Colleagues, in Nova Scotia, on the shores of St. George’s Bay in Antigonish County, there is a magnificent small Acadian village called Pomquet. It boasts a natural provincial park, a church, a school, but most importantly one of our national treasures: May Bouchard. This community builder, great feminist, long-time volunteer, and staunch defender of the French language and Acadian culture, celebrated her 100th birthday on July 19.

When she was quite young, May Bouchard had to leave her home village and raise her six children in Montreal. When she returned home several years later, she noticed with despair that her language and culture had practically disappeared from her village. She worked hard, determined to ensure that the children in her village could be taught in their language and their culture. After many years of lobbying, thanks to her commitment and that of her community, a new school was built in 2000 in Pomquet to serve the francophone population and rights holders, from K to 12. Without that school and without May Bouchard’s efforts, that Acadian community would’ve likely disappeared.

Colleagues, this story highlights the importance of Statistics Canada’s recent decision to include five new questions related to the right to minority language instruction in the 2021 census questionnaire. Without adequate data collection, it is impossible to ensure full compliance with section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees educational rights for official language minorities. And without full compliance with this provision, so many other minority language communities are in danger of disappearing.

I want to thank Statistics Canada and the many organizations that worked tirelessly to bring this important issue to the attention of all the institutions, and I especially want to thank May Bouchard.

Nova Scotia is home to a capable and committed Acadian community, made up of women and men like May Bouchard, whose expertise contributes greatly to the development of that province and to the vitality of our country.

Here in the Senate of Canada, home to minority and regional representation, there has always been a Nova Scotian Acadian representative since 1907, except for the last five years.

What’s more, the Senate urgently needs to be enriched once again with the appointment of an Acadian senator from Nova Scotia. Let me say so loud and clear. I’m sure that our national treasure, May Bouchard, would agree.

Stay tuned. Thank you.