Mr. Speaker, I am glad to participate in this debate to recognize our friends to the south who share in many ways a common heritage of being countries populated by immigrants from around the world. Many of the people who live in both countries, I included, grew up in a foreign land and decided the future would be brighter in North America. They crossed the ocean from wherever they came from to participate in one of these two wonderful countries.
I have enjoyed my sojourn during the 30-odd years I have lived in North America. This country has been very good to me. I have friends and relatives south of the border who enjoy living in the United States. It is wonderful that through our common heritage we are able to share so much and that we have been friends for such a long time. We take great pride in having the longest undefended border in the world.
As a member of parliament representing the people of Alberta, we are especially proud of our relationship with the United States because so much of our oil and gas industry involves communication with people in the United States. We have a large agricultural industry which again depends heavily on markets in the United States. We have tourism that draws heavily from the United States. Of course, we have the Banff and Jasper national parks which draw millions of people every year. Many of these people come from the United States. They come here to enjoy what we have to offer and many Canadians go to the United States to enjoy what they have to offer.
The motion of the member for Erie—Lincoln is quite appropriate, that we join Canada Day on July 1 with Independence Day on July 4, with the two days in between recognizing the peace and friendship that exists between our two countries. There are international parks, such as the one at the border crossing just south of Vancouver going into Washington State, the International Peace Park, as well as other symbols of the friendship between the two countries.
I have to commend the member for Erie—Lincoln for introducing this motion and I hope it passes.