April 30th is Journey to Freedom Day. It was the previous Conservative government that passed important legislation in 2015, which recognized April 30th as a national day of commemoration to remember the tragic events surrounding the mass departure of thousands of Vietnamese people from their home country after the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War.

It is also an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate the contributions of Canadians of Vietnamese origin to our great country.

We also pay tribute to the generosity of Canadians who played a role in assisting with the settlement of the Vietnamese refugees through the Sponsorship Refugee Program. Time and time again, Canadians have responded with open arms to those in need.

I encourage all Canadians to reflect on the experiences of the Vietnamese boat people and to understand the important role they have played in our country`s history.