Honourable senators, I rise today with a deep sense of duty. On September 25, not only are we celebrating Franco-Ontarian Day, but we are also commemorating a historic milestone, specifically the 50th anniversary of the very first raising of the Franco-Ontarian flag.

As many of you know, my mother tongue is neither French nor English. This often leads me to be especially attentive to issues related to language rights, and I’m particularly concerned about the challenges associated with protecting minority languages.

The Franco-Ontarian flag, created 50 years ago by Gaétan Gervais and Michel Dupuis, is not just a visual symbol. It tells a story. The green and white colours evoke Ontario’s summer and winter, and are joined by the fleur-de-lys, the symbol of the francophonie, and the trillium, the official flower of my province.

This flag quickly became a symbol of mobilization and resistance, recalling the struggles for francophone education, services and institutions.

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but in my former life I had the privilege of representing Canada on the international stage. Believe me when I say that one of my greatest sources of pride was the richness of our Canadian identity, of which its francophonie is a fundamental pillar.

Today, we have an essential role to play as senators: to protect minorities and to ensure that our two official languages have an equal place in our country. May this day serve as a reminder of that responsibility and as an opportunity to affirm our support for all of our fellow French-speaking citizens. Today, we also remember that what makes Canada strong is the richness of all its languages and cultures, including Indigenous languages, whose history and vitality help make Canada what it is today.

I will continue to speak in French, even if my accent sometimes betrays me, to help carry the torch for Ontario’s francophone community, and I would invite you, colleagues, to do the same. Thank you very much.