Mr. Speaker, it is always an enormous honour to rise in this place that is so important to Canada's true democracy, but that is especially true today.
My constituents started this petition. Its subject is a specific human being, an extraordinary Canadian and one of my constituents, the renowned and much-loved artist Robert Bateman. It is e-petition 7456, and it has received over 9,000 names, close to 10,000.
The petitioners point out that the mandate of the National Gallery of Canada is to showcase artists who contribute significantly to Canadian culture and identity. Most Canadians, I think, could close their eyes and immediately visualize a Robert Bateman painting. Maybe they have a favourite one of a polar bear or one of his wonderful paintings from his experiences travelling across Africa with another constituent of mine, Bristol Foster.
The point of the petition, why some of the petitioners who spoke to me personally are incensed and concerned, is that the National Gallery of Canada has never once exhibited the works of Robert Bateman. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to urge the National Gallery to organize an exhibition of the works of Robert Bateman.