Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I just want to again send out my wishes and this House's best birthday wishes to my mentor and my constituent, my top advisor and, most importantly, my father, James Villeneuve, who turns 71 years young today.
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I just want to say happy birthday, Dad. I could stand here all day and tell many stories about my dad and what he's done for his family and the people of the NWT for the past 70 years, but as I and many other people who know him can attest to, it's a lot funnier and more entertaining to hear it right from his mouth.
But on another point, Mr. Speaker, I just want to express my sincere gratitude to all the veterans in Canada, and especially the NWT, for their dedicated services in the Canadian Armed Forces to protect our basic rights of freedom of speech and mobility that we all take for granted every day. I look forward to celebrating their dedicated service to our country on Remembrance Day next week, along with many other northerners, Mr. Speaker.
I also would like to express, on the flip side, my frustration for the lack of compensation and consideration that our national government has given to our aboriginal veterans. This kind of grave injustice cannot be dismissed and I urge all Canadians to voice their dismay towards the national government's responsibility to not only be more compassionate to our aboriginal veterans, but to do what is right for all our veterans, and that is showing our unbridled gratitude toward every last one of them for as long as we can all freely stand here and express that right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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