Madam Speaker, February is Black History Month.
Longueuil's city council has broken down age-old barriers and now welcomes young people, women and people from diverse backgrounds.
Today I am proud to celebrate three extraordinary women recently elected to Longueuil's city council: Reine Bombo-Allara, the first Black woman to chair the city council; Affine Lwalalika, the first Black woman on the executive council; and Rolande Balma, who, at 23, is the youngest woman ever elected in Longueuil.
The fact that these three Black women are now decision-makers on Longueuil's city council represents huge progress and reflects modern-day Quebec. To young people of diverse backgrounds, their election signals that participation in politics—