Mr. Speaker, ice storm '98 will not soon be forgotten in my riding of Nepean—Carleton. Many in rural areas such as Osgoode, Rideau and Goulbourn townships were without power for between a week and two and a half weeks. Amidst the devastation of our hydro infrastructure, there was physical hardship, emotional stress and significant economic loss.
How did people respond? During the ice storm I saw strength, resilience, resourcefulness, generosity and even humour. People rose to the challenge and performed magnificently.
I offer my heartfelt thanks to the volunteers who staffed the shelters, the hydro crews, police, municipal and regional leaders and staff as well as the soldiers of the Canadian forces. Thank God for the army was a phrase I heard in every part of my riding. Our troops were greeted like an army of liberation.
With life back to normal, it is my sincere hope that the spirit of co-operation and neighbourliness that marked our experience during the ice storm continues. The communities in Nepean—Carleton were strong before the power went off. We are even stronger now.