Mr. Speaker, our friend Raymond Lévesque, the man behind the greatest love song of the 20th century, Quand les hommes vivront d'amour, passed away yesterday, February 15. The date of his passing is especially significant given that our national poet, a patriot in the proper sense of the word and a modern pacifist, left us on exactly the same day that our patriots were executed in 1839.
Raymond was a friend to all, an inspiration, an icon, a mentor, and a model of authenticity and commitment to his one and only nation, Quebec. His immense and magnificent body of work was renowned throughout the Francophonie, paving the way for local artists. He received many honours and refused only one, the Canadian Governor General's Award and the $30,000 that came with it, because even though he lived in a precarious situation, he would not put a price on his convictions.
I want to echo Raymond Lévesque's message of love, peace and liberty. As he said in his song Bozo-les-culottes, pioneers are meant to be forgotten, but not you; you will not be forgotten, for your songs will live on forever.
When man lives in love at last,
All our sorrow will be over
The golden age shall come to pass
But we, we'll be gone, my brother.