Mr. Speaker, today, October 23, a major figure in regional agriculture is stepping down from his post.
After eight years serving as president of the Union des producteurs agricoles, or UPA, for the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region, Mario Théberge, a dairy and grain farmer from Normandin who is well known at home and respected by his peers, will hand the reins over to the next generation, who are more than ready to follow in his footsteps.
Mario Théberge has been involved in the agricultural trade union movement for over 30 years and was elected UPA regional president in 2016. The time has come for him to turn the page and pass on the torch. One thing is certain: Mario will be remembered as a team player, an inspiration, a passionate advocate and a farmer who was active in his community and was always ready to take on challenges. As president, he has given us confidence in the agricultural future of our beautiful region.
I am certain that it is with great pride and a sense of accomplishment that he will greet his peers today and hand over the keys to the tractor. I wish Mario the best of luck in his new endeavours. I look forward to running into him again soon, but, above all, I thank him for everything.