Mr. Speaker, today I am wearing seal in honour of national seal day. The bill has just passed in the House of Commons and is expected to receive royal assent shortly, making this an annual celebration.
Inuit and coastal communities of Atlantic Canada and Quebec have relied on the land and the sea for their food security and their clothing for millennia, and continue to do so today. Seal day is about honouring the historical and modern contributions that seal represents, an integral cultural, economic, and sustainable industry for thousands of people in our country.
Please join us today, as we join the Speaker to sample gourmet seal canapes, discover sealskin fashion, and learn more about the industry and the products that are made from seal oil, skin, and meats, and the indigenous culture that surrounds it.
I also invite you to join the seal industry tomorrow evening for a dinner at the National Arts Centre.