Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to pay tribute to Camille Thériault, who has announced his intention to leave active politics in New Brunswick.
First elected in 1987, Camille served as the MLA for Kent South, as minister of fisheries and aquaculture, advanced education and labour, economic development and tourism, and as our premier. He brought to the job a unique blend of genuine passion for justice and equity, a belief that government is an instrument for good, and a realization that wealth not generated is wealth not shared.
The pride of his own remarkable family, Camille glows in the company of his wife and children. Although Camille and I are contemporaries, I have always considered his father, Norbert, a hero. I could pay my friend no greater compliment than to recognize his contribution to New Brunswick to be equal to that of his father. To Camille, Gisele, Sophie and Sebastien—