Bill S-227

Arab Heritage Month Act

An Act respecting Arab Heritage Month

This enactment designates the month of April as “Arab Heritage Month”.

Arab Heritage Month Act

[Kathy Borrelli, Conservative, Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of Bill S-227, a bill that would recognize April as Arab heritage month in Canada. This matters to Arab Canadians, especially in a city like mine, Windsor. Windsor has always been a working city, a city built by people who showed up ready to work, people who believed that, if one put in the effort, they could build something better for their family. Arab Canadians are part of that story.

Families came here from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and across the Arab world. Some arrived decades ago; others arrived more recently. They came looking for stability, for opportunity, for a future their kids could count on. They did not come expecting an easy road, and they did not get one, but they worked, adapted and built lives here in Canada.

Today, Arabic is the third most spoken language in my home city of Windsor, Ontario, after English and French. That tells us something important. It tells us that Arab Canadians are not on the margins of our city, but woven into everyday life, at work, at school, in business and in our neighbourhoods. We can see that clearly along Wyandotte Street, in what many of us call the Arabic village.

If we walk down that street, we do not just see businesses; we feel community. We smell fresh bread coming out of the bakeries early in the morning. We see families gathered in restaurants late in the evening. We hear Arabic music drifting out of cafes, sometimes traditional, sometimes modern and sometimes mixed with North American sounds.

All of this did not happen by accident or because of a government plan; it happened because people took risks. They opened restaurants serving shawarma, falafel, manakish, kebabs and hummus, food that is meant to be shared and that brings people together.

In Arab culture, food is not only about eating, but also about hospitality. It is about generosity. It is about making room for others. We do not rush a meal. We invite people in. We make sure everyone is welcome. That spirit shows up in Windsor. We will see people from every background sitting side by side in these restaurants. Students, workers and families are all welcome and all treated the same. That is what real integration looks like.

Beyond food, there is music, cafes and community life, where people gather to talk, debate, laugh and stay connected, places where elders pass down stories and where young people blend cultures naturally. At community events and festivals, we will see traditional dance, live music and celebrations that are open to the whole city. They are not closed off or exclusive. They are shared. That matters, because culture is not preserved by locking it away; it is preserved by living it and by inviting others to experience it.

That is exactly what the Arab Canadians in Windsor and Tecumseh have done. Many came here with strong education and skills. There were engineers, doctors, teachers, tradespeople and entrepreneurs, but when they arrived, it was not easy. Credentials did not always transfer. Language barriers existed. Some had to take jobs below their training just to get started. Some had to start over completely. Still, they pushed forward. They went back to school. They retrained. They worked nights and weekends. They opened small businesses with family support and worked long hours. They did what Windsor families have always done. They made sacrifices so their kids would not have to.

We should also be honest about this: Not everyone came here by choice. Some were fleeing war, conflict or instability. They arrived carrying loss: the loss of homes, the loss of careers and sometimes the loss of loved ones. Still, they believed in Canada. They believed that if they worked hard, this country would give them a fair shot, and Canada did just that.

Today, Arab Canadians are raising families in Windsor and across Canada. They volunteer, coach sports teams, support local charities and run businesses that keep our neighbourhoods alive. Their kids go to school with our kids. They argue about hockey like everyone else. They speak English with a Windsor accent, sometimes mixed with Arabic, at home. They are not separate from the community. They are the community. That is why Bill S-227 matters. The bill is not about division or special treatment; it is about recognition. It is about saying that this community matters, that its contributions matter and that its story belongs in the Canadian story.

For young Arab Canadians growing up in Canada, that recognition counts. It tells them they do not have to choose between who they are and where they live. They can be proud of their heritage and proud to be Canadian. For everyone else, it is a reminder of what makes this country work: hard work, family, community and responsibility.

I have seen this first-hand as an entrepreneur in the hospitality business. I hired Adel, a talented chef from Egypt with skills in Italian cooking. Through hard work, he built a life here, marrying a Canadian teacher and raising a wonderful family. I also hired Hassan at one of my venues, a large nightclub. He started young, worked hard and quickly became head of security. He built and owns a multi-million dollar company, proof of what dedication and effort can achieve.

Then there is my friend Tony, whose parents opened a pita bread bakery many years ago. They worked tirelessly to provide a life for their family. Tony is now an electrical engineer; he is deeply involved in Windsor, volunteering on boards and with charitable and political organizations. He is a pillar of our community. I cannot leave out the Chaldean community, leaders like Adel, Salman and Dr. George, who dedicate themselves to strengthening their community. Another friend, Khassan Saka, founded an organization that helps Iraqi and other immigrants settle in Windsor.

