Mr. Speaker, I am going to talk about my friend, the Hon. John McDermid. He was the member of Parliament for Brampton—Georgetown from 1979 to 1993 and a cabinet minister in the Mulroney government from 1988 to 1993, when he retired.
John generously gave of his time in the community. He was an honorary colonel in the Lorne Scots. He was the chair of our local hospital board.
I met John in 1988, when I was 17 years old, and I volunteered on his campaign. John returned that favour in spades in 2019 when he helped me get re-elected. Over the five years that followed, John became a mentor and a friend, and he shared so many amazing anecdotes from his time in Brian Mulroney's government.
On Thursday night, I had the opportunity to give John a King Charles III Coronation Medal in his hospital room, surrounded by many of his closest friends. On Friday night, John passed away, surrounded by his family.
John was a true gentleman. He was a patriot. He served his country with honour and distinction. Godspeed, John. God bless him and his family.