Mr. Speaker, this morning I spoke with Dr. Kevin Forkheim from Mission Control in Cape Canaveral who was anxiously awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Discovery .
Dr. Forkheim, a resident of Saanich—Gulf Islands, is a 27 year old graduate student at UBC who has had his research project chosen by NASA to be part of the shuttle mission. Dr. Forkheim's research will prove invaluable in the fight against osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease common in the aging population.
The occasion also marks the first ever joint space project between Canada and Israel. Dr. Forkheim is very excited about his rare and prestigious honour. Canada can be proud of Dr. Forkheim's achievements and his continuing goal to counteract the negative effects of aging.
It is my pleasure to salute Dr. Forkheim and to wish him well in this and future achievements, whether they be deep in the vastness of space or at home in British Columbia.
Canada can stand proud today.