Madam Speaker, it was my absolute honour to participate in the Tree of Hope ceremony organized by the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition.
This is an important event that raises awareness about the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. There was a procession beginning at the Ottawa police station, leading to Ottawa City Hall and finishing right here at Parliament Hill. Along the way, we lit red lights in trees as a reminder of the lives lost and as a call to action to support and protect indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ community members.
I thank the elders and the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition for hosting this important event and for their continued leadership to advocate on behalf of the urban indigenous community in our city.