Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to report on the success of Fredericton-York-Sunbury's latest public consultation meeting held last Sunday. Over 100 participants gathered to debate gender related issues ranging from housing and child care to abortion and same sex spousal benefits.
This marked the fourth in a series of riding forums since February. The first dealt with health care, the second, national defence and the third, human resources development. I wish to thank my colleagues from Perth-Wellington-Waterloo for participating in the defence forum, from York North for contributing to the HRD debate and from Halifax for input on gender related issues. Thanks also to provincial ministers Russ King,
Vaughan Blaney and New Brunswick Deputy Premier Marcelle Mersereau for their contributions.
Canadians want to debate public policy. I am grateful to the more than 40 volunteers and over 400 participants who contributed their time and talent to making this possible in Fredericton-York-Sunbury.