Mr. Speaker, this is the International Year of Volunteers and Women's History Month.
Since the 18th century, where native women acted as volunteer intermediaries in the fur trade, women have been actively volunteering to make a difference in Canadian society.
More than four million women age 15 and over participate in formal volunteer activities. That is over one-third of all Canadian women. Over twice that number participate in informal volunteer activities outside their homes whether it is helping others with housework, child care or caring for the sick and elderly.
On average Canadian women spend 136 hours per year on voluntary activities. My hat goes off to all Canadian women who volunteer.