Mr. Speaker, the third annual Youth Suicide Prevention Walk just arrived on Parliament Hill.
The walkers left Duncan, B.C., on March 30 to raise awareness across the country of the aboriginal suicide epidemic. The rate is at least six times the national average. Currently, the national budget for suicide prevention in Canada is minuscule, not nearly enough to make a difference in the lives of our youth.
Walkers are advocating for a national suicide prevention program and a national aboriginal and youth suicide awareness day.
In my riding of Nanaimo--Cowichan, the need for suicide prevention programs is very clear. One of my first duties as an MP was to attend the funeral of a young man who had committed suicide.
I would like to thank Reno Trimble, Elyse Mather, Emily Williams, Charlotte Qamanig-Mason and Nancy Saunders as well as their supporters Vincent Watts, Darnell Krutko and Angela Vane for their dedication to the cause of youth suicide prevention.