Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the hospitality shown and the positive suggestions made by the International Association of Firefighters which has been meeting here in Ottawa at its seventh annual legislative conference.
Firefighters, as members know, are primary guardians of safety who are prepared to risk their lives in the performance of their duties. I would like to officially recognize them for their continuing dedication, sacrifice and service to this country.
Firefighters from across Canada have been to Ottawa to advance a number of very important issues. Among them is their request for the establishment of a federally regulated, third party investigative agency that would lessen the risk to firefighters who must deal with tragedies like the 1997 Plastimet fire in Hamilton.
They ask that we extend funding to complete the testing of Operation Respond, a program designed to ensure the safety of firefighters. I support these requests.
I call on my government to demonstrate its commitment to safety and its respect for firefighters. I urge it to implement—