Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour John Yakabuski, the recently retired MPP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.
Following in his father Paul Yakabuski's footsteps, John was first elected in 2003. His 22 years of service left an indelible mark. I heard him called Paul as often as John. He always took that as a compliment, having lived up to his father's standards.
John was the singing MPP, not just O Canada on solemn occasions, but crooning a repertoire of Mac Beattie. As minister of natural resources, John was a steadfast leader during Ottawa Valley crises, swiftly mobilizing aid to combat spring floods and marshalling firefighters against summer wildfires. His compassion shone through in initiatives like his 2010 album Taking Care, which raised funds for long-term care homes.
John's legacy is one of service, song and strength. We salute the remarkable contributions he made to the Ottawa Valley.