Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely delighted to rise today to congratulate Yann Martel, who yesterday won the coveted Man-Booker Prize for his book Life of Pi . Life of Pi had previously won the Hugh MacLennan Award for fiction.
The Man-Booker Prize represents the very best of contemporary fiction. One of the world's most famous literary prizes, the Booker has been called the ultimate accolade for every fiction writer.
Canadian authors have historically ranked among the best in the world. Our writers keep producing masterworks that captivate a universal audience. Canada has a strong literary presence, and we should be proud of our authors and all our creators.
I would like to invite all Canadians to join me in congratulating Yann Martel for winning the 2002 Man-Booker Prize.