“Artists from across Canada are visiting Ottawa today. The arts create jobs, bring us together, and tell our stories to the world. I want to thank these artists and cultural workers for supporting our communities.”

“Mr. Speaker, artists and art leaders from across Canada are in Ottawa today for the Canadian Arts Coalition’s annual arts day on the Hill. I am proud to represent St. Boniface—St. Vital, where arts and culture are an integral part of our identity. From the 100-year-old Théâtre Cercle Molière to WAG-Qaumajuq, our cultural institutions bring us together, tell our stories and help us understand one another. This year’s theme of building a stronger and more united Canada through arts and culture reminds us that the arts create jobs, sustain our communities and help us share our stories with the world. At a time when telling our own stories in our own voices matters more than ever, a strong arts and culture sector is essential to who we are as Canadians. I thank the Canadian Arts Coalition and all the artists and cultural workers here today for enriching our communities and our country.”