"We are being told to take sides and then in turn lose friends. We choose not to take sides. All we want is a resolution to be found. It seems to us there is no end in sight until the talks resume and the violence ends. The disputes are being ignored; the adults seems to view it as something that we have to tolerate. We can't tolerate it. It's tearing the community apart.

It seems they are doing nothing about the strike, so if they choose not to, the rest of us have to. We will no longer stand by and watch the adults of our society act this way. We will fight to end this strike; it may not seem like much but we are trying to open the eyes of the management, the strikers, the public, the entire town, to tell them that we have had enough; it has to end. It will tear the town apart if we don't end it soon. We need to show this little city that we care. This is our home. We need to keep the people together as a community.

One of us is a daughter of a striker. One of us is the daughter of a staff member. One of us is the daughter of someone who shouldn't be affected by the strike, but is. We can stand together in unison. Can the city?"

It is signed by three young people of this community: Laura Howden; Crystal Gaudry-Bouchard and Candice Keenan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause