Address by Prime Minister Chrétien
on the occasion of the Journée internationale de la Francophonie

March 20, 2003
Ottawa, Ontario

It is my honour to welcome you on this day when we celebrate La Francophonie. It is our great pleasure to have with us today the first Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

As you have all just borne witness, the reputation of Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali speaks for itself.

As a diplomat and a politician, he has worked for peace in the Middle East and throughout the world, something that is an ongoing challenge, as we all know. In these troubled times, allow me, Your Excellency, to emphasize the value of that contribution.

Working for peace does not mean avoiding conflict. Throughout his career as a lawyer, academic and statesman, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali has faced some major crises.

As Secretary-General of the United Nations, he was confronted with major upheavals in Somalia, Rwanda, Angola, and the former Yugoslavia.

Throughout that period, his concern was for equality and fairness, courageously pointing out the shortcomings of a divided world. He marked our lives, calling us back to order when we needed to hear the call.

Elected the first Secretary General of La Francophonie in 1997 at the Hanoi Summit, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali has placed his lengthy experience in international affairs at the service of the member states and governments. He has facilitated cross-cultural dialogue and has given that forum the stature and the vitality that it now enjoys.

You have said, Your Excellency, that La Francophonie extends well beyond defence of the French language to act as a vehicle for promoting linguistic and cultural diversity, both in our own community and around the world.

This is a conviction which we in Canada share as well. For us, being members of La Francophonie opens a window on the world. We Canadians are cognizant of the advantages of La Francophonie as a unifying force. I make the effort to impress this upon my counterparts from other countries every time I have the opportunity.

We in Canada are proud to have French, one of the most widely spoken languages on the planet, as an official language along with English. These two languages of international stature are part of our heritage, even as they serve us as an asset for the future. The recognition and promotion of our linguistic duality contributes to our culture of coexistence and sharing.

Last week I made public my government’s action plan for our official languages, as we want to make sure that the largest possible number of Canadians – young Canadians in particular – are given the opportunity to speak French and English.

We believe it important for citizens to be able to grasp the issues of the world in which they live, so that they may better influence the course of events. That is why our official languages action plan puts the emphasis on education.

In addition, we closely monitor the services of the Government of Canada. We want to be able to offer our citizens services in the official language of their choice. At the same time, our federal institutions are working actively to admit to their ranks French-speaking as well as English-speaking Canadians, and to offer them equal opportunities for advancement.

This is of course a matter of fairness, but it is also a matter of service to citizens.

And beyond even that, it is a matter of being open to the world. For government employees are our representatives wherever their duties may call them. They are our ambassadors, our negotiators, our contacts on the national and international stages.

Ladies and gentlemen, our official languages policy is a reflection of our Canadian values. It grows from the roots of a culture that recognizes and honours these two beautiful languages and recognizes their importance to our lives and national identity. It is part of our distinctiveness.

On a larger scale, our devotion and commitment to La Francophonie is a reflection of our strongly held belief in the importance of multilateralism and our faith in the institutions we have created. Canadians believe this – our own history has taught us the benefits of diversity. We are proud of this vision and will continue to share it with the world through international bodies such as La Francophonie.

Thank you very much.

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