Mr. Speaker, first, it is an honour to rise today. I know my colleague is leaving. We sure had our differences in this place. We had some pretty heated debates over the years too and could not have had more different politics, except that we share that we are both from rural communities.
I admired his passion. My former colleague from Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, Alistair MacGregor, and I sat pretty close to him, within earshot, and we had some good laughs. We would refer to him as “hockey dad” because he had such passion when he spoke in the House on issues. He is a hockey dad, and he will get to spend some time with his three kids. He is going to be home with his family.
I want to pass on my condolences to my colleague. He lost his father in the last year, and I know he is going to take on the farm and do well with it. We wish him well as a farmer supporting Canadians so we get our food and in the work that he will do around his farm.
On behalf of all New Democrats, we want to wish him and his family well, and we want to thank him for his service in this House.