March 2, 2023
We gathered under the Peace Sculpture and the words "Love For All. Hatred For None" to reaffirm our commitment to Canada's beautiful multicultural mosaic, and to state with one voice that hatred and racism have no place at our community table - or any table in Canada. If you're interested, here are my remarks:
Three Canadian MPs sat at a table for lunch with a known far-right European MP with known anti-immigrant and anti-Islam views.
So why do we gather here - some may ask? That table is hundreds of kilometers away.
We are here because we believe in the words on this monument - Love For All. Hatred For None.
And we are here because we believe that diversity is our strength - not our weakness.
And we are here because hate and bigotry have no place at our table. Or any table.
Pretty much all of us here are immigrants. I am an immigrant from Poland. My family came here as political refugees.
As immigrants, we never forget how fortunate we are to call Canada home. Our safe harbour.
It is why we, immigrants, work so hard. It is why we volunteer. It is why we give back. It is why we serve. The debt and the gratitude is so great.
We are here because when the winds blow a seed of hate onto our shores, we must stand up and respond quickly, so that it never finds soil and never takes root.
We do not need reminders of the destruction that follows when hatred takes root.
We remember the Afzaal Family in London. We remember the victims of the Quebec Mosque shooting.
Islamophobia is real. And so standing here together matters. It sends a message.
You know, a table has so much meaning.
Think about the Thanksgiving table.
Think about the Easter table.
Think about the Iftar table.
The kitchen table is often the heart of our home. It is where we share bread and share our lives and share our values.
And so today we gather to say with one voice, unequivocally - that hate and bigotry has no place at our table, or any table, in this beautiful, vibrant, and glorious multi-colourful country Canada.
