July 28, 2005

Prime Minister Paul Martin today made the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that I learned today of the sudden death of Mr. Carmen Provenzano, former Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Carmen Provenzano was a man who dignified and upheld the best in Parliamentary tradition. A popular, hard-working MP, his aim was to serve the best he could the needs of his community and constituents. He also worked unceasingly on behalf of the disabled and in promoting education.

Mr. Provenzano was proud to be a Member of Parliament, serving on a number of parliamentary committees and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veteran’s Affairs. He was proud, too, to be the son of a steel-worker and a native of Sault Ste. Marie; and immensely proud of his family.

I would like to express to his wife, Ada, and children, Frank, Lucas, Jana and Mark, my deepest condolences on the passing of this much-respected parliamentarian and fine Canadian. He will be missed.”