Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2025-11-26 15:20:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Jacques Gourde (L\u00e9vis\u2014Lotbini\u00e8re, CPC)",
        "fr": "Jacques Gourde (L\u00e9vis\u2014Lotbini\u00e8re, PCC)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"9018550\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Mr. Speaker, today we are marking a feat of longevity unprecedented in Canadian political life. On September 4, 1984, the member for <a data-HoCid=\"317819\" href=\"/politicians/louis-plamondon/\" title=\"Louis Plamondon\">B\u00e9cancour\u2014Nicolet\u2014Saurel\u2014Aln\u00f4bak</a> won his first of many elections, the culmination of which would earn him the title of dean with the longest uninterrupted career in the House of Commons. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"9018551\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Through all these years, he has remained an endearing individual who, against all odds, managed to weather every storm along the way. We are all witnessing a historic moment for our democracy. Few manage to achieve such a loyal connection to their constituents. For our dean, this achievement did not happen by accident or by luck. What drives our dean's work is a passion to serve his constituents to the very best of his ability every day. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"9018552\" data-originallang=\"fr\">He is not after glory or titles. He simply wants to be the kind of member who listens to his constituents. He tries to help them using his own secret formula. I remember bits of advice he gave me, and I listened and put them into practice. He told me to stay close to my constituents. He said that votes are not won in Ottawa; they are won by taking care of our constituents. I can confirm that this is excellent advice.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"9018553\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Our dean proves that in life, as in politics, one must have a goal. His goal was to be an MP who was close to his constituents. He treats everyone with the importance they deserve, and it pays off. He has earned his record and it is to his credit. He will leave a mark on the history of this place. He has witnessed the progression from typewriters to smart phones and now the age of artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, he remains the same man we have come to know and respect, the man we enjoy spending time with and whose advice is so important to us younger members.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"9018554\" data-originallang=\"fr\">In closing, Canada's history will forever be marked by the proud dean from the Quebec nation, a worthy representative of our democracy.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"9018550\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, aujourd'hui, nous soulignons un record de long\u00e9vit\u00e9 sans pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent dans la vie politique canadienne. Le 4 septembre 1984, le d\u00e9put\u00e9 de <a data-HoCid=\"317819\" href=\"/politicians/louis-plamondon/\" title=\"Louis Plamondon\">B\u00e9cancour\u2014Nicolet\u2014Saurel\u2014Aln\u00f4bak</a> gagne sa premi\u00e8re \u00e9lection d'une longue suite qui lui conf\u00e8re le titre de doyen avec la plus longue carri\u00e8re \u00e0 la Chambre des communes sans interruption.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"9018551\" data-originallang=\"fr\"> Derri\u00e8re toutes ces ann\u00e9es se cache un homme attachant qui, contre vents et mar\u00e9es, a travers\u00e9 toutes les temp\u00eates sur son chemin avec brio. Une page de l'histoire de notre d\u00e9mocratie se d\u00e9roule devant nous aujourd'hui, et nous en sommes tous t\u00e9moins. Rares sont ceux qui r\u00e9ussissent \u00e0 avoir un lien aussi loyal avec leur population. Pour notre doyen, ce n'est pas le fruit du hasard ni de la chance. Le travail quotidien qui anime la passion de notre doyen, c'est de servir sa population avec le meilleur de lui-m\u00eame.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"9018552\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Il ne cherche ni gloire ni titre, mais juste d'\u00eatre le d\u00e9put\u00e9 \u00e0 l'\u00e9coute de ses citoyens. Il cherche \u00e0 leur porter assistance avec une recette que seul lui conna\u00eet. Je me rappelle ses petits conseils, et je peux confirmer que je les ai \u00e9cout\u00e9s et que je les ai mis en pratique. Il me conseillait d'\u00eatre proche de mon monde. Il disait qu'on ne gagne pas de votes \u00e0 Ottawa, mais qu'on les gagne en s'occupant de son monde. Je peux le confirmer, c'est un excellent conseil.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"9018553\" data-originallang=\"fr\"> Notre doyen prouve que dans la vie, comme en politique, il faut avoir un but. Le sien, c'\u00e9tait d'\u00eatre un d\u00e9put\u00e9 proche de sa population. Il accorde \u00e0 chacun toute l'importance que chaque individu m\u00e9rite, et \u00e7a porte fruit. Son record, il le m\u00e9rite. Son record, c'est le sien. Il marquera notre histoire \u00e0 tous. Il a connu la machine \u00e0 \u00e9crire, les t\u00e9l\u00e9phones intelligents et l'\u00e8re de l'intelligence artificielle. Cependant, il demeure toujours le m\u00eame: celui qu'on conna\u00eet, celui qu'on respecte et l'homme qu'on aime c\u00f4toyer pour recevoir ses conseils si pr\u00e9cieux pour nous, jeunes d\u00e9put\u00e9s.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"9018554\" data-originallang=\"fr\">En terminant, l'histoire du Canada sera \u00e0 tout jamais marqu\u00e9e par le fier doyen de la nation qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise, digne repr\u00e9sentant de notre d\u00e9mocratie.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2025/11/26/jacques-gourde-1/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/jacques-gourde/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/4387/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "13267218",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Oral Questions",
        "fr": "Questions orales"
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "The Member for B\u00e9cancour\u2014Nicolet\u2014Saurel\u2014Aln\u00f4bak",
        "fr": "Le d\u00e9put\u00e9 de B\u00e9cancour\u2014Nicolet\u2014Saurel\u2014Aln\u00f4bak"
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2025/11/26/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2025%2F11%2F26%2F"
    }
}