Honourable senators, as we’re about to take a break for the summer, the time has come to thank everyone who has supported us in carrying out our work during this very unusual year.

I would like to pay special tribute to those who have worked so hard and with such determination to advance language rights in Canada over the past year.

Bill C-32 to modernize the Official Languages Act was recently introduced in the other place, and it represents much more than just an initiative by the current government. While we are unfortunately a long way from its passage, it marks an important milestone in the advancement of our language rights.

This bill is the result of an exceptional mobilization of MPs, senators, and above all, citizens and organizations of civil society who have done everything possible to ensure that our country moves as quickly as possible towards the substantive equality of two official languages, while keeping in mind the urgent need to ensure the protection and promotion of the beautiful Indigenous languages of our country.

If I may, I particularly want to thank the members of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, who came together in a wonderful spirit of collaboration so that, despite the challenges it encountered, our committee could study the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages’ reform plan, hear key witnesses and publish an update, which I invite you all to read on the specially created web page.

I want to thank the staff of this committee, including the analysts, the clerk, and the communications officer, as well as the interpreters, who are doing an outstanding job in these singular times. Your competence, your expertise and, above all, your commitment to our work are an endless source of inspiration that motivates us and gives us the strength, the courage and the determination to act.

Lastly, my sincerest thanks go to the leaders of official language minority communities, such as francophones outside Quebec and anglophones in Quebec. Their commitment to ensuring the protection of their language rights is absolutely amazing. We are striving to make your voices heard in the Parliament of Canada, and we are proud and grateful every day to work toward that goal.

In closing, I would like to thank you, fellow colleagues of the upper house, who put all your heart, knowledge and goodwill into working for the well-being of all Canadians.

I wish you a terrific summer and a safe and happy reunion with your loved ones and communities. Thank you. Meegwetch.