Mr. Speaker, today is one of the best days of my life because, this morning, I have had the privilege of accompanying Sébastien Lapierre on his visit to Parliament Hill. On January 9, 2017, Mr. Lapierre became the first Canadian to reach the South Pole on a solo expedition.
Imagine travelling 1,200 km over 42 days and five hours with all that equipment, facing howling winds and temperatures of -50°C, completely alone.
The people of the Quebec City region are lucky to benefit each day from the courage of this exceptional man who works as a firefighter there. Like Mr. Lapierre, I am originally from the beautiful Saguenay region and I too was a cadet when I was young.
Most importantly, we both share the desire to promote the vital importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
I congratulate Mr. Lapierre on behalf of all Canadians.