Mr. Speaker, last week it was my privilege to table a report of the Canadian IPU group about its activities at the interparliamentary conference.
I would like to pay tribute today to the leader of our group, Senator Peter Bosa.
At the Istanbul conference Senator Bosa was presented with the order of merit of Italy, known as the Grande Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana, awarded by the president of Italy, Luigi Scalfaro.
This honour, similar to our Order of Canada, was awarded to him in recognition of his services in the advancement of multiculturalism.
Prior to becoming a senator in 1977 Senator Bosa was the chairman of the Consultative Council on Multiculturalism. He is the founder of the chair in Canadian-Italian Studies at York University as well as the Canada-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group. It is nice to see someone honoured this way.
Our sincere congratulations.