Mr. Speaker, in Canada, October is also known as Latin American Heritage Month. We must applaud the late Senator Enverga for making this recognition possible.
Today, I rise to thank organizers, publishers, writers, artists and volunteers, alongside representatives of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay, for contributing to FILibro Canada 2024. Language is essential to any culture, and this book fair has become one of the most important forums for the promotion of Spanish literature. It also highlights the importance of Hispanic culture in Canada.
I would especially like to applaud Sylvia Alfaro, Ramón Sepúlveda, Gabriela López and their team, including Clara Mejia Lema. It was an honour to host the sixth consecutive Ibero-American Book Fair on Parliament Hill, where hundreds gathered to share, promote and create much-needed camaraderie in emerging cultural communities.
Diversity is Canada's strength, and I hope even more people join us next year.