Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to participate in tonight's debate about the French language in Canada. It is very motivating.
I want to talk a little bit about my life. I am an Acadian from Nova Scotia. My ancestors arrived here in 1604. I am originally from Cape Breton, or more specifically from a little island just next door to Cape Breton called Isle Madame, which has a population of 3,500, 95% of whom are Acadian. I also have ancestors who contributed to the prosperity of Lévis. Their important role was even recognized with a monument that was built for Canada's centennial.
My father told me that, in the 1960s, there was only one French course at the school that I was attending in Nova Scotia and it was at risk of being cut. He said that we had to fight to protect our language. Thanks to the Liberal Party, which passed the Official Languages Act in 1969, we finally had the support we needed. My father said that we were going to see French thrive in our community, in Quebec and in Canada. We saw our brothers and sisters in Quebec as the leading champions of the French language and culture and as people who supported us.
I did all my schooling in English because there was no French school in those days. Again, in 1982, it was the Liberal Party who introduced the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, with section 23 protecting the rights of the anglophone minority in Quebec and the francophone minorities in the rest of Canada. We got some support from that. Then we went to court to defend our rights, obviously.
Lastly, French schools and francophone school councils started being created in 1990. In 2005 I was appointed as superintendent of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial. From 2005 until today, the number of students nearly doubled in francophone schools of Nova Scotia. We are very proud of that and we continue our work.
In the 1960s, French declined in Montreal. I remember my father telling me that story. Then in the 1970s, the language became stronger. Indeed a decline can be observed today. It is very important to act, and that is the reason why the Liberal Party is now taking action. In the Speech from the Throne, our government clearly demonstrated that the French language needed to be promoted and protected. That call to action was well received.
Benoît Pelletier said, and I quote, “The federal government has always wanted to ensure symmetry between English and French in Canada. Ottawa's acknowledgement that special measures need to be taken for francophones demonstrates the Trudeau government's recognition that French is under threat.”
Between 2015 and now, we have taken a great deal of action. The Official Languages Act just celebrated its 50th anniversary, and we will continue to work to promote French in Quebec. We will promote both linguistic cultures in Canada: English in Quebec and French outside of Quebec.
We can promote French in Quebec without infringing on minority rights. Yes, we can. I must say thank you to my hon. colleagues, my sisters and brothers in Quebec. I have seen how strongly they believe in francophones outside Quebec. They have made a difference by supporting Ontario's French-language university. I congratulate and thank them.
Promoting bilingualism in Canada and both linguistic communities is extremely important. Bilingualism is an asset for Canada. Our colleague, the Hon. Stéphane Dion, once said that bilingualism is an asset for the country's prosperity and that Canada's bilingual character increases the volume of its trade and economic relations, which are very important.
I will conclude by saying that a bilingual Canada is strong, and a francophone Quebec is very strong. A Canada with two strong linguistic minorities is very important. The Liberal government will work hard to ensure the promotion and protection of French across the country.