Mr. Speaker, today is McHappy Day, an annual celebration of giving to support Ronald McDonald House Charities. Across Canada, 16 Ronald McDonald houses and 18 Ronald McDonald family rooms give families a place to stay together while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital.
I was honoured to announce $9.3 million for the expansion of the Ottawa house, only 167 steps from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, through our government's green and inclusive community buildings program. This funding will more than double the size of the current Ottawa house and help with the future needs of families who have to travel from across Ontario and Nunavut to seek medical care for their children.
Today, on McHappy Day, I am proud to thank McDonald's Restaurants of Canada and Ronald McDonald House Charities for all they do to support Canadian families when they absolutely need it the most.