Mr. Speaker, this year is the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations. The purpose is to seek ways in which different cultures and civilizations can communicate more effectively with one another. This cross-cultural understanding leads to acceptance and co-operation and is fundamental in the achievement of peace in our increasingly global society.
The goal is to go beyond mere knowledge of one another and encourage true interaction between civilizations. This is particularly important in conflict regions around the world but resonates everywhere. We all share the quest for a world in which cultural diversity is celebrated. A respect for human rights and freedoms is fundamental to achieving intercultural understanding.
I encourage all Canadians to take a moment to reflect on the ways in which we can encourage sharing between cultures, religions and ethnicities. It is vital particularly at this time that we seek understanding and acceptance of people from different communities both at a national level and in our personal lives.