Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago yesterday, Quebec lost one of its greatest artists in Jean Duceppe.
Jean Duceppe was an actor, comedian and host who left his mark on the theatre, film, television and radio worlds. He was known for his roles in My Uncle Antoine, Death of a Salesman, Charbonneau et le chef and The Plouffe Family, and was also known for the theatre company he founded and that still bears his name. Above all, Jean Duceppe was a staunch defender of Quebec.
He loved his people and left a massive cultural legacy, and I was fortunate to call him my grandfather. Of all the lines he ever delivered, his most significant line came at the end of his life. These words are just as powerful now as they were when I was a child: “Quebec is our only country.”