Hon. Michael L. MacDonald: Minister, Nova Scotia has 10 senatorial positions. There’s a long-standing convention going back to 1907 that one of these seats is always set aside for a representative of Nova Scotia’s Acadian community. However, there has not been an Acadian senator from Nova Scotia in this place since the retirement of our esteemed colleague Gerald Comeau in 2013, although your government has had multiple opportunities to correct this situation.

There are two vacancies presently in Nova Scotia. Minister, do you think the Prime Minister should address this omission? Will you advocate for such an appointment?

Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P., Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency: Thank you for that question. When it comes to making sure that we have the proper representation, that is really important. I was not aware of that process where there’s always been an Acadian senator appointed from Nova Scotia. I will certainly be following up with the Prime Minister’s Office on that with respect to the vacancy. Being an Acadian from New Brunswick myself, I’m proud of my culture and my heritage. We always hope there will be proper representation of senators within specific communities. I commit to you that I will certainly be following up on that matter with the Prime Minister’s Office.