SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 169 - Mar/20/23

Mr. Francis Drouin (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Lib.)

Mar/20/23 2:02:49 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, today is the International Day of La Francophonie. More than 320 million francophones around the world celebrate this day. I particularly want to recognize the work of organizations such as the FCFA, the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada; the FESFO, the Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne; the AFO, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario; the ACFSOs in Prescott and Russell, Ottawa and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry; and all other Canadian organizations that every day advocate for the protection and promotion of the French language. Art and culture promote and disseminate a language. That is why I encourage all Canadians to discover our francophone artists in person or online. I am thinking in particular of artists such as Prospect Nelson, Les Rats d'Swompe, Melissa Ouimet and, of course, Katherine Levac. All these artists are from eastern Ontario. As the international president of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF, and as a proud Franco-Ontarian, I wish the 91 member branches of the APF an excellent International Day of La Francophonie. Long live the Francophonie.

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Context: House Hansard - 169 - Mar/20/23

Mr. Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, CPC)

Mar/20/23 2:06:39 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, as the member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier and an ardent defender of the French fact, today, March 20, I am proud to mark the 53rd International Day of La Francophonie. This year, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie chose “321 million francophones, billions of cultural content” as their theme in order to celebrate the diversity of francophone cultural creation and emphasize the importance of ensuring that it can be easily accessed online. Language does not belong to a country or region. It belongs to the individual, and only the individual can determine its future and survival. The modernization of the Official Languages Act is one way to stop the decline of French, but we also all need to do our part to stop the decline of French. As francophones, we need to establish a strong presence, while respecting the other language. We need to work together to keep our country bilingual. The French language is not a rival; rather, it is a distinctive force. Let us be proud of our country's English-French bilingualism today and throughout the year. We need to take action now.

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Context: House Hansard - 169 - Mar/20/23

Mr. Marc Serré (Nickel Belt, Lib.)

Mar/20/23 2:09:29 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, March 20 marks the International Day of La Francophonie, and this year's theme is “321 million francophones, a world of cultural content”. This day celebrates the French language. Some 10.4 million Canadians speak French. As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages, I want to thank all of our partners, including the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, or FCFA, and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, or OIF. Their work strengthens ties among our large francophone family and enhances our cultural and linguistic diversity. This is a very important day because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate our culture and pride in our identity. I want to extend special congratulations to the 12 francophone school boards across Ontario and, in my region, Nipissing, Sudbury and Nickel Belt, which are celebrating their 25th anniversary. I invite all francophones and francophiles to celebrate our language, our culture and our heritage.

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Context: House Hansard - 169 - Mar/20/23

Mr. Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, NDP)

Mar/20/23 2:16:54 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-11

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House on behalf of the NDP to mark the International Day of La Francophonie, an important day for celebrating and promoting our beautiful French language. The French language originated in Europe, but it is also entrenched here in North America, in the Arab world and especially in Africa, which is now the continent with the largest number of francophones. This year's theme, “321 million francophones, a world of cultural content”, places an emphasis on the diversity of francophone culture within the Francophonie and for francophiles around the world. A language is much more than vocabulary and grammar. It is also a vision, a way of looking at the world and telling our stories. It is important that French-language works be available and discoverable, especially in the new world of digital broadcasting. That is why the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie is focusing on the discoverability of francophone content. That is good timing, because most members of the House have been working on this issue in the context of Bill C-11. There is still work to be done for the French language, but we have taken a step in the right direction. Let us continue doing that with the rest of the world.

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