Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak today about Quebec Intellectual Disability Week and its slogan promoting greater empathy.
This is a week to be open to differences and recognize that those who live with intellectual disabilities are full-fledged citizens. I myself have had a number of enriching experiences, having been a host family for the Centre de réadaptation en déficience intellectuelle de la Montérégie-Est and a sponsor for Parrainage civique. I can assure you that I came out of these experiences a better person.
I would like to thank all of the volunteers who work in this area and I would encourage people to get more involved with the wonderful people living with an intellectual disability. I am proud to say that the riding of Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot is blessed with a large number of services to help those living with intellectual disabilities.