 13 years as Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Finance and Energy, then as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and finally as Minister of Commerce and Technology. He was especially instrumental in building understanding between French and English speaking New Brunswickers.
Those of us who knew Fern will always remember him as a true gentleman. Fern never lost touch with the grassroots people. At the time of his passing he was still serving them as mayor of his beloved city of Campbellton, New Brunswick.
Fern is survived by his wife Monique, his daughters France and Anik, and his sons Pierre and Jean, our colleague the hon. member for Madawaska—Restigouche.
I am sure I speak for all members of the House when I say that our sympathies go out to the Fern Dubé family.