Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to be a Canadian. This is the day our country will accept the first flight carrying over 200 refugees from Kosovo.
After an assessment of refugee camps in countries neighbouring Kosovo, our Minister of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations have determined that refugees must be removed from these camps to relieve pressure due to deteriorating conditions.
We must trust that this assessment is reliable. Soon those hundreds and thousands of Canadians who eagerly volunteered to open their homes and their hearts to these unfortunate people will be allowed to act on their generosity.
In a very direct and personal way I want to thank them all for giving in such a meaningful way. Today I am proud to be a Canadian, a citizen of a country whose people can be counted on to extend a helping hand when help is truly needed.