Mr. Speaker, yesterday, some 3,000 people gathered to ask that the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean remain open. This demonstration was truly a show of solidarity, with residents from Saint-Jean, Montérégie, the greater Montreal and my own riding participating. Politicians representing all political affiliations joined in a common front to convey the message that the French-speaking military college in Saint-Jean must remain open.
The federal government must not make the mistake of closing this unique institution in North America, which serves to train military officers in their own language and milieu. The government must reconsider its decision and have the courage to recognize its mistake, to clearly show that French-language institutions have their place in the federal system.