SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Francophonie Month

Honourable senators, as part of Francophonie Month, we have been asked to promote and showcase the tremendous promise that la francophonie holds for the future of the French language.

To be a francophone living in Canada is such a privilege and, at the same time, such a challenge. Resilient and highly adaptable, we francophones are proud of our roots and our accents, and of belonging to the French-Canadian people.

In this month of March, we are celebrating our francophonie. Events are being organized and held across Canada in French. They showcase our language, our culture, our proponents and our artists, who express themselves in the language of Molière and contribute to our country’s linguistic diversity. By working hard to make our language and culture flourish, we are all making Canada a great place to live in French.

Tomorrow, March 10, I will be launching an inquiry on the Desjardins Group. I have chosen Francophonie Month do to so in order to call attention to the phenomenal success of a francophone financial institution that has achieved distinction in Quebec, Canada and elsewhere in the world for the past 125 years. In a country like ours, francophone companies that have remained true to their values and vocation for 125 years are few and far between. Recognizing and celebrating their achievements is therefore a must.

This March, let’s showcase our francophone community and our pride in speaking French.

Thank you.