Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is World Polio Day, a day to celebrate the world's progress against polio and our resolve to end this horrible disease once and for all. Recently, Africa was certified as free of the wild polio virus, which is a big milestone, but COVID-19 has caused 50 million children to miss their polio vaccinations, so sustained action is critical to protect global health. If we stop now, 200,000 children a year could be paralyzed.
In May, Canada committed $190 million to the global polio eradication initiative, building on past contributions. It is something all Canadians can be proud of.
Please join me in marking World Polio Day by thanking all who contribute to polio eradication, including rotary clubs across Canada and the Whitehorse Rotary Club, which sponsored polio survivor Ramesh Ferris' epic fundraising hand-cycling tour of 7,140 kilometres across Canada.
It is because of all these actions that 18 million people, who could otherwise have been paralyzed, are now walking. Let us keep it up.