Mr. Speaker, on this day before International Women's Day, words cannot reflect the immense gratitude I feel for the women who have come before me. It is thanks to the encouragement, open-mindedness and precious advice of my mother and grandmother that I can be who I am today.
I would also like to pay tribute to my father and thank him. I worked with him for several years. My parents have always wished for my success by teaching me the workings of life, without discrimination. Women's Day is certainly a day to appreciate the progress made towards gender equality, but it is also a day to reflect on the road that our society still has to travel.
Let us remain vigilant, and denounce intolerance, sexism and injustice. Together, we must allow all the talents of our society, regardless of gender, origin, culture and religion, to continue to build our great country.