Mr. Speaker, on the eve of the Spanish national holiday, I rise today to pay tribute to Canadians of Spanish descent who have contributed to building this beautiful country. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians of Spanish descent have made Canada stronger by generously and proudly sharing their history, their language and their culture.
To mark the occasion, the Spanish flag was raised on Parliament Hill today for the first time. This was done in the presence of the Spanish ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Alfredo Martínez Serrano; his wife, Rosa; State Secretary Olmedo; members of the House; and prominent members of Canada's Spanish community.
The ceremony served to reinforce the strong ties between Canada and Spain and honour those, like my own grandparents and great-grandparents, who came to our shores following a long journey across the Atlantic. May the strong ties between Canada and Spain only continue to grow. May Spain and Canada see peace and prosperity in our time.
Gracias.