Mr. Speaker, yesterday Cape Bretoners gathered in Glace Bay. In the words of one coal miner's wife “it was the day of love, an intense love for our families, for each other and for the beautiful island of Cape Breton”.
They came together to tell one another that despite hard times they would stand united, to remind one another of the island's greatest strength, its proud people, and to assure one another that so long as their values remain strong there is a future for their children. They came together with one voice to say we believe in our communities and we believe in our ability to rebuild our lives.
They deserve our respect in their battle for dignity. They deserve fair compensation as the government withdraws from the Cape Breton coal industry. The beautiful voice of Aselin Debinson expressed it best when she belted out “We are a people as proud as there's been”.