Signor Presidente, today, I would like to mark a very special and important anniversary for 1.5 million Italian Canadians.
We are celebrating a country, its democratic system, and its people, but also each of its regions: l'Abruzzo, la Basilicata, la Calabria, la Campania, l'Emilia Romagna, il Friuli, il Lazio, la Liguria,la Lombardia, Le Marche, il Molise, il Piemonte, la Puglia, la Sardinia, la Sicilia, la Toscana, il Trentino, l'Umbria, la Val D'Aosta e il Veneto.
Each of these regions gave sons and daughters who helped to build the Canada we love so much.
During this first Italian Heritage Month in Canada, we wish all Italian Canadians and Italians around the world a buona Festa della Repubblica Italiana.