Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to pay tribute to a great Canadian—a husband, a father, a colleague and a friend: Mario Laguë.
Mario was a Quebecker and a Canadian, a man of great vitality, charm and energy.
He was so full of enthusiasm that when he cheered for the Montreal Canadiens, he could be heard three houses away.
As director of communications in my office, he always managed to keep his cool, his sense of humour and his sense of irony.
Mario Laguë was proud to have been a Canadian ambassador, a public servant, and an adviser to prime ministers, but he was proudest of his family: Caroline, Arianne and Clara. We thank them for sharing Mario with us.
Today we pause and reflect in this chamber. In the public life of our country, there is a void where a boisterous, courageous and funny man once stood.
Au revoir, Mario.
We miss him.