Mr. Speaker, when Robert Thirsk was a student at Glenmore Elementary and Dr. Knox in Okanagan Centre he had a dream. He wanted to become an astronaut. On June 20 that dream becomes reality. The official payload on mission 78 will be microgravity and the effects of space on the human body.
Dr. Thirsk will also conduct a number of experiments designed by young Canadians while talking directly to them from space by two-way radio.
The enthusiasm of our young scientists must be encouraged for Canada's economic future depends on our excellence in science and engineering. As Dr. Thirsk said to me, we have succeeded in developing our natural resources, but we have not fared as well developing our intellectual resources.
Bobby Orr's hockey jersey will also be on mission 78, a tribute to Canadian excellence.
I have no doubt that if Canada can produce the best hockey players in the world, then we can produce the best scientists and engineers too. All young people have dreams. We must encourage them and give them a place to go.