Mr. Speaker, in view of national family week we recognize that nearly a million men came to the Washington, D.C. mall on Saturday to publicly state their promise to take greater responsibility toward their community, church, workplace and, most important, their family.
In what is described as the single largest religious gathering in American history, the promise keepers rally proves that the institution of the family is not a thing of the past but a stronghold for the future.
Even U.S. President Bill Clinton stated he cannot deny the sincerity of the men at the rally. Seeing the photo in Sunday's Ottawa Citizen should silence the critics who denounce the sincerity of the men, including many Canadians, who pledged to keep their families strong, healthy and together.
Last week one of this Parliament's greatest family advocates resigned her seat in an effort to keep her family strong. The sincerity of Sharon Hayes equalled that of the men who marched on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Above all, family matters.