Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to Bill C‑245, which seeks to exempt Quebec from the application of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act.
I want to begin by saying that I have the deepest respect for my Bloc Québécois colleagues and that I personally share our profound attachment, as Quebeckers, to our language, our culture and our identity. That being said, I consider this bill a mistake, both for Quebec and for Canada.
Today's debate concerns more than a mere legal issue. It concerns how we choose to live together in this country—with respect, openness and solidarity. It concerns whether our differences should keep us apart or bring us closer together.
We can start by clearly reminding everyone that Quebec is a nation. The House recognized this fact almost 20 years ago, and it was not mere token recognition. Quebec's distinct identity, French language, history, secularism and civic values are an integral part of Canada's character.
Furthermore, the Canadian Multiculturalism Act already recognizes that reality. Section 3 states that implementation of multiculturalism must be consistent with Canada's official languages and must enhance the development of French-speaking and English-speaking communities. In other words, multiculturalism does not ignore Quebec's distinctiveness; it includes it.
Multiculturalism and bilingualism are not mutually exclusive, but complementary. Bilingualism protects our two official languages and multiculturalism guarantees that whatever their background, Canadians can fully contribute to the shared society we are building together.
The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was never meant to erase or replace one culture. Its purpose has always been to ensure that no individual has to renounce who they are to feel at home in Canada.
Multiculturalism is not a threat in a country that has welcomed immigrants, refugees and newcomers for generations, a country founded on indigenous lands and enriched through people from all over the world. It is what brings us together. It is not an ideology that divides us, but a principle that brings people together.
Multiculturalism affirms that it is possible to be proudly Quebecker and proudly Muslim, Haitian, Japanese, Jewish or Sikh and that identity is not a zero-sum game. The goal was never to create a patchwork of solitudes, but rather, a community that is based on equality and respect.
It is true that my native province of Quebec has developed its own model of integration that it calls interculturalism. The model emphasizes the French language as the civic language and encourages participation in a shared public culture.
The model is credible, commendable and fully aligned with Canadian multiculturalism. There is nothing in the federal bill that would prevent that. In fact, the Canada–Québec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens already gives Quebec expanded powers over the selection and integration of newcomers.
The real question today then is not whether Quebec should promote French or determine its own course with regard to integration—it is already doing that. The question is whether Quebeckers should be denied federal recognition of diversity, the very principle that allows Quebec to thrive within Canada.
This bill would do just that. It would tell the whole world that diversity is a Canadian value, except for those of us who live in Quebec. This message does not do anyone any good. It weakens the voice of Quebec and tarnishes Canada's image as an inclusive and democratic society.
The Bloc Québécois is framing this debate as a choice: multiculturalism or Quebec's survival. I completely reject this false dichotomy. Yes, the French language in Quebec is fragile and must be protected. However, its future does not depend on whether or not the Canadian Multiculturalism Act applies in Quebec. It depends on demographic vitality, economic choices, linguistic habits, and the strength of our francophone institutions.
Exempting Quebec from the Canadian Multiculturalism Act will not result in French being spoken more widely. It will not strengthen language laws, will not improve education in French, will not support the promotion of Quebec culture, and will not guarantee greater francophone immigration.
What it will do is send a signal that Quebec stands apart, that it rejects a principle that has helped make Canada one of the most respected countries in the world. Cultural confidence is not built by putting up legislative walls. It is built through pride, education, and the active promotion of the language and culture that unite us.
We must remember that Canadian multiculturalism arose out of a very specific challenge: reconciling diversity in a vast country comprising two official languages, indigenous peoples, and successive waves of immigration.
The 1988 act is the continuation of a policy put in place in 1971 by Pierre Elliott Trudeau. It recognized that Canada was not a cultural monolith, but rather a common home for many peoples. Far from erasing French, it made it one of the pillars of our national identity.
The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was passed under Brian Mulroney, a prime minister from Quebec. Mr. Mulroney was a Conservative from Baie‑Comeau who, like me, understood full well the importance of Quebec's role within Canada.
This is a good reminder for us that this question goes beyond partisan divisions. It goes to the heart of who we are as a nation. Canadian multiculturalism has enabled us to fight against racism, exclusion and discrimination. It has opened the doors to generations of Canadians who would otherwise have felt marginalized. It has also inspired other countries to follow our example of inclusion. Nothing is ever perfect, but this model remains one of our greatest collective strengths. We must defend it and apply it to ensure the successful integration of newcomers and a good quality of life for all Canadians who have forged our multiculturalism.
If this bill were to pass, it would cause confusion and fragmentation. Citizens of the same federation would be subject to two different recognition frameworks: one where diversity is protected by laws and the other where it is not. In practical terms, this would create two classes of citizenship: multicultural citizenship for the rest of the country and citizenship without that recognition for Quebec.
What would be the result? Quebec already has all the tools it needs to manage immigration and promote French. It has its own ministry, its own integration programs and its own charter of values. This bill would not make any real difference aside from creating more division and misunderstandings.
I stand here as a proud Quebecker. I am also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. The Bloc Québécois says that it wants to protect Quebec's identity, and I am also here to do that. However, I also want to protect something just as precious: our shared Canadian identity, which is based on respect, openness and solidarity.
Multiculturalism is not some abstract political ideology. It reflects Canadian reality. My colleague gave some wonderful examples, such as La Bolduc and Boucar Diouf. Simply walk down Saint-Laurent Boulevard in Montreal, or make your way through Toronto's Portuguese neighbourhood, Chinatown in Vancouver and the Filipino communities in Winnipeg, or visit the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia in Halifax. These places are not separate worlds. They are threads woven together, creating the fabric that is Canada.
Quebec's francophone culture is not just another frayed thread that is part of this fabric. It is a building block. It roots us in our history, our creativity and our beautiful language. Excluding Quebec from the Canadian Multiculturalism Act would be tantamount to saying that recognizing diversity is incompatible with its identity. I certainly do not believe that. I know some amazing artists, teachers and community leaders in Quebec that prove exactly the opposite every day. They show that we can be proudly francophone and deeply rooted in that Quebec pride while remaining open to the world.
Our country has always progressed through dialogue, compromise, and respect. We have rightly recognized Quebec as a nation within a united Canada. We have recognized the rights of indigenous peoples and the contributions of newcomers. We have proven that our two official languages and our diverse cultures can coexist not despite their differences, but because of them.
Bill C‑245 would set us back. It would replace co-operation with confrontation, pride with resentment, and openness with isolation. If we truly believe that Quebec is a nation within Canada, then we must also believe that Quebeckers are entitled to the same principles of equality, inclusion, and diversity as all Canadians. Let us oppose this bill, not out of disrespect for Quebec, but out of respect for what we have built together. Let us reaffirm that Quebec's culture, language, and identity flourish best not by distancing themselves from Canada, but by participating fully in it. It is a distinct and essential voice in a country that celebrates all voices.