This is a great day for Canada, and it’s part of a long series of milestones this country has had over the years. It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been automatic. A lot of people fought for a long time for this day and for the many days that lead up to this day to happen. And it’s absolutely wonderful to be celebrating in such a significant way as to raise the Pride flag on Parliament Hill for the very, very first time. And it’s wonderful you’re all here for this.

But it’s also really, really important to highlight that it’s not just Liberals who are here. We have Conservatives here. We have NDP here. We have Bloc Québécois and Green Party members here.

Canada is united in its defence of rights and is standing up for LGBTQ rights. This is what we are truly celebrating today. And quite frankly, it’s something that we recognize we still have more work to do. That is why, as Randy mentioned, we introduced a few weeks ago a Bill to give full rights and protections to trans people across this country as well. Because trans rights are human rights. Our approach is always to understand that there’s progress to be made in this country. We are doing extremely well in many areas, but there’s still work to do. We can still be working for greater acceptance, greater openness, greater support for the people around us, people who face discrimination, bullying, challenges. Still today, too many young people in their high schools face discrimination because of their sexual identity, and we still have a lot of work to do. Here, by raising this flag today, we can help to keep pushing forward towards that reality of acceptance, openness and love for our neighbour here in Canada, and that would be a very good thing.

I am so proud to be here today. I am so looking forward to being the first Prime Minister to attend Pride parades across this country this summer.

I mean it’s not going to be my first time at all these Pride parades, but the first time for a Prime Minister which is a wonderful step forward. But like I say, we have more work to do in the coming years. And I am so glad to see so many people here to mark this moment and the many moments to come.

Thanks very much everyone.

Thank you very, very much.​