Mr. Speaker, tragically, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 are diagnosed every year with a life-threatening illness.
The Children's Wish Foundation, which was founded 25 years ago in 1984, is celebrating an important milestone this year. Incredibly, it will be granting its 15,000th wish this spring.
Each wish is as unique as the child who makes it. The magic of a wish provides children and their families with an opportunity to share the joy of a special experience and escape from the day-to-day challenges of a serious illness.
I want to remind hon. members that as we sit here in this place today, the Children's Wish Foundation is hard at work granting every child their wish.
I am very proud to note that the foundation is headquartered in my riding of Pickering--Scarborough East.
On the Hill today is wish child Justin Ernst. Justin is here with his family and members of the foundation here in Ottawa.
I would like to congratulate the Children's Wish Foundation for reaching out and making this incredible milestone a reality for all Canadians.