Mr. Speaker, this evening, Senator Jean-Robert Gauthier and Mrs. Gisèle Lalonde will receive the Order of the Legion of Honour from the French government. On the same occasion, Jean Poirier will be promoted within this order, and made an Officer of the National Order of Merit.
This is one of the most prestigious honours in the francophone community. It is well deserved by these three individuals who have been devoted to the Canadian Francophonie for many years.
We are all grateful for the work that Senator Gauthier, Mrs. Lalonde and Mr. Poirier have done.
I regret not being able to attend this evening's ceremony, which the embassy has described as an opportunity to pay tribute to the entire Franco-Ontarian community.
I wish, however, to thank these three French Canadians from Ontario for their involvement and to congratulate them on this well-deserved decoration.