When you look at the history of Arab Canadians in Canada, at the presence of Arab Canadians and at the contributions they have made and continue to make in many provinces and municipalities right across this country, it is important to follow what local communities have already done. Many provinces, municipalities and community organizations, as you said, have already recognized and designated Arab heritage month in various forms, but what's missing is a federal designation providing national coherence and permanence.
A formal recognition by Parliament ensures consistency across the country. It signals that we, in the federal legislature, recognize, reflect on and celebrate the contributions of Arab Canadians. As part of Canada's official historical narrative, recognition at the federal level carries a symbolic and unifying weight that informal observances cannot.
I share with you the belief that we are all Canadians, but I also believe that recognizing the contributions of various communities to the larger national project doesn't take away from their belonging to Canada. In fact, it enhances it.