Mr. Speaker, it is with appreciation and admiration that I pay tribute to the millions of Canadians celebrating the international day of older persons.
We set aside October 1 to increase public awareness of the tremendous contributions older Canadians continue to make to Canadian society. By caring for our elders we can teach our youth to be compassionate and caring.
The international day of older persons reminds us that every Canadian, regardless of age, has a right to participate fully in community life. They have a right to live fulfilling, independent lives and to travel about freely. In all cases, they have the right to be treated with dignity.
I encourage all of my colleagues to work toward achieving these goals, not just on October 1, but each and every day of the year.