Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about a wonderful initiative undertaken by the youth centre in Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, in my riding of Joliette.
Three years ago, leaders at this organization launched the “Bécik jaune” project. This project makes a fleet of community bicycles available free of charge to people in the greater Joliette area.
This innovative project is very worthwhile. It gives people access to a safe means of transportation, combats social isolation and increases physical activity. Furthermore, this project gives potential school dropouts a chance to build self-esteem by maintaining the bikes. It also helps protect the environment by providing an alternative to driving and by reducing greenhouse gases as well as the amount of waste produced.
This project tackles some current societal challenges and deserves all the support we can give it.