Every day before Question Period, there are 15 minutes for “Statements by Members”, during which MPs can stand up and say just about anything (so long as they don’t attack another member). BC MP Russ Hiebert, who is Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor’s parliamentary secretary, had this to say today:
Mr. Russ Hiebert (South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, CPC) :
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow 500 wheelchairs will arrive in Kandahar, Afghanistan. A wheelchair can transform the life of an amputee, providing mobility, opportunity and hope.After decades of conflict and war, several hundred thousand Afghanis are amputees. In response, Wheelchair Foundation Canada, led by a constituent of mine, Christiana Flessner, has worked alongside our Canadian military to provide wheelchairs to Afghanis in need.
Each wheelchair proudly displays the flags of Canada and Afghanistan side by side symbolizing our friendship and national determination to help them through this difficult time. The wheelchairs will be distributed by our soldiers in Kandahar, giving our troops yet another opportunity to build new and important friendships with Afghanis.
I would like to honour Ms. Flessner for her dedication to this worthy project and encourage all Canadians to visit the Wheelchair Foundation website at wheelchairfoundation.ca to learn more about this exceptional organization.