Report from Parliament's Hill - July 1, 2010
By Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill
Thursday, July 01, 2010 04:56 AM
“Happy Canada Day!”
Our nation turns 143 this week and we are enjoying celebrations fit for a Queen … literally!
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Halifax on Monday to begin their nine-day tour of Canada. This is the Queen’s 22nd Royal Tour of Canada and she continues to be an enduring symbol of the history and traditions of Canada.
In fact, a recent poll found that the monarchy is among the top five symbols or institutions that inspire pride among Canadians. Also on the list are the Canadian flag, hockey, our Canadian Forces, and our healthcare system.
Sadly, one of the first actions taken by the Queen upon her arrival was to send a private message of condolence to the families of Master Corporal Kristal Giesebrecht, 34 and Private Andrew Miller, 21, who were killed Saturday in Afghanistan.
Master Cpl. Giesebrecht and Pte. Miller were the 149th and 150th Canadian soldiers to die during the Afghan mission. Master Cpl. Giesebrecht was our third female soldier to be lost. It hits hard each and every time we lose one of these dedicated, young Canadians and that was a sentiment I shared in a recent conversation with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Walter Natynczyk.
Gen. Natynczyk told me that despite the tragic losses, the troops can’t volunteer fast enough for a second, third, or in a few cases, even a fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan. Now that is a fighting spirit we can all be so VERY proud of!
It is our soldiers and their families that are always in the forefront of my mind on Canada Day. They sacrifice SO much so that we can celebrate with joy and pride.
This year we can also be proud of Canada’s performance on the World Stage. We hosted a very successful Olympic Games that showcased our nation’s beauty and our people’s spirit of generosity and way of life.
We can also be proud that Canada has become a shining example around the globe of fiscal management. Our nation has been emerging from the global economic recession faster and stronger than almost any other country! Our banking regulations, our economic stimulus measures and our debt reduction strategies are being held up as the leading benchmark by international financial experts.
As we all know, much of Canada’s success is due to the perseverance and persistence found among our grassroots community leaders and volunteers. Many of these individuals will be seen at Canada Day events around the region and so it is timely that the Government of Canada has launched the nomination process for Canada’s Citizenship Award 2010.
This award recognizes Canadian individuals who tirelessly dedicate themselves to active citizenship in their communities by putting into practice the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. If you would like to nominate a member of your community, go to: www.cic.gc.ca/citizenshipaward.
I am proud of these volunteers, of our communities throughout Prince George-Peace River and I am SO proud to be Canadian. On behalf of my family and staff, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Canada Day!
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Posted by: Denaljo on July 1 2010 7:13 AM