Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of National Volunteer Week I rise today to thank the millions of volunteers working in communities across the country.
During National Volunteer Week we honour people like my constituents, Marion White and Elspeth Hogg, recent recipients of the Canada Volunteer Award. These constituents and countless other Canadians selflessly donate time and energy to people in need.
Over 13 million Canadians are volunteers and collectively we donate services valued at over $16 billion. Our communities thrive because of these generous people, because here in Canada we care about our neighbours and are willing to work hard for the sake of our communities.
In honour of National Volunteer Week, I thank the many many constituents in my riding who give so freely of their time to hospitals, firehalls, schools and service clubs.
Volunteering is about commitment and caring. It is about the power of each one of us to make our world a better place. To all volunteers everywhere I offer my congratulations.