Every person I have mentioned is a hard worker. Everyone has excelled and everyone has enriched our city through their efforts, generosity and commitment. Many more names could be mentioned as examples of how our society has benefited from these hard-working new Arab Canadians. This bill would not create new bureaucracy, cost taxpayers money or tell anyone how to live. It would simply acknowledge a reality that already exists.

Windsor knows what happens when people are given the freedom to succeed. Arab Canadians have helped build my city and this country, one business, one family, one meal and one neighbourhood at a time. For that reason, I am proud to support Bill S-227, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today to speak to Bill S-227, an act respecting Arab heritage month. I know there is suspense in the air again, and I know you are on the edge of your seat, because I can see you. I do not want you to fall, Madam Speaker. I want to tell you right away that the Bloc Québécois will vote in favour of this bill.

I see my friend from Bourassa reacting. First of all, this should not come as a surprise, because this bill is a repeat of Bill C‑232 from the previous Parliament. That bill passed many stages, was worked on in committee and was supported by the Bloc Québécois. It really reiterated our support for recognizing the cultural heritage of Quebeckers of Arab origin. As members know, Quebec's integration model is different. Our model is interculturalism. It is always important to remind everyone of that. Obviously, we recognize the outstanding contributions that Quebeckers of Arab origin have made to Quebec society.

When we talk about Canadians and Quebeckers of Arab origin, it is important to clarify what we are talking about, because this is literally an entire civilization. Quebec has very close ties with the Maghreb, particularly with Tunisia, Algeria, where my wife is from, and Morocco, where my colleague from Bourassa is from. He, too, appears to be on the edge of his seat. I did not know he was so emotional. We have really important cultural ties. We speak with people of North African origin every day in our ridings. They are part of our communities. They are part of us. They contribute to our culinary art, architecture, literature, science and engineering. When we talk about heritage, it is about a lot more than simply where people come from. We are talking about a Arabic-speaking civilization that originated on the Arabian peninsula but that extends into the Middle East and even into places where Persian is spoken. I believe we need to acknowledge the importance of that civilization and learn from it, and I say that very sincerely. I think we need to celebrate this success.

One of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a member of Parliament has been meeting people in my riding who belong to that culture. I see the member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles is here. She is involved in this too. I am talking about the Centre communautaire des Basses‑Laurentides in Sainte‑Marthe‑sur‑le‑Lac, a community centre that serves the entire Lower Laurentians region. I remember the day when Hicham El Gournadi, the then chair of the board of directors who later became a friend, came to meet me at my office. He told me that it was not easy to get charitable status. We sat down and started helping each other. Over the course of our meetings, we got to know each other, and eventually I started visiting the centre, spending time there and meeting with the community.

I would like to point out that the Centre communautaire des Basses‑Laurentides is a pillar of our community. In Sainte‑Marthe‑sur‑le‑Lac, these people volunteer for organizations and keep the community alive. They are not all of Arab origin, but because it is a Muslim community centre, they are well represented there. This is another example of interculturalism, of blending communities in a way that enriches our society. This community centre is amazing. It offers activities like weekend Quran classes, which I attended. People can think what they will about secularism and its role—though I think it is a debate that needs to happen in Quebec, not in Ottawa—but for many people, including Christians, Muslims and members of other religions, faith is important, and they view it as an integral part of their culture.

What I also found extraordinary were the math lessons, because we know that, in the Arab world, there is great respect for science and scientific culture. There is much we could learn from this. They also have an absolutely incredible scientific history. An example of this is the Arabic numerals that we use on a daily basis, which are actually of Indian origin, having first been used in Indian payroll calculations—I hear some disagreement—before making their way into science thanks to Arab mathematicians, one of the most important of whom was al‑Khwarizmi. I had actually read about him in a wonderful novel, The Parrot's Theorem, which is a fictional exploration of the history of mathematics. We can see just how much this civilization has contributed to the world of science.

When members hear his name, al-Khwarizmi, it will be obvious where the word “algorithm” comes from. It is a word we use every day these days, and it comes from the Latinized version of his name. Today, it has become so much a part of our common scientific culture that we do not even realize it anymore.

Obviously, he was a great astronomer who worked on Ptolemy's writings, but he also invented the word “algebra”. I am an economist. I studied economic theory, and one day, I realized that the word “algebra” comes from the word al-jabr. All this is to say that different cultures are all around us in our daily lives, and we do not even always realize it. The same is true in our communities. I am an economist, and I was drawn to the mathematical aspect, but the same goes for architects. This influence goes far beyond individuals.

The Lower Laurentians cultural centre teaches math to young children. I find that extraordinary. I wish I had gone to math classes on Saturdays and Sundays when I was a little boy. I may have been forced to take them, but I think I would have been thankful for that later on in life. I might not have had to go to night school to finish my high school math.

