Mr. Speaker, May 25 is designated National Missing Children's Day. In 2001 alone, 66,994 missing children were reported to various police services in Canada.
Some of these children are victims of custody battles between parents and are abducted by one of their own parents. Others are abducted by predators, who need treatment. Still others choose to run away on their own, because they cannot bear to suffer any more.
Instead of pointing the finger, we must do everything within our power to end the suffering and trauma experienced by these children.
The emotional and moral damage inflicted upon these children will have a significant impact on the healthy and normal development that children have the right to experience.
To all these suffering children, we extend our love and our determination to eradicate this problem. We give them our love.