Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, asbestos miners staged one of the most important strikes in Quebec's history. This work stoppage marked a turning point in the province's labour relations.
Although they did not know it, these striking workers laid the groundwork for the sweeping social movement in Quebec known as the Quiet Revolution.
We must pay tribute to all these workers, whose courage, solidarity and determination played such a key role in the development of Quebec's labour movement. They fought for decent wages, of course, but more importantly, they fought to improve the inhumane working conditions in the asbestos mines of that era.
To all these brave miners, from all the workers of Quebec, we say “Thank you” from the bottom of our hearts.