They also offer Arabic classes. We speak French in Quebec. Our fellow Quebeckers from the Maghreb region are also members of La Francophonie, but that does not mean that they should forget where they come from or their culture. I know that these people care deeply about family. I know they often call home. They call their home countries often. It is also important to them to speak more than one language, to speak two, three or four languages and to carry on this legacy. I believe they are doing so. I think that, in many ways, we should be inspired by immigrants who come here and who can have conversations in multiple languages. I think that is a great thing.

I keep coming back to the issue of interculturalism and living together as a community. It is a matter of accepting that we share common ground, that we share a lot of things and that it is a give and take. As a host society, we want to take in what those who arrive here have to offer us. It is through this type of sharing back and forth that we find common ground, that our identity slowly evolves and that we are able to talk to each other and debate ideas. Often, these conversations are not easy, but they are civilized, open and intelligent. In some cultures, debate is a national sport, just as it is in kitchens across Quebec on New Year's Day. I can bear witness to that.

For all of these reasons, I think it is a great idea to recognize the contributions of all these people, which we know date back over more than a century. In our history, all of these people have contributed to our society and continue to do so. I think it is worth pointing out all this heritage that can help to enrich us all.

I repeat that the Bloc Québécois is pleased to support this bill.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for York South—Weston—Etobicoke for his right of reply.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston—Etobicoke, ON]

Madam Speaker, good evening to you, my colleagues and Canadians who are joining us to witness this important moment of parliamentary collaboration.

I rise this evening with a deep sense of honour to speak to Bill S-227, an act respecting Arab heritage month. It is a moment when Parliament once again has the opportunity to rise above partisanship and move forward in celebration of our shared values of inclusion, recognition and belonging. I know that sometimes there are moments when the House truly comes together, and I believe this is one of those moments.

This is not the first time that this bill has reached this place. In the last Parliament, my colleague, the hon. member for Ottawa South, introduced Bill C-232, a forerunner of this very bill. That legislation passed this House unanimously, with the support of every party and every member in this chamber. It was a rare moment of unity that reminded us what Parliament is capable of when we come together in the spirit of national recognition. Before I go any further, I want to thank the member for Ottawa South for all the work that he has done and his leadership in championing this bill in its earlier form in the last Parliament.

Today I am proud to sponsor Bill S-227. I want to sincerely thank Senator Mohammad Al Zaibak for his leadership in reintroducing this legislation in the other place and guiding it all the way through the upper chamber with determination and grace. I also want to recognize the valuable contributions of colleagues from all sides of the House in support of this bill. I would like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry for sharing his personal background, the tremendous highlighting of the economic contributions of Arab Canadians and their role in shaping Canadian prosperity. The words of the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader on the importance of education and cultural awareness were timely and very important to that first hour of debate. The reflections of the hon. member for Edmonton Manning, my good friend, on the vibrant Arab community from coast to coast to coast, in Alberta but also across the country, have really brought warmth and insight to this important debate.

I thank the member for Jonquière for his perspective on North African and Arab migration to Quebec. I also thank him for highlighting the importance of student mobility, civic inclusion and mutual understanding.

I thank the hon. member for Windsor for his remarks on cross-border connections between Arab Canadians and Arab Americans and the unique contributions that Arab Canadians have made and continue to make, not just to his community but right across the country. I share that sense of pride and of the importance of recognizing this Canadian community. Each of those members built the foundation for today's debate, and I want to thank them.

Thank you, everyone.

This bill proposes that every year the month of April be designated as Arab heritage month in Canada. It is a month that will allow Canadians to learn, reflect and celebrate the contributions of Arab Canadians, their history, culture and heritage. It is an opportunity to recognize the diversity within the Arab Canadian community and to highlight the stories of perseverance, innovation, creativity and resilience.

At its core, this bill is about community and what it means to be part of the Canadian family, to be recognized, to be valued, and to be woven into the larger story of who we are together. Arab heritage month is not only about celebration, though there is much to celebrate. It is also about belonging, to be recognized officially by one's country, to have space in the national calendar that says, “Your story matters, and your identity is part of our collective story.” That is no small thing.

This bill is about more than recognition. It is about education, representation and healing. It is about confronting stereotypes. It is about replacing fear with familiarity. It is about making space for stories long left untold. It is about telling young Arab Canadians, “Your heritage matters, your identity belongs, and your contributions are valued.” As the hon. member for Ottawa South said so eloquently in 2022, “It is high time to move beyond the notion of tolerating anyone. It is now entirely a question of celebrating each other”.

In closing, I want to thank the Speaker for giving me the opportunity to talk about this bill. I ask all members of the House to support the bill and send a message to Arab Canadians that this Parliament sees them, hears them and celebrates them.

Shukran.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

The question is on the motion.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, I request that it be passed on division.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

I declare the motion carried on division. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

(Motion agreed to, bill read the second time and referred to a committee)