Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak to an issue which is not particular or specific to my constituency or the people I represent, but something which I am very concerned about and a matter raised by Mr. Krutko here today. Mr. Speaker, far be it from this government to become involved in a specific domestic issue on behalf of a specific constituent. However, the situation experienced by Roberta Vaneltsi, having her children virtually kidnaped, is a desperate situation. I can only say that, as a mother, if I had to project into the future as to what the worst thing that could possibly happen to me in my life when you consider the tragedies that can befall people, the worst thing that I can imagine would be to have my children removed from me, have them in a place where I could not see whether they were well or whether they were being cared for and not be able to contact or communicate with them. It would be similar to what people experience when their children are taken and they do not really have a concept of whether they are dead or alive or what has happened to them. It would be continual torment.

My question is, to whom can a woman turn in a situation like this, if not the government? This is a matter of international magnitude. No doubt the situation would be frustrating enough if these children had been removed to another country, or even if they were on this continent it would be frustrating enough. Here this single mother has to fight with the issues of red tape and international convention, something that is far above and beyond any of the capabilities of anyone in this room, even, I would suggest. So, I would like to suggest that we as a government, although we deal with broader-based issues, I still believe that we need to have a compassionate and attentive attitude toward things of this nature as well. I would like to say that is why I have seconded this motion of Mr. Krutko's and would encourage all Members of this House to support this woman, Roberta Vaneltsi, in this very unfortunate circumstance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause