Happy Canada Day! Across the country today, people from all walks of life join in celebration of Canada’s birthday. This may be the second-largest country in the world, but our sense of community and attachment feels more like a neighbourhood. We certainly saw this last month, when the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship, unifying people all across the country. We love our geography, but we don’t let the enormity of it keep us apart.

Each year, citizenship ceremonies take place across the country on Canada Day to welcome our newest Canadians. This year, 42 citizenship ceremonies will be held across Canada on July 1.

I’d like to begin by first acknowledging that we are on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and we thank them every day for allowing us to enjoy and settle in this land.

Ottawa, June 20, 2019—The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, today issued the following statement:…

I also want to recognize my colleague, Randy Boissonnault, who has been tireless in his advocacy, advice and relentless pursuit of LGBTQ2 rights. I want to thank the reverend for hosting us here today. And I want to also give a special shout out to Chris Morrissey for her tireless efforts on behalf of this community for so many years.