Mr. Speaker, starting this evening and until November 10, delegates from some 40 francophone countries will be gathering at a forum in Montreal on the subject of education and the environment.
This event of unprecedented scope, which was prepared long ago, is the logical next step to the hopes raised by the Brundtland report in 1982 and the Rio earth summit.
I would like to point out that our government has provided support for this event, which was organized primarily by the Centrale de l'enseignement du Québec and the Association québécoise pour la promotion de l'éducation relative à l'environnement.
On behalf of all Canadians with school age children, I am grateful for this remarkable initiative, which will make our children not only better citizens, but “envirocitizens” and citizens of the world better prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century. This initiative will serve as a solid base for a vast network of partners in matters relating to the environment and sustainable development.