Mr. Speaker, in 1996, the economic, scientific and political reality of the Francophonie is 49 countries on five continents.
France is the only one of those countries whose only official language is French. Elsewhere in the francophonie, French is only one of the official languages.
In this context, it is up to French speaking countries to give French, a favoured communication tool, the place it deserves in all areas of human activity, at both the national and the international levels. Even if it is generally recognized that, in America, Quebec is a beacon for the Francophonie, we are also aware that the Francophonie extends beyond Quebec's borders.
It is with respect that we salute our cousins in the francophone and Acadian communities. We pay tribute to their courage and determination in fighting for their rights, despite the provincial and federal governments' anaemic political will to recognize in real terms the equal status of French in Canada.