Rome, Italy, Monday, February 27, 2006

My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are delighted to be here with you today. We could not come to Italy without stopping in Rome. After all, as the saying goes, all roads lead to this eternal city, the jewel of humanity.

We are still pulsing with the excitement of the Torino Games, which have just come to a close. Whether an athlete, organizer, volunteer, journalist or spectator, one cannot help but be transformed by such an intense, rich experience. True to their reputation as bold achievers, the Italians threw wide their doors and welcomed the entire world; they should indeed be proud of their success. This certainly bodes well for the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games. Hats off to the people of Italy!

An eager student, Canada, which will host the next Winter Games, paid close attention to how these events have been organized. We have learned from your experience. True, it is a monumental challenge, but we are determined to meet that challenge head-on and show the world that we are worthy of the hopes they have placed in us.

It was with great joy and enthusiasm that I looked forward to this trip to Italy. Not just because of the Games, but also because this is a country that I know and love.

In my early 20s, I fell in love with Italy. It was indeed love at first sight. It is simply impossible to remain indifferent in the face of such beauty, such exuberance, such architectural, artistic and cultural riches, particularly for those of us who live in a country, on a continent, whose history is still so very young. What can I say of the warmth and inimitable splendour of light that shines across this land?

My passion for Italy is such that I decided to learn and understand its language, culture, history and people. While obtaining a degree in Italian language and literature, I had the good fortune of receiving three scholarships that allowed me to study at three famous Italian universities in Perugia, Florence and Udine. That is how I discovered Italy first-hand, and since then my passion for Italy has continued to grow.

This is why, before launching a career in journalism, I chose to pursue teaching Italian studies at the Université de Montréal.

I am your friend, and my country is your ally. Canada and Italy are linked by ties of co‑operation and solidarity that, over the years, have been strengthened by the thousands of Italians who now live in Canada. And I would say that Italians in Canada, as in Italy, have different sensibilities.

The Italian community has put down roots in North American soil but has never forgotten its origins across the ocean. Most of the Italians who have settled in Canada came from small villages and towns with fewer than 10,000 people. Networks built around family and friendship sprang up, and seemingly entire Italian villages were transplanted to certain communities across Canada, particularly Toronto and Montreal, the city where I lived for many years.

Italian Canadians have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to integrate, associate and organize, reaching far beyond their family ties. Today, more than one million Canadians proudly claim their Italian heritage. They are a part of every segment of society, and their contribution is widely acknowledged.

Canada is a land of immigrants. People from around the world come here to explore new opportunities and contribute to our plans for the future. Others, like me and my family, come to start their lives over in a land where they are sheltered from injustice and far from massacres. We have found here the ideal of a society in which all citizens enjoy equal rights.

Although it is known as a model of cultural integration and respect for differences, our country must still do away with the individualism of the past decades that excludes so many and drives them to despair. We must return to community values. As governor general of Canada, I seize every opportunity not only to listen, but also to give a voice to the voiceless.

The motto I have chosen is Briser les solitudes, which means “breaking down solitudes.” It represents the Canada that I want for generations to come. By solitudes, I mean those that confine certain people, or certain segments of the population, because of their age, origins, language, beliefs, sex or ability. These solitudes, born of exclusion, have no place in a country where the values of respect, sharing and tolerance prevail—values that are paramount for me.

As a journalist, the profession I practised with passion and resolve, I was a privileged witness to the major upheavals of this world. I believe that our time must focus more than ever on openness, dialogue and alliances to build on our ties across all borders. The Torino Olympic Games have shown us that this is indeed possible. They are a striking reminder of just how vital and promising co-operation among peoples truly is.

Alessandro Baricco wrote that “when one leaves, one should always sow an excuse for returning.” My excuse is simply the friendship and love that I have for Italy.

I hope to return very soon to continue the dialogue begun long ago and that I hope with all of my heart to build on as governor general of Canada.

Thank you for your warm welcome. I wish you much happiness and prosperity.