Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, May 1, is World Asthma Day. In Canada this day reminds us of three million Canadians who suffer with asthma.
One in five children make up that number, causing an estimated 10 million missed school days every year. That is a significant impact on our nation's ability to educate tomorrow's leaders.
As we know, those who suffer from asthma have their condition exacerbated from rising levels of air pollution and smog. It is this government that is taking action not only to reduce greenhouse gases but also to cut levels of air pollution in half by 2015.
As part of World Asthma Day, the doors will be open at the Lung Association office in my home community of Hamilton tomorrow. Sandy Lee, the volunteer coordinator, will be there to welcome all, raise awareness and get the word out on how Canadians can make a positive difference in the lives of asthma sufferers. In fact, Lung Association offices all across Canada will be doing the same.
I call upon all Canadians who want to help make the lives of the three million Canadians and 600,000 children who suffer from asthma a bit easier to stop by their local Lung Association office tomorrow to learn more and to make a generous contribution to asthma research.