TODAY WE CELEBRATE CANADA,

OUR FREEDOMS OF RELIGION, OF SPEECH, OF EVERYDAY THOUGHT.

WE’RE FREE TO TRAVEL THIS COUNTRY OF OURS…..TO MARVEL AT THE WIDE OPEN SPACES THAT MAKE CANADA SO SPECTACULAR.

WE ARE INDEED BLESSED. WE HAVE A PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT IS UNRIVALLED AND A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

THERE IS ANOTHER SPECIAL QUALITY THAT MAKES US THE ENVY OF THE WORLD….

OUR GREAT DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE AND RELIGIONS AND CULTURES….

OUR TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING….OUR RESPECT FOR PEOPLE AND OUR COMPASSION FOR PEACE…..

YOU SEE CANADA IS A MOSAIC – THE SUM OF OUR PARTS….

A COLLAGE OF CULTURES FROM A MULTITUDE OF MOTHERLANDS COMING TOGETHER IN THIS GREATLAND.

CANADA IS MORE THAN JUST HOCKEY AND MAPLE SYRUP – WE’RE THE GREAT EXPERIMENT THE ENTIRE WORLD IS WATCHING.

FRIENDS – I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL A FAIR BIT OF THE WORLD. I’VE BEEN TO COUNTRIES WHERE ETHNIC, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE HAS CREATED INSUFFERABLE INTOLERANCE AND INJUSTICE.

WHERE SECTARIAN VIOLENCE HAS PEOPLE LIVING IN FEAR AND AFRAID TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS.

WE ARE A GOOD PEOPLE WE CANADIANS.

OUR DIVERSITY AND OUR TOLERANCE OF EACH OTHER MAKES CANADA NOT ONLY A HOPEFUL PLACE BUT THE BEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

FRIENDS – A STRONG ONTARIO IS THE KEY TO A STRONG CANADA.

ALL OF US SHARE A RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD AN EVEN BETTER…AND FAIRER AND MORE JUST ONTARIO.

THAT’S FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS.

AND IT’S FOR THE MANY NEW CANADIANS WHO ARE JUST NOW PUTTING DOWN THEIR ROOTS IN ONTARIO AND THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE ALL OF US HERE ARE PROUD TO LIVE IN ONTARIO AND PROUD TO BE CANADIANS.