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March 21, 2008
Last year, I marked the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave trade by organizing a forum at Rideau Hall to discuss the history of slavery and racial discrimination to the present day. That forum gave specialists in the field of racism and discrimination, students, members of parliament and members of the international diplomatic corps the opportunity to engage in a lively debate.
I enjoyed the spirited interest of the participants as we discussed both the history of slavery in Canada up to its abolition and the importance of reminding our fellow citizens of this chapter in our collective history. I was also impressed by the passion with which the young people in particular denounced and rejected all forms of racism and discrimination. This bodes well for our future as a nation, for we cannot claim to live in a free and democratic society if we do not learn from the past and are not committed to building a future that is more just.
Above all, we must never let down our guard. We can be proud of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and of the mechanisms in place to counter injustice. But we still need to change the way some people think in this country; far too often, many of our fellow Canadians become the victims of racial discrimination because of the prejudices that persist in our society. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to take a stand.
The struggles and victories of the past have taught us that every action matters, that we are all agents of history, that we all have the power to bring about change and put an end to the differences that separate us.
It is within us to eliminate discrimination, whether it stands in the way of finding a job or housing or engenders racial profiling or racist views. This will affect not only our ability to live together, but also our determination to create a society that celebrates its diversity as its greatest asset and, in so doing, helps to build a world where humanity can triumph over every form of barbarity.
Michaëlle Jean
-30-
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Isabelle Serrurier
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