Charlottetown, PEI
19 June 2014
Thank you very much.
Good afternoon, thank you first of all Gail for that very kind introduction and thank you also for the work you do to advance the interests of all Canadians, but particularly Islanders in Ottawa.
Everybody give your Minister Gail Shea a big hand.
And I want to thank you all for that very warm island Charlottetown welcome, particularly to the boys and girls who are joining us today.
And I do want to thank this group for that tremendous rendition of the anthem.
I didn't sing and the reason I didn't sing is I just wanted to listen.
That was a tremendous job that you people did.
Lieutenant Governor Lewis, Premier Ghiz, Mayor Lee, all distinguished guests, I know there are so many here today including representatives from PEI 2014 and our host here at the Confederation Centre.
I'm delighted to join you as we mark the 150th anniversary of the constitutional conferences held in 1864 at Charlottetown and later Québec City.
Now friends I think most Canadians know that we mark Confederation from the first of July 1867, Canada Day.
However as we move closer to this auspicious 150th anniversary it's important for all Canadians to be reminded of just how significant were these earlier milestones on the road to national unity.
For when the confederation conference was originally called what was contemplated was a much less ambitious project, the much less ambitious union, a union of the Maritime Provinces.
The great achievement of the founding fathers at Charlottetown in September 1864 was to expand the project to include the then united Province of the Canadas, the future Ontario and Quebec.
More precisely it was the great achievement of Sir John A. Macdonald.
In modern terms you could say that he kind of crashed the conference.
Then he commandeered the agenda.
Some of you would say Ontario's been doing that ever since.
He commandeered the agenda to secure central Canada's place in the new Confederation.
Then at the Quebec Conference the following month the Fathers of Confederation settled the division of powers between the provinces and the federal government.
A division of powers rightly generous to the provinces and crucial to Canadian federalism today.
Now it's important to remember that as colonial delegates here considered the division of powers in the room I just visited earlier today, our neighbours to the south were locked in a horrific civil war over, among other things, that very issue.
But with these two conferences and one more in London two years later, our forbearers peacefully established the beginnings of the great federation that Canada has become.
Established it peacefully, through a voluntary association of its parts, setting the stage for the new Dominion of Canada's majestic expansion across the continent.
Even today the courage and foresight of the Fathers of Confederation is striking.
But 150 years ago, given the state of colonial politics and the proximity of the world's most powerful and hostile army, it was nothing short of remarkable.
Now ladies and gentlemen, isn't that something worth celebrating?
If this isn't something worth celebrating, then I don't know what is.
Now I know that the organizers at PEI 2014 have put together a terrific schedule of events to do just that.
I am delighted therefore to announce that to mark these pivotal Canadian historic events, our Government will be generously supporting PEI 2014.
In 1864 Charlottetown and then QuébecCity hosted those from near and far.
And this summer, thanks to the good work of PEI 2014, Charlottetown and QuébecCity will continue to receive visitors interested in celebrating Canada's past and eager to dream of Canada's bright future.
I'm sure you'll show them all a very great time, a very good time here.
Now ladies and gentlemen let me just conclude with two observations.
The first is from a one-time Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, the Honourable Thomas Haviland.
He said of the Charlottetown Conference, and I quote: ‘Never before was there such an important meeting held in the history of British America.
For here on Prince Edward Island, was that union formed which has produced one of the greatest nations on the face of the earth.'
Not for nothing do we call Charlottetown the cradle of Confederation.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Canada's Fathers of Confederation arrived here in this special city as colonists, but they departed as countrymen.
The second observation comes from Sir John A. Macdonald himself.
At the end of the Conference he said the following: ‘Now I see something which is well worthy of all I have suffered in the cause of my little country.'
Of course that little country he spoke of is today no longer so little.
Today it proudly stretches from Cape Race to Nootka Sound and all the way up beyond Alert.
The true north strong, united and free.
Our country, it is our country and it is the best country in the world.
So, friends, let us continue to build upon the solid foundation set by the Fathers of Confederation.
I'm confident that if we follow the examples set by these early leaders, if we work hard in the pursuit of something greater than ourselves, if we respect our differences in order to accomplish great things together, and if we always dream bigger and greater dreams for ourselves, for our families and for Canada, then I believe the best is truly yet to come.
Once again I want to thank you and give my congratulations to PEI 2014 for your very good work in honouring these landmark events in our history.
Thank you very much.
