Mr. Speaker, September 25 is the anniversary of the Franco‑Ontarian flag, which was raised at the University of Sudbury.
As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages and as a proud francophone, I want to thank all the partners who keep the Francophonie alive: the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario, or ACFO, the health centres, Richelieu clubs, Club Calumet, the West Nipissing Arts Council, which is known as CANO, Collège Boréal, the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne, and the 12 French-language school boards in Ontario.
I also want to congratulate the municipality of Markstay‑Warren, in Nickel Belt, on declaring itself a bilingual community this past Friday.
Also, this afternoon, with the West Nipissing Historical Society, my aunt Florence Serré will be sharing her many books that bring our culture to life and celebrate our pride in our identity. There are even books on joual, ben voyons, with French slang expressions like attache ta tuque and j'ai mon voyage.
I invite all francophones and francophiles to celebrate today.
I send a warm thanks to all anglophones and multilingual allies across Canada.