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House Hansard - 151

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 1, 2023 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 151 - Feb/1/23
Mr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Joliette, BQ)
  • Feb/1/23 2:19:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our community of Joliette has been in mourning since we learned of the passing of René Laurin. René Laurin was mayor of Joliette from 2001 to 2013, as well as the director general of the school board and a municipal councillor. To me he stands out as the first Bloc Québécois MP from the riding of Joliette from 1993 to 2000. Quebec finally had a voice in Ottawa, and in Joliette that voice was René's. Highly respected by everyone, René was a team player, hard-working, meticulous, community-oriented, funny and exceptionally musically talented. Every Christmas people would ask him to sing some of the classics. At a reception to mark the closure of Centre Block, we talked about what it was like to be an MP in his day and about the changes he had seen in recent years. René would have been 83 in a few days. To his wife, Suzanne, to his whole family and the entire population of Joliette, I offer my deepest condolences. Thank you, René.
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