Mr. Speaker, next September, the Prime Minister of Canada will be hosting the 8th Sommet de la Francophonie.
The city of Moncton, New Brunswick, will be welcoming 52 heads of state and of government who have the French language in common. As a new millennium fast approaches, this summit represents a major event for all francophone communities throughout the world.
It is important to know that the francophone community in Canada ranks second in the world, after France. Our country has seven million citizens who speak, write, sing, work and live in French. Of that number, one million live outside Quebec.
This summit also constitutes an important event for our youth, who will be the focal point of the debates and actions of the summit. They are the future of the Francophonie. The summit will place them in the forefront and we will be attentive to what they have to say.
In September all eyes will be on Moncton. I invite all Canadians to celebrate our francophone community.