Mr. Speaker, on Friday, November 27, Cape Breton and Canada lost a leader and dedicated public servant in Gerald Yetman.
A veteran of the merchant marine in World War II, Mr. Yetman moved to North Sydney and became a strong voice for labour in Cape Breton. He served as the president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, a national representative of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and president of the Cape Breton District Labour Council. He was also a councillor and the deputy warden for Victoria County.
Gerald Yetman was honoured with a medal in 1993 for his dedication to public service on the 125th anniversary of Confederation. A great orator and strong defender of the worker, Mr. Yetman was much loved, especially by his family. A man of great passion, he would go out of his way to help people whether he knew them or not.
I therefore ask all members of the House to recognize the contribution of Mr. Yetman to his community, his country and his family.