Justin Trudeau at the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto

December 3, 2014

Letter from Liberal Party of Canada Leader, Justin Trudeau

Last week, I attended the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto’s annual gala and awards ceremony. It was an honour to not only attend this great event, but to deliver the keynote address.

I spoke of our seventh Prime Minister, Wilfrid Laurier, and how his efforts helped make Canada into a place that celebrates and takes pride in its diversity, and is rooted in fairness and opportunity.

As Liberals, we stand proudly behind these Canadian values. One of the most obvious examples of that Liberal commitment is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, introduced by my father in 1982. In the 30 years since, the Charter has served us well; we know that it is an integral tool for protecting minority rights in this country, and, in fact, the rights of all Canadians.

In terms of how we can improve as we look to the future, I spoke about the great importance of ensuring that Canada’s diversity is reflected in key leadership positions, from the bench to elected office. That is why Liberals are working to build a strong team that is as diverse as our great nation; we cannot do a good job of representing communities in Ottawa if we do not reflect the diversity we find at home.

Commitment to diversity, fairness, and opportunity – these were values that Wilfrid Laurier believed in, and I believe in them too. Not because they are Liberal values, but because they are Canadian values.

Justin Trudeau
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada