Hon. Duncan Wilson: Honorable senators, I rise today to recognize and applaud the vital role played by QMUNITY. Since its inception in 1979, this resource centre has been offering essential programs and services to members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and their allies across British Columbia.

For over 45 years, QMUNITY has fostered the growth of a united community where queer, trans and Two-Spirit individuals can meet, grow and flourish. Its programs include easily accessible social and health services, counselling, peer support groups and legal clinics. The centre also offers programs adapted to the special needs of queer and transgender youth and their family members, along with programs for adults and seniors.

Colleagues, the harsh reality is that queer, trans, and Two-Spirit individuals around the world continue to face sustained oppression and violence.

In Canada, we are increasingly seeing a backslide regarding the hard-won human rights and protections granted to gender- and sexually diverse communities. Recent and proposed laws in some parts of our country require consent for youth to have their preferred pronouns used in schools. Targeting these vulnerable kids will leave them nowhere to turn. We are all too familiar with the risks of self-harm and even suicide that bullying — let alone the state-sanctioned isolation that is being promoted in some Canadian jurisdictions — can lead to.

Colleagues, in a world where divisive and populist politics are gaining a foothold, it is community-based service providers like QMUNITY that represent a safe harbour from the storm. These organizations offer boots on the ground, often serving as the first point of contact for individuals in need of support.

As such, honourable senators, it is my distinct pleasure today to welcome representatives from QMUNITY to Ottawa as they meet officials and MPs to highlight the critical work they have done and continue to do.

By supporting organizations like QMUNITY across Canada, we enrich our society and demonstrate exactly what His Majesty called out in the Speech from the Throne: that Canada is indeed the true north, strong and truly free.

Thank you, meegwetch.