Mr. Speaker, this Saturday marks the 148th birthday of Canada's keystone province, Manitoba. Manitoba's geography is one of the most unique and diverse in Canada, from the Arctic tundra near Churchill, to the Spirit Sands of the Carberry Desert, to vast prairies and beautiful boreal forests.
Our provincial treasure, Lake Winnipeg, is the world's tenth largest freshwater lake. Home of the Winnipeg Jets, and the curling capital of the world, Manitoba is also proud to host the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the National Microbiology Laboratory.
Our prairie province, the birthplace of Louis Riel, is the homeland of the Métis nation and encompasses the traditional territories of over 60 first nations. Manitobans have a rich history of welcoming people from around the world, creating a vibrant multicultural mosaic that reflects the best of who we are as Canadians.
On May 12, let us wish all Manitobans a very happy Manitoba Day.