Mr. Speaker, a number of students from my riding will be taking part in the Summer Work Student Exchange Program.
This program, funded by the federal government as one of its youth initiatives and sponsored by VIA Rail Canada, often constitutes a first paying job for our young people, along with an opportunity to learn a second language in an immersion setting and to learn about and appreciate the other culture, while visiting another region of their country. In short, it is an outstanding life experience in their second language.
I am particularly pleased about our government's firm and reaffirmed commitment to linguistic duality, a value that is fundamental to our Canadian identity.
Our government firmly believes that the official languages policy is a matter of mutual respect and that it shows our willingness to use our diversity as a driving force.
Let us work together to ensure that thousands more students are able to experience the marvellous challenge of the Summer Work Student Exchange program.