9 March 2009, Ottawa, Ontario - Prime Minister Stephen Harper today made the following statement to mark Commonwealth Day:
"Canada is a proud and longstanding member of the Commonwealth. By joining other countries around the world in marking Commonwealth Day, we are paying tribute to an important part of Canada's heritage, as well as to the strong partnership among Commonwealth members that is vital to our future.
This year, we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the London Declaration that gave rise to the modern Commonwealth. In the 60 years since the Declaration was made, the relevance and value of this relationship has been repeatedly reaffirmed.
Today the Commonwealth continues to play an instrumental role in promoting democracy and preventing conflict around the world. Canada looks forward to working with its Commonwealth partners to build on this shared legacy of responsible leadership."
