Mr. Speaker, today Canadian Journalists for Free Expression is celebrating World Press Freedom Day. One of the hallmarks of a civilized society is the encouragement of public debate. As we all know and sometimes take for granted, an essential agent in this democratic process is the free press. In countries in turmoil where a free press is most needed many journalists are forced to put their lives in jeopardy.
To mark World Press Freedom Day, the first National Press Club press freedom award will be presented to a journalist who has contributed to the cause of press freedom. Also today Journalists in Exile, a group of journalists from Burundi, Iran, Serbia, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka, is gathering at Ryerson University to share its experiences and promote this worthy cause.
On behalf of members of the House I offer my gratitude as well as my personal admiration to those individuals who fight to maintain freedom of the press, especially where it is most threatened. We owe them a great debt.