Mr. Speaker, Canadian Blood Services is launching this week its first youth initiative aimed at raising the awareness of young Canadians of the ongoing need for blood donations.
CBS is kicking off this campaign by sponsoring the band category at the YTV network's 1999 youth achievement awards, which will be held this evening at the National Arts Centre. This event, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is widely recognized as a premier platform to champion and promote the youth of Canada.
Bayer Inc., a leading manufacturer of blood products, has enthusiastically agreed to partner with CBS and develop a 30 second advertisement targeted at the youth market, to secure air time for this ad on YTV, and to allow for a young person designated by each CBS blood centre to attend the youth achievement awards.
Fourteen youths have flown to Ottawa for this special two day program of activities which will include a visit to Parliament Hill. These exceptional members of the youth community have all distinguished themselves in assisting CBS in its essential mission, either through public speaking or recruitment of blood donors and volunteers, and they are here today.
I would ask all members of parliament to join me in congratulating these exceptional young people.