 When I think back on being a kid, growing up with the Prime Minister as a dad, I remember a few things. Most memories are of the day to day. Car rides with the RCMP are visiting my dad at work. But in terms of his legacy, the events and decisions written about in the history books, I don't remember as much. I was 13 when he left. Rarely do we realize the big moments for what they are as they're happening, and hindsight most often gives us that perspective, a certain gravity that's only afforded through distance. But there is one moment, one historical event that I remember quite vividly. It was April 17, 1982. It was a gray and drizzly day, and I sat at 10 years old on Parliament Hill. And I watched as my dad and the nice lady who was the Queen of England on TV, but the Queen of Canada when she was here visiting, patriated Canada's constitution. At the time, I had no idea what that meant, possibly meant signing something publicly with the Queen, but I still knew it was a big deal. Of course, later I'd realized just how big a deal it was. That day, Canada took a giant step forward, evolving into a nation of entrenched fundamental rights, a nation that vowed to recognize all people as equal under the law. Now, the execution of that promise has been imperfect, yes, but over time, we've gotten better at peaceful coexistence, divided by the foundational principles of compassion, equality, and dignity for all. I often think of that afternoon now that I'm much older and in the same position my father was in all those years ago. And I think about how my kids will reflect on their experience, having their dad as Prime Minister and living a pretty unconventional life. Xavier, Ella Grace, and Hadrian, what will they remember of this exciting era? Well, I'd like to think, and I hope that just as I remember that day in April 1982, they will remember November 28th, 2017. See, it was on that day that I rose in our parliament and delivered a long overdue apology to Canada's LGBTQ2 communities. The story told in that speech are familiar to many of you, but left others aghast, thrown in jail for being gay, not in Canada, losing your job for being trans, no, rejected and shamed for your two-spirit identity, no way, outed in the local paper, not in this country, an oasis of acceptance and progressivism. And yet, all true. That was a very dark, very true chapter of Canadian history, very disturbingly recent Canadian history, I might add. This was the kind of discrimination suffered by the queer community for decades. So this apology and our vow to never repeat the devastating mistakes of the past, well, we know it would be an important moment for many people. A bittersweet moment of recognition, a moment that would hopefully bring progress on a long journey towards healing. And that's why that November morning, I decided that my kids wouldn't be going to school that day. They were coming to work with dad. The decision for them to be there in the House of Commons, sitting in the gallery surrounded by lifelong advocates and looking down at me while survivors around them openly wept. Well, that decision wasn't planned. But I woke up that morning and it hit me. Today's going to be a big day, a really big day, and I want them to be part of it. So they came. And Ella and Zav watched their dad stand on the floor of the House of Commons surrounded by colleagues and promised that we as a nation would do better. It was an incredible day that I will never forget and I certainly don't think they will either. And I am deeply privileged to have been a part of this larger moment. I have to thank members of the We Demand and Apology Network, the LGBTQ2 Apology Advisory Council, and the Just Society Committee for EGAL for helping us do this properly. But perhaps even more deserving of our gratitude are the grassroots warriors, people who have dedicated their careers and in many cases their lives to fighting for LGBTQ2 justice in Canada and around the world. This apology and the many important gay rights victories of decades past wouldn't have happened without your efforts and your conviction. So thank you. Dear friends, I share this story with you because I hope that in 30 years, when my children will remember their childhood, their memories will come to mind. As an example of what justified the hours that their father spent away from them, the evenings where I was here instead of at home putting them to bed. The same way I remember my father sitting with the queen, I hope that they will remember that this November was an important moment for all Canadians. All societies can and should be judged based on how they defend the rights of minorities. Protection, respect and support for LGBTQ2 Canadians must be entrenched, not conditional, but instead foundational. Now as Steve knows well, this is a point that I bring up all the time at international summits in private and public meetings with foreign leaders. Sometimes, I'll admit it, I'm forcing a conversation that makes people uncomfortable. But you know what? I don't really care. Because if me asking about gay rights in your country makes you uneasy, it means you're not doing a good enough job. It means you need to do better. Last summer, I marched in Halifax Pride for the first time. And it was incredible. One of those glorious, when it's beautiful in Halifax, it's more beautiful there than just about anywhere else. Except Vancouver. Vancouver, when it's a sunny day in Vancouver, it's pretty nice. It's the rarity of those two towns, really. But the streets were of course brimming with love and laughter, joy and celebration. And as we were celebrating, someone leaned over to me as we were dancing on the street. And they said, you know, it hasn't always been this way. They were part of one of the very first Halifax prides, where people actually wore paper bags over their heads as they marched, needing to be seen, desperately wanting to be counted, but not yet ready to be named. We have done a lot of work in this country. And we should be proud of what we have accomplished so far. Thanks to several of you who are here tonight, we have made important progress. We have finally changed our law on the rights of people in order to protect trans-Canadian people from all discrimination. We have launched Canada's strategy to prevent and counter the violence of trans-Canadian people. And we are going to expel the criminal and criminal cases of people who are guilty of infractions related to homosexuality. This is a big and important step forward. And I thank each of you for the work you have done to allow us to get to this point. And yet, as Helen said, we cannot stop here. Queer youth homelessness. Inadequate support for folks who are intersex. Disproportionate violence suffered by the trans community. Discrimination in blood and organ donation. Yes, we're working on it, but I'm upset too that it's not there yet. And the intersectional marginalization of queer people of color. These are among the next frontiers of this movement. And I want to achieve real sustained progress on these things by working with you. By taking my cues from your leadership and your expertise and delivering the kind of change that will impact so many. My friends, we all know there are many uncertainties in life. But know this for sure. I am on your side and I will fight for you and I will fight with you. Our entire government is committed to full equality for the queer community. You have my word on that. I want my kids to grow up in a world where people's differences are celebrated and quite frankly where they don't even understand that there could have been a time when they weren't. I want them to grow up in a world where career aspirations aren't hampered by gender identity or expression, where families are diverse and varied and all the more beautiful for it. In fact, that's what I want for all of us. More, more acceptance, more inclusivity and more love. And we will get there because of all of you, because of all of us. Thank you very much my dear friends.