Mr. Speaker, last week members of the Chinese Canadian community celebrated the beginning of the Chinese New Year, the year of the boar.
In Vancouver the Chinese community celebrated all week. I had the privilege to participate in many of the festivities ushering in the new year.
Parades, lion dances, colourful fairs and rich banquets brought Vancouver East to life. Even the dragon made an appearance.
The Chinese Canadian community is a great asset to our Canadian mosaic. Dedicated members of their community, Chinese Canadians are a good example of Canadian citizenship. Their will to generously share their traditions and culture with the rest of Canada is but another contribution of this great community to the building of a multicultural country.
They once again proved that the values they hold so dear are the values of many other communities: family, respect, friendship, work, hospitality. The Chinese Canadian community also enjoys, as do many other communities, good food, good fun and a great love for celebration.
Let me wish everybody Happy New Year, Kung Hey Fat Choy.