I toured the site of the future MIFO cultural centre in Orléans today, a new facility that will support Francophone culture and provide a space for French-language arts, education and community programming here in Ottawa.

It was a pleasure to join the Luso Canadian Charitable Foundation’s Festival of Hope to celebrate Ontario’s Portuguese community and the work the foundation is doing to support people living with disabilities.

Today marks three years since the horrific terrorist attack carried out by Hamas against the people of Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people, injured thousands and saw 251 people taken hostage. On this solemn anniversary, we remember the victims and stand with their families and loved ones whose lives were forever changed by the horrific events of October 7. In the years since, Jewish communities across Ontario and around the world have faced a troubling rise in antisemitism. Our government stands firmly with Ontario’s Jewish community and has taken strong action to protect the right of everyone across our province to practise their faith freely and without fear.

October 5 to 11 is Ontario Agriculture Week, where we celebrate and thank the farmers, agrifood businesses and agricultural communities who put food on our tables and grow our economy.

This is a great day for Canada! Let’s keep going to unlock our natural resources, protect our workers and build the most competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy in the G7.