Mr. Speaker, 400 years ago, Mathieu da Costa was the first black man to set foot on what is now Canadian soil.
From that day to this one, from forced to free migration, black Canadians have contributed greatly to the cultural, social, and economic prosperity of Canada.
I rise today to invite all Canadians to learn more about our country by taking part in Black History Month activities. Today, a delegation of black leaders is joining parliamentarians of all political stripes to ensure that black people may continue to leave their mark on Canada and around the world.
Tonight, hundreds of proud black Canadians will gather at the Museum of History in my riding of Hull—Aylmer to celebrate the long road from which we came, and the even longer and wider roads ahead. Tonight, we may celebrate the past, but let me assure members that the best is yet to come.
I wish everyone a happy Black History Month.