Mr. Speaker, October is child abuse prevention month.
In 1997, children's aid societies in Ontario conducted 96,039 investigations into suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. This includes 634 cases investigated by the Children's Aid Society of the Region of Peel. It is one of a number of child welfare agencies holding purple ribbon campaigns in October to educate, advocate and generally raise awareness about child abuse. Up to 12,000 ribbons will be distributed in the Peel region.
While child abuse prevention month and the purple ribbon campaign end this Saturday, I wish to remind Canadians that every person who has reason to suspect that a child is being abused or may have suffered from abuse must report that suspicion to a Children's Aid Society.