SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Universal Declaration of Human Rights—Acadian Remembrance Day

Honourable senators, since yesterday was International Human Rights Day and we are just a few days away from December 13, Acadian Remembrance Day, which commemorates the Acadian deportation, I would like to ask you whether you know that it was a New Brunswicker, John Peters Humphrey, who wrote the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948?

This universal declaration, which affirms the fundamental right of every individual to live in freedom and safety and to not be arbitrarily deprived of their home or homeland, stands in stark contrast to the tragedies and hardship that led to the creation of our country, the scars of which are still borne today.

The plight of the Acadian people, born in this North American territory and deported in the 18th century during the Great Upheaval, is a powerful example. By forcibly uprooting the Acadians, separating families, taking away their property and sending them off to different colonies, the British Crown of the time showed an utter disregard for human decency.

This tragedy, which is an integral part of our common history, shows what happens when a group of people is deprived of the legal and political guarantees protecting their dignity and freedom. Today, the declaration seeks to make these guarantees universal to prevent such historical injustices from happening again.

The universal declaration also emphasizes the right of every people to preserve its culture, language and identity. By explicitly seeking to dissolve a culturally distinct community, the Acadian deportation violated these fundamental principles. After the Acadians returned home, they had to fight to maintain their traditions, their French language and their social cohesion. That fight continues to this day. Colleagues, the contrast between this historical ordeal and the ideals of the declaration reminds us that recognizing human rights is not just an abstract ideal, but a concrete necessity to protect peoples from cultural erasure and oppression by ensuring their full recognition.

It is therefore surprising that, more than four centuries later, the Acadian people, the first French-speaking people to land on the Atlantic coast, still have no explicit place in our constitutional and legislative texts. Yes, they are an official minority language community, but they are still waiting for full cultural, political and legal recognition.

In light of all this, and given that the French language is so fragile in our country, it is my hope that the Acadian people will one day be fully recognized in Canada’s democratic institutions.

Inspired by the remarkable work of New Brunswicker John Peters Humphrey and by the content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I therefore invite all of us, honourable colleagues, to continue our work as legislators to ensure the full recognition of all peoples of our magnificent country.

In closing, allow me to extend my best wishes for the holiday season. May joy, health and serenity be at the heart of your celebrations so that we may continue to serve Canadians in full solidarity.

May this holiday season be a time to show your loved ones how much you care for them, and the most vulnerable members of our society how much you stand united with them. Happy holidays!

Thank you. Meegwetch.