Mr. Speaker, for 158 years, Canadians have elected members of Parliament. They have travelled to Ottawa to take their seats in these chairs and make decisions that have helped build the greatest country in the world.
Today it was an honour to turn that work over, if only temporarily, to bright and inspiring grade 6 students from Forest Hill Elementary in Saint-Lazare.
Under the guidance of Principal Larente, dedicated teachers and volunteer parents, 106 students took their seats to become MPs for the day. They shared what Canada meant to them and what issues were most important, and they were proud to share ideas on how to build an even better Canada in the years ahead. The discussion was insightful, and it served as a reminder of our true purpose in this place: to leave a better Canada for our children than the one we inherited.
I want to sincerely thank the Forest Hill teachers and students who joined me today. This is their House; their ideas, energy and thoughtfulness are always welcome here.