Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Black History Month, I rise today with a message from Marjorie Villefranche, the executive director of Maison d'Haïti:
We, the women of African descent, want to be heard because we believe that racism and discrimination should no longer exist in 2020.
We want to develop a just and egalitarian society that excludes no one.
A society that reflects our non-racist, non-sexist and non-violent values.
We want to be heard because the colour of our skin should no longer determine our future, let alone that of our children.
We do not want more empty promises, but courageous action that holds the promise of justice and redress.
We want to be recognized as people who have fully contributed to the development of our society and to its human, political, economic, cultural and artistic development.
We, the women of African descent, want to celebrate with our fellow citizens our indomitable will to live with dignity.