QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Canadian Heritage
Canadian Identity
September 25, 2025
Minister, we’re facing a political, tariff and economic crisis, and, obviously, if we’re going to be able to overcome all of that, we’re going to need unity like never before in this country.
You are the Minister of Canadian Identity; it is noted at the beginning of your very lengthy title. My question to you is a simple one: How do you define and what is Canadian identity to you?
If I were to read my whole title right now, it would probably use up all of the 90 seconds I have with you, so I won’t do that. Far be it from me to sit here and tell anyone what is or should be Canadian identity. That’s not the role that the Prime Minister has asked me to play.
My role is to work to ensure that the diversity of Canadian identities — whether they are francophone, anglophone or Indigenous — are well represented and put forward as part of the fabric of our society. I can give you the example of the Canada Strong Pass this summer, where we saw record-level attendance at Parks Canada locations and national museums. We invited provinces to collaborate with us on this program, and 9 out of 10 provinces decided to participate in this project.
I was recently at a culture ministers’ meeting in Regina, and everyone from coast to coast to coast said, “We want to work with your government on more nation-building measures like this one.” That’s the role that I have to play.
Minister, your government’s uncontrollable immigration policy has created enough diversity, and obviously the challenges are what they are. It is very concerning when I have a minister here who can’t really define what his role is.
When it is all said and done, will you at least acknowledge that the two founding people, the French and the English, along with the special status and the recognition of our Indigenous Peoples, are at the core of our heritage? Will you at least acknowledge that?
Can you please at least explain to me what your program of integration is that will enable us to create a Canadian identity that will allow us to go forward as a united country, coast to coast to coast?
Maybe I didn’t answer clearly in English, senator, so I’ll answer in French. In my answer to your first question, I talked about French and English and the place of Indigenous peoples in Canadian identity. If my answer in English wasn’t clear, I hope my answer in French is clearer.
Minister, you’re still avoiding my question, which was very simple. Can you explain your plan to integrate millions of immigrants into Canadian society? How do you plan to create a sense of unity in this country and foster an identity within the family made up of two founding peoples and Indigenous peoples? What is your plan? What are you prepared to do? How will you create that national identity?
We are doing a tremendous number of things. For example, I could mention the $750 million that we pay each year to the Government of Quebec for French-language training programs. That represents three-quarters of a billion dollars paid every year to the Government of Quebec. Some $4 billion have been committed to support the national strategy and to implement the Official Languages Act. I could mention the investments in arts and culture across the country in our national museums. We are doing a lot and we will continue to do so. We may even add a few new tools to our toolbox on the important question of Canadian identity.
Once again, minister, I’m sorry, but you explained a lot, except you did not mention anything about a strategy for integrating newcomers to Canada into the Canadian family, which has a specific identity.
With all due respect, if a government is unable to defend, let alone even explain, what our identity is, that’s a problem. Honestly, so far, your explanation has been a little vague, and I’m very concerned.
I don’t share your point of view, senator.
