Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for Don Valley North for having his Motion No. 273 selected and deemed votable.
In this motion the government is being asked to consider designating the second Sunday in September of each year as grandparents day. I am very familiar with this issue as I also presented before this House on June 22, 1995, Bill C-259 asking for a national grandparents day on the second Sunday in September. I am aware that the member for Don Valley North also presented a bill asking for a grandparents day. Unfortunately, neither of our bills were votable.
It is fitting and proper that this 35th Parliament finally corrects a wrong against our senior citizens. It does not cost taxpayers any money for the government to recognize our seniors, the oldest group in our society which is becoming more plentiful as Canadians live healthier and longer lives. I would like to draw members' attention right now to the gallery where grandparents are waiting to hear the verdict of today's motion.
1994 was the Year of the Family. As I have stated many times, the family is our basic unit in society. We need to keep our families strong. There is a natural progression here: from strong families come strong communities; from strong communities come strong provinces and states; and from strong provinces and states come strong countries.
Again, if a country is to remain strong, its people must be strong, for a country reflects the value of its people. Who teaches the values to children? The parents. Who taught them? Their parents, the elders in each of our families, the grandparents and the great grandparents, those who have experience and are wise in the ways of the world. We all realize that the best way to be wise is through personal experience and hardships.
Many of today's seniors and grandparents are very active. Many are still in the workforce. Many are in volunteer organizations. My point is that these grandparents and great grandparents have given their fair share to society and many are still giving. If we are wise, all Canadians will show our seniors how much we appreciate them.
In times of restraint there is no money for new programs, especially programs for children. Patience, caring, knowledge, experience, time and love are what are needed to work with children. Our seniors have all of these requirements. Many are already giving countless volunteer hours to children.
Recognition of grandparents day is really recognition of grandchildren and their relationship to the future of our country. When we talk about respecting our grandparents, we are reinforcing the rights of our grandchildren.
Lifting the role of grandparents gives recognition to the interests of our grandchildren. It provides a bridge between the age gaps of young and old. When we see seniors working with young children, we realize there really are no age gaps. They converse very well together and understand each other very well. What better way for children and parents to say thank you than by having a nationally recognized day to visit grandparents and pay respect to these seniors?
At present I am honoured to be representing Canadian grandparents in their fight to see their grandchildren after a divorce. Too often, many are cut out of their grandchildren's lives just because the custodial parent does not think the children should continue to see their grandparents. Often it is the grandparents who in difficult times can reinforce the stability and love in a grandchild's life through a difficult divorce. In the United States where the rights of grandparents to see their grandchildren are recognized, over five million grandparents are raising their grandchildren.
So many seniors want to be grandparents that there is even an organization called Volunteer Grandparents. A very good friend of mine who has never married became a volunteer grandparent about 15 years ago. It is a very special part of her life.
We have an opportunity here to recognize all grandparents. Let us be positive and agree to this motion.
Many in the House may wonder if the rest of Canada feels that the recognition of grandparents is wanted within our country. Nancy Wooldridge, president of the Canadian Grandparents Association in British Columbia and her membership wrote to all the municipalities in British Columbia asking for their assistance in proclaiming the second Sunday in September 1995 past, which was September 10, to be declared grandparents day. The response was incredible. I have only some replies with me today but in recognition of what those communities have done, I think I should share them.
Quesnel city council proclaimed September 10 as grandparents day. Mayor Robert Bowes declared the week of September 10 to 16 as volunteer grandparents week in Surrey. September 10, 1995 was proclaimed as grandparents day in the district of Metchosin. Ralph Drew, mayor of the village of Belcarra proclaimed September 10, 1995 as grandparents day.
Ted Nebbeling, mayor of the resort municipality of Whistler, proclaimed September 10, 1995 as grandparents day in the resort of Whistler. Mayor Robert G. McMinn proclaimed September 10, 1995 as grandparents day in the district of Highlands. On behalf of
the village council and the citizens of Keremeos, Mayor Robert White declared September 10 as grandparents day.
Mayor Ernie Palfrey was pleased to proclaim September 10, 1995 as grandparents day in the district of Coldstream. On behalf of the city council and the citizens of Fort St. John, Stephen Thorlakson, mayor of Fort St. John, proclaimed September 10, 1995 as grandparents day. Mayor Mike Patterson proclaimed September 10, 1995 as grandparents day in the city of Cranbrook.
Kevin Mitchell, acting mayor of the city of Fernie, proclaimed September 10, 1995 grandparents day. The Trail council has considered my letter dated August 17 requesting council proclaim September 10 grandparents day. It has agreed to issue the proclamation.
Bob Cross, mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, proclaims September 10, 1995 grandparents day. Mayor Don Lockstead of Powell River at the regular council meeting proclaimed September 10 grandparents day. Marlene Grinnell, mayor of city of Langley, proclaims September 10 grandparents day.
John Bergbusch, mayor of city of Callwood, declares September 10 grandparents day. Oak Bay proclaims September 10 grandparents day. James Lomie, mayor of the district of Campbell River, proclaims September 10 grandparents day.
The Kitimat municipal council proclaimes September 10 grandparents day. Ross Imrie, mayor of the district of North Saanich, proclaims September 10 grandparents day. Louis Sekora, mayor of the city of Coquitlam, proclaims September 10 grandparents day.
Parksville declares September 10 grandparents day. At Sechelt's regular council meeting mayor Duncan Fraser was pleased to proclaim September 10 grandparents day.
Osoyoos's meeting of council on September 5 resolved that September 10 be proclaimed grandparents day. Gary Korpan, mayor of the city of Nanaimo, proclaims September 10 grandparents day.
James Stuart, mayor of the city of Kelowna, proclaims September 10 grandparents day. John Les, mayor of the district of Chilliwack, proclaims September 10 grandparents day. Greg Halsey-Brant, mayor of Richmond, proclaims September 10 grandparents day.
John Backhouse, mayor of city of Prince George, proclaims September 10 grandparents day. Philip Owen, mayor of the city of Vancouver, proclaims September 10 grandparents day.
I do not know how this got in here. It is from Calgary: "On behalf of the city council and the citizens of Calgary, I hereby proclaim September 10 grandparents day".
These are only some of the responses received by the B.C. chapter of the Canadian Grandparents Association to honour our grandparents in 1995.
I cannot speak for all of Canada but I can surely speak for the cities and communities in British Columbia. British Columbians already recognize the contributions made by our grandparents, our seniors in Canadian society.
I respectfully request that we as members of Parliament recognize the tremendous ongoing contributions by our grandparents on behalf of all Canadians by recognizing from now on the second Sunday in September as official grandparents day.