By Canadian Press
He said he sees his job as one of identifying cultural markers 鈥渢hat people can rally around鈥 鈥 a complex task in a country as big and diverse as this one.
鈥淭here鈥檚 only one language in the United States, there鈥檚 only one culture,鈥 he noted.
In the process, he said, he hopes to encourage Canadians to see themselves in each other.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been fascinated, for example, by how similar Quebecers and Albertans are,鈥 he said in French.
鈥淭hey are two peoples who are very proud, very autonomist, very independent, in the philosophical sense of the term.鈥
He said those ties of culture and history are important to keep in mind as Canadians stare down American threats to Canada鈥檚 identity, sovereignty and economy.
鈥淭here are a lot of things that bring us together, and this is true for the whole country. And that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 going to work on, over the next few weeks and months,鈥 Guilbeault said.