Mr. Speaker, optimist clubs are an approach to life. Members do volunteer work to help improve the lives of their fellow citizens, youth, adults and seniors. It is about breaking isolation by organizing social and community activities.
In my riding, that includes parent-teen meetings like the ones at Beauharnois-Maple Grove; celebrating Earth Day and keeping kids safe on Halloween, like they do in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield; organizing a corn festival like the one in Saint-Anicet; or hosting running events to get back in shape, like they do in Saint-Michel.
Optimist clubs across the country are helping improve and revitalize our communities.
All these activities express a fundamental value: solidarity and helping others.
To honour the wonderful work being done by optimist clubs, perhaps we should make the first Thursday in February “Canadian Optimist Day”. That is my proposal to the House, and I committed to working on this issue so that Parliament passes legislation that will raise awareness about the values being promoted by members of optimist clubs.
I am sure that every member will vote in favour of this bill. Let us be optimistic.