Hello everyone.

It’s Black History Month.

A time to celebrate the achievements, the contributions, and the history of Black Canadians.

A time to focus on investing in, and uplifting, future generations.

When we first endorsed the UN International Decade for People of African Descent back in 2018, we made a commitment to empower Black communities. Not just with words, but with actions.

Whether that be in business, in innovation, in arts and culture, in social justice, or in community-building.

And we knew that we had to listen to Black voices to make that happen.

Thanks to the leadership of countless Black-led organizations, leaders, and advocates, we’ve come a long way.

Together, we launched Canada’s first ever Black Entrepreneurship Program, the Supporting Black Canadians Communities Initiative, and just recently, developed the Black Justice Strategy.

The impact of these initiatives has been felt deeply in communities across the country, and that impact is only going to get bigger.

But there’s always more work to do.

This is a country that believes, at its core, that we are stronger for our diversity, not in spite of it.

So we’ll keep listening to Black leaders, amplifying Black voices, and building a better Canada – one where everyone has a fair shot.

Happy Black History Month.

Thank you all, thank you my friends.