When bills are drafted, and I will use the example of the bill to modernize the Official Languages Act, there are basic principles on which it would be important to agree. I'm thinking in particular of the importance of official languages to the Canadian identity. It's a fundamental Canadian value that contributes to the development of our country.
It's also extremely important to recognize that official languages are part of a changing environment. We need a bill today to meet the needs not only of today, but especially of tomorrow. Society and technology are changing rapidly. Immigration has a significant impact on our country.
Official languages are part of a Canadian political project, as are multiculturalism and reconciliation. So it's important to see our work as contributing to building the nation.
That's how I see bills: as a way of consolidating our values through legislation that articulates them well.