Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of emotion that I rise to pay tribute to the hon. Pierre Claude Nolin and offer my condolences to his loved ones and to all those who had the privilege of being his friends and colleagues.
Our Canadian federation has lost a very wise man with a knowledge and understanding of life that allowed him to hold one of the most prestigious positions, that of Speaker of the Senate.
The hon. Pierre Claude Nolin was a man of integrity and honesty. He won many people over with his presence and his convictions.
For me, this exceptional man's qualities are those that every Canadian parliamentarian hopes to leave as a legacy to our great country. Some of those qualities include his unwavering courage, his candour and his genuineness.
The contribution that the hon. Pierre Claude Nolin made cannot be summarized in just one minute.
I extend my condolences to his wife, Camille, to his children, Simon, Louis and Virginie, and to his family and loved ones.
We will honour his memory well and we will remember him for a long time.