Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank all parties in the House for their tremendous support of Yukon and the Yukon Act.
I would also like to say a few words on an important issue.
In the Yukon, there is a dynamic and productive francophone community. Over the past 20 years, that community has succeeded in slowing down assimilation and it is actually growing. It is an economic asset for the Yukon. Today, a few members of the Franco-Yukon community are with us. I welcome them here.
Along with their allies, francophones in the Yukon are building Canadian unity and contributing to the success of the coexistence of Canada's two official languages.
As regards health services, the Franco-Yukon community has been trying to be recognized by Health Canada since 1993.
It also wants the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to recognize it as a legitimate nordic people. Francophones in the Yukon are asking that their rights be clearly included in the new Yukon Act.
For the sake of Canadian unity, a sin of repetition is better than a sin of omission.