Mr. Speaker, this week we have heard about the passing away of Mr. Larry Desmeules who represented the Metis of Alberta during the multilateral talks that lead up to the Charlottetown Accord. Many of us at the political and working level had the opportunity to work with Mr. Desmeules over the months that it took to conclude the Charlottetown Accord. All of us want to extend our sympathy to his wife and his children and friends who are, I am sure, grieving the loss.

Mr. Desmeules made an important contribution to the process and advancing the recognition of Metis rights during this national process. He also took some personal interest in advancing the situation of the Metis in the Northwest Territories, even though they were not direct constituents of his. As recently as December he came to Yellowknife specifically to support Mr. Gary Bohnet in his efforts to obtain support from our government for extending the federal trilateral self-government process to the north. It is general, unselfish actions like this as well as his other public and personal accomplishments, which will give us fond memories of Mr. Desmeules. The government will send a representative to the funeral which will take place in Edmonton tomorrow morning. Thank you.