Mr. Speaker, as I rise today with my first member's statement, I do so with deep gratitude for the fine people of South Shore—St. Margarets. I thank them for placing their trust in me in this historic election. I want to thank my partner Ken, my daughter, the thousands of students I taught for over 17 years in my career as an educator, and my family and friends for being my rock. I also want to thank the incredible volunteers who gave their time, energy and knowledge in this effort. We concluded with 87 events in a 37-day election.
South Shore—St. Margarets is the heart of Canada's ocean playground. From Barrington to Tantallon, Caledonia to Lunenburg, our region is strong, resilient and full of heart. Together, in the House, let us invest in and build a future guided by compassion, opportunity, partnerships and strength, especially in rural Canada.