Speeches – 2008

The Honourable Jason Kenney

"An Evening with Chinese Treasures" Fundraising Gala for the Canadian Foundation for Chinese Heritage Preservation

Toronto, Ontario, March 8, 2008

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Nee How.            (Hello in Mandarin)

I am pleased to be here with you this evening to take part in this year' s Evening with Chinese Treasures.

I am honoured to be a guest of the Canadian Foundation for Chinese Heritage Preservation.  

People of Chinese heritage have long enriched Canada with their skills, knowledge, and talents, and our society benefits greatly from their contribution.

I applaud your work that aims to promote Canadian interest in the education, preservation, and appreciation of Chinese cultural and historical treasures.  Safeguarding national treasures helps bring history to life for current and future generations.  Congratulations!

As Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity, I take great pride in the contributions that all of the various communities in Canada have made to the social, economic, and political fabric of our country.

Our Government recognizes the valuable contributions of the Chinese‑Canadian community to Canadian culture.

The Government of Canada considers our country' s diversity to be one of our greatest assets, and we are committed to strengthening our national cohesion. 

One of the cornerstones of our pluralistic society is that all citizens benefit from equality under the law, regardless of their cultural or religious background.

This event and the ongoing work of the Foundation for Chinese Heritage Preservation enrich our diversity and contribute to cross-cultural understanding.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the leaders and staff of this organization on their work to organize this gala for such a worthy cause.

In closing, I wish you great success for the coming years, and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the program. 

Thank you.