Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to today's motion. I am very pleased that our caucus has actually taken the initiative to select this very important subject that affects all Canadians.
Throughout the day we heard a number of different statistics with respect to the number of individuals who actually live in poverty. One in five children lives in some form of poverty. December 10 represented the 50th anniversary of the declaration of human rights which was written by a former constituent in my riding of Fundy—Royal, John Peters Humphrey, who comes from the town next to mine. I consider Canada to be one of the most gifted and affluent countries in the world. Having citizens in any form of poverty in a country with the resources and wealth we have I consider a national shame. Given the resources and the capabilities we have we need to do more for people who live in the margins of our society, give them that hand up so they can live with the dignity they clearly deserve.
Poverty is much more than just a lack of money. It affects children's health, education, welfare and general well-being.
I remember during the election campaign of 1997 there was one day toward the end of the campaign when I campaigned just outside of Havelock, New Brunswick. I might from time to time think of myself as an idealistic person. I am someone who considers himself to be a fiscal conservative who believes in certain ideals and certain doctrines.
I remember campaigning at one door which will leave a memory with me for many years. I think it will help to shape some of my politics. I was there talking about some of the things I thought we could do in order to grow our economy. After the conversation at that door the constituent said to me “I like what you have to say, but the thing which actually affects me most today is whether I have bread in my cupboard or milk in my fridge”. In this forum that is a very difficult situation for us to imagine. Poverty exists in every riding in this country. It affects way too many people in a society of this nature.
In my riding there are some initiatives which I would like to take this opportunity to point out. It is what has been done on a community basis in order to address the physical needs of some of the poor, individuals living in poverty. I would like to salute the Sussex Sharing Club, the Lakewood HeadStart Association, the Kennebecasis Valley Food Basket, Chipman Community Care, Minto Community Resource Centre and the Hampton Food Basket.
I also know there are a number of initiatives that are done from a church level and a community level as well. I can look at a church in my nearby region, the United Church in Hampton and Reverend Stephen Mills, in terms of some of the initiatives that we have done for our local community.
This issue touches us on a more macro basis as well. Given the non-partisan nature of the subject of poverty and the desire of the Progressive Conservative Party, in fact all parties in the House, to address poverty, I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to continue this debate until midnight.