Statement by Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau on International Mother Language Day

February 19, 2014

QUÉBEC, QC – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, issued the following statement on International Mother Language Day:

“International Mother Language Day celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity around the world, and recognizes the importance of protecting and preserving languages spoken by all people. Language represents an essential element in one’s cultural identity and heritage, and the right to retain and to pass on that heritage must be universally respected.

“We observe International Mother Language Day on February 21 to commemorate the date in 1952 when students demonstrating for the recognition of their language, Bangla, were shot and killed in Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh. This date will always have special significance to the Bangladeshi people, but the observance has become international in nature as their struggle to retain their linguistic and cultural identity is one that is common throughout the world.

The multicultural fabric of Canada is enriched by the diversity of peoples who have made their home here, among them a large and growing community of Bengali-Canadians. International Mother Language Day helps to ensure that our diversity will be preserved for future generations, so that our children are able to fully connect with their roots and share their history with others.”