Mr. Speaker, I am honoured today to stand and mark Scouts Day on the Hill.
Scouts Canada is the country's leading youth organization, offering exciting programs for boys, girls and young adults from age 5 to 26. The Scouts' mission is to contribute to the education of young people through a value system based on the Scout promise and law to build a better world where people are self-fulfilled and play a constructive, meaningful role in society.
Scouts Canada is also developing Canada's leaders of tomorrow. It empowers youth by providing opportunities to take on leadership roles, starting as young as eight years old.
Scouts also volunteer to build their communities. Whether it is a food drive, painting a community centre or helping out at a shelter, a Scout is there to help.
Today Scouts Canada is a highly diverse, co-ed organization with more than 100,000 members nationwide, representing every religion and culture.
L'Association des scouts du Canada provides scouting activities to more than 17,000 francophone youth from coast to coast to coast.
On behalf of Scouts Canada, I remind all members of the reception being hosted today by the hon. Speaker—