Mr. Speaker, this Saturday Canada will celebrate National Aboriginal Day.
National Aboriginal Day was first proclaimed by a Liberal government 12 years ago in recognition of the contributions first nations, Métis and Inuit have made to Canada.
It is important to note that last week's apology to residential school survivors was made possible by many. They include: residential school survivor Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine; Willie Blackwater and other survivors like him who have the courage to speak out and pursue justice; former first nations member of Parliament Gary Merasty, whose motion calling on the government to apologize to survivors was unanimously adopted by members of Parliament in May 2007; my colleagues from LaSalle—Émard, Fredericton and Mount Royal; and former deputy prime minister Anne McLellan.
Their courage, commitment and dedication in seeing this apology through to fruition is something of which all Canadians should be proud.
On National Aboriginal Day we will celebrate these Canadians and thank them for their perseverance and their resolve.