Mr. Speaker, in December 1995, the Parliament of Canada passed a motion to officially designate February as black history month.
As an expression of the government's commitment, the multicultural program of the Department of Canadian Heritage created the Mathieu Da Costa awards program in 1996. This program commemorates the heritage of Mathieu Da Costa, the first black person to settle in Canada.
Events and activities during Black History Month focus on Canadian heritages and racial and ethnic identity and provides an ideal opportunity for all Canadians to share their views and debate the importance of fostering an inclusive society in which people of all backgrounds are respected and recognized as being vital to an evolving Canadian identity.
Black History Month has become a showcase for all of us to present our history as both blacks and Canadians.