May 17, 2004
Support for Volunteers (Motion 68)
Motion on Notice
R. Lee: I would like to speak on the motion brought forward by member for Vancouver-Langara: "Be it resolved that this House recognizes that support for volunteers encourages both individual and collective responsibility in our society."
This motion raises two important elements: first, the support of volunteers and, second, the individual and collective responsibility in our society. The motion is about linking these two elements together with the action "encouragement."
What are the individual and collective responsibilities in our society? In our society we usually hear more about rights than responsibilities. However, looking at the number of charities, non-profit organizations and religious groups which have the mandate to educate and the enhancement of individual and collective responsibilities in our society, we must admit that we very much treasure individual and collective responsibilities.
When a non-profit organization is working to stop drunk driving, it is encouraging individual and collective responsibilities in our society. When a non-profit organization is helping youth improve their leadership skills, it is encouraging individual and collective responsibilities. When a non-profit organization is providing seniors opportunities to exercise, it's encouraging individual and collective responsibilities.
In Burnaby, which is just like other communities in British Columbia, we have many charities, non-profit organizations and religious groups that rely on many volunteers to carry on their mandates and to deliver the services. These services, in turn, encourage many individual and collective responsibilities in our society.
It's impossible to list all these organizations here, but I would like to mention a few which are doing an exceptional job in fostering volunteerism and providing tremendous benefit to our society. We have the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion; the Burnaby Family Life Institute; the Burnaby Hospice Society; the Burnaby Hospital Foundation; the Burnaby Mental Wealth Society; the Burnaby Multicultural Society; the Burnaby Optimist Club; Volunteer Burnaby; the Canadian Red Cross Society; Charlford House Society for Women; HANS, Health Action Network Society; Mainstream Association for Proactive Community Living; Rotary clubs; Scouts Canada; the Salvation Army; United Way; and the Variety Club of B.C.
Each and every one of these organizations and undoubtedly many other organizations and charity and religious groups, as well, have done so much for our citizens that they deserve full recognition and support. We must also recognize that many of these organizations will not succeed without the support of volunteers.
Recently I was pleased to have the opportunity to co-chair with Bryony Hollick of Volunteer Burnaby in organizing the first-ever Burnaby Festival of Volunteers. Volunteers from over 40 organizations participated, and we received many positive encouragements.
I fully support this motion put forward by the member for Vancouver-Langara. I also urge my colleagues to pass this motion today.
