Mr. Chairman, if I said something that might give one the impression that learning a second language is a step towards becoming assimilated, then I apologize. I will read the transcript to see if I erroneously gave that impression. That is exactly the opposite of what I meant. I believe that the knowledge of a second language represents an asset, and a bridge towards other languages. That is something that I have said throughout the country, when speaking to anglophones as well as to francophones; bilingualism is not a barrier, it is a door that opens onto the rest of the world.
I believe that the honourable member is saying that it is easier to learn a third language than it is to learn a second one. I will tell you something that is anecdotal, but is nevertheless interesting. A number of young Canadians travelled abroad. Some of them went to South America, where they studied Spanish. Others went to Japan, where they learned to speak Japanese, or to China, where they learned to speak Chinese, or to India, when there learned to speak Hindi. But how many of these young people started by first learning the other official language? I find it fascinating to see how the new generation considers language to be a natural tool for learning about other cultures, and for truly becoming citizens of the world.
Through the chair, I would like to extend my congratulations to the honourable member's daughter.