Hon. Michèle Audette: Thank you, Senator Dalphond, for your speech and for sponsoring this bill.

Knowing that this territory has been and continues to be inhabited by the Kanien’kehá:ka, the Mohawk people, were the nation and its members consulted in this process of exchange and consultation, so as to include the richness of the Indigenous languages that are still alive?

Senator Dalphond: Thank you, Senator Audette, for that excellent question. From what I understand, even though I am neither a historian nor an expert, and forgive me if I am wrong, but of the three ridings in my division, the Salaberry—Suroît riding is the one that corresponds most closely to the Mohawk territory in relation to Châteauguay—Lacolle. While Châteauguay is in the top part, the rest of the territory is located further down, towards the Saint-Jean River.

Senator Audette: Does that mean we can invite all these important voices to the table, to see how we can change or improve the name of the riding? As I am new to the Senate, I would like to ask the question.

Senator Dalphond: I wasn’t directly involved in the consultations held with officials from the Jardins-de-Napierville RCM. I don’t know exactly who was consulted, other than the mayors and all the other interested parties. I couldn’t tell you any more than that, and I apologize, but I will put this question to Ms. Shanahan.