Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say a few words about the celebration we had here at the Legislative Assembly at 1:00 today to mark National Citizenship Week. It was a very meaningful ceremony for me. I came to Canada as a young boy in the early 1950s with my parents when they emigrated from our native Holland after the Second World
War. Over the decades, my family has really learned to appreciate the wonderful country that Canada is.
In order for us -- my family, that is -- to become Canadian citizens, we had to be resident here for four years. On the very day of our fourth anniversary my father filed application forms for all members of our family to become Canadian citizens. People from around the world want to emigrate to our country to become citizens here.
To celebrate National Citizenship Week, the federal government has distributed an activity guide with ideas on how we can celebrate this special week. It's called "Canada - Take it to Heart." All of us here should encourage our citizens and organizations in our communities to participate in some of these activities suggested in the guide so that we continue to build on our unique heritage and identity. All northerners should be encouraged to participate in ways that are important to them and, in the process, continue to build this country that remains the envy of the world.
National Citizenship Week is a very special week for us all. This week is also the 31st anniversary of the unveiling of the Canadian red maple leaf flag; I believe it was today. I am very proud to say that I was on Parliament Hill when Prime Minister Pearson declared that the maple leaf be Canada's official flag and as it was raised on the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. Our red maple leaf is recognized and respected around the world. I want to ask all of us here who represent many different cultural, aboriginal and ethnic backgrounds to think about the strength of Canada this week and to look up with appreciation at the Canadian flag on the standard flying outside this building. Thank you.
---Applause