Mr. Speaker, the Francophonie is alive and well in Canada and throughout the world.
Spanning five continents, it comprises 400 million people in 52 countries. French is the official language in a number of countries and is spoken in bilingual countries such as Canada and Cameroon and multilingual countries such as Switzerland and Mauritius.
Through the years, the Francophonie has grown. It now encompasses language, culture, cooperation, the economy and politics. French culture is diverse and all the richer for it.
I want to thank all those who work hard to promote the Francophonie on the national and international scene.