Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to mark the passing of a remarkable woman from Sainte-Scholastique and an important figure in the history of Quebec, Rita Léonard-Lafond.
She was a woman of conviction and courage, who dedicated her entire life to defending her community at the height of the Mirabel expropriation saga. Through her efforts to support the public battles that led to the return of 85,000 acres of land, she became the voice and the face of those who had been expropriated. Her tenacity inspired citizens, elected officials and academics to demand investigations into the Mirabel airport file.
Rita Léonard-Lafond leaves behind a huge legacy, that of a woman who refused to accept injustice and who stood firm until the end, despite a federal government that, to this day, refuses to officially apologize to the people expropriated from Mirabel. One thing is certain: From up above, her integrity will continue to inspire my work in politics for a long time to come.
To her loved ones and all who knew her, I offer my deepest condolences. I want to thank Ms. Léonard-Lafond for everything.