Mr. Speaker, people around the world have been deeply affected by the images of the recent and terrifying bombing of an Oklahoma government building.
One of the most vivid images of this decade and the most haunting is one that we have seen on the covers our our national newspapers and magazines, that of an Oklahoma firefighter holding a young child in his arms.
In Canada, as in the United States, we are proud of our firefighters, full time and volunteer, who put their lives on the line every time they go to work. Firefighting is one of the nation's most dangerous occupations, and the men and women who enter this profession do so in service to all Canadians everywhere. They are also the largest providers of field emergency medical care for Canadians.
This week the International Association of Firefighters is holding its fourth annual legislative conference in Ottawa.
Please join me, colleagues, in welcoming firefighters from across Canada to our nation's capital. Let us also thank them for their courage, bravery and altruism which they so readily share with our families and neighbours. Thank you for all your hard work.