Mr. Speaker, as a Vancouverite let me thank the Bloc Quebecois for my constituents in Vancouver East for supporting the Canucks. Go Canucks go.
On Friday, I had the privilege of attending a convocation ceremony in Kamloops, B.C. Fifteen aboriginal people, members of the Shuswap band, earned Bachelor of Arts degrees from Simon Fraser University. They were the first graduates of a joint program established between the Secwepemc Cultural Education Society and Simon Fraser University, which allows them to do their studies in Kamloops.
It was an emotional but very proud event. I am glad to inform the House that there are now 300 students enrolled in the program and that at the ceremony the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development reaffirmed support for such programs by the federal government. This is just one of the ways in which the First Nations are continuing to make their members independent. Let me congratulate the Shuswap band, the Secwepemc Cultural Education Society and Simon Fraser University for such an endeavour.