Mr. Speaker, this year we are celebrating 400 years of French presence in Ontario. In this House seven years ago, I talked about this anniversary.
To mark this anniversary, in the company of Ontario's minister responsible for francophone affairs, Madeleine Meilleur, I had the pleasure last night of unveiling a new silver coin engraved with the image of explorer Samuel de Champlain.
Champlain visited the Great Lakes area in 1615. This gave him the opportunity to build lasting relationships with our first nations.
He also created conditions that favoured economic growth for a vibrant francophone community in Ontario, one that is still thriving today. This newest silver coin issued by the Mint sheds a new light on the explorations of Samuel de Champlain in Huronia. It also serves as a reminder that, four centuries later, Champlain’s heritage lives on and is reflected in the richness of the French culture in Ontario.