Mr. Speaker, today is Gaspé Day, a day to celebrate the region that I love. The landscapes there are breathtaking, but let us talk instead about the people back home and, above all, about the bond that unites us.
Loneliness is taking a toll on society, but the Gaspé is an exception. Back home, when I see an ambulance go by, my heart sinks as I wonder who has run into some misfortune. Back home, I only ever honk my horn to get my friends' attention when I pass by their house and they are puttering around their yard. Back home, the cashier at the grocery store comments on what people buy and sometimes shares recipes. Back home, my son plays hockey with the son of my childhood friend, whose father coached us 30 years ago. Back home, we love to tease each other, laughing as we look back on our own clumsy mistakes. It is as if the Gaspé Peninsula, with its sea, mountains and rivers, seeps into our souls and makes us better people, not perfect, but cheerful and warm-hearted.
Since June 4 is Gaspé Day, I encourage everyone to let a little bit of Gaspé into their hearts.