This is a cause that's close to my heart because a lot of people immigrate to Manitoba, like everywhere else in Canada, and many of these newcomers choose French immersion for their children, because they believe in it. Since Canada is a bilingual country, they believe their children are going to learn both official languages. They also hope Canada will encourage them to keep their own language and will see the value in that. That is why I think it's essential to talk about bilingualism, multilingualism, and Canadian identity for all Canadians.
Some people think it will be harmful to official languages. On the contrary, it will help convince people of the value of language learning and show them how languages can enrich their lives, especially their traditional languages. That's what Canada is all about.
People sometimes say:
the world needs more Canada,
And this is why. We are talking about this situation, but we need to go further. I hope this committee will consider the two official languages, which have a very important status, but will also consider the need to tell every new citizen that they are important and that we value the languages they speak. Together, we represent the richness of Canada.