Rideau Hall, Wednesday, June 13, 2007

It is a pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall for this very special event.

I would also like to offer a very special welcome to my predecessor, the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer.

Here is a man who has done so much for the people of Canada, from his earliest days as Manitoba’s youngest MLA, to his work as Premier, Governor General, High Commissioner and now with Habitat for Humanity.

I also want to welcome the members of the Board of Directors and the staff of Habitat for Humanity International.

If this is your first visit to Canada, I hope you have enjoyed yourself so far, and I wish you a very pleasant stay.

Finally, I wish to offer warm greetings to all the board members, advisors and staff members from Habitat for Humanity Canada.

The work you have accomplished around the world and, in recent years, your exemplary efforts on the US Golf Coast are a powerful illustration of the values that are the very foundation of this noble organization.

I have long been interested in the issue of housing, going back through my career in journalism to my work with women’s shelters.

I have always believed that a home is the starting point for everything else we hope to do with our lives.

Once we have a safe, affordable and pleasant place to live, we can make plans to go to school or get a job. A home is the focus of a healthy family life, and happy homes are the building blocks of strong communities.

That is why Habitat for Humanity is such an important part of our society.

You represent a “virtuous circle”: you involve the future homeowners in the construction of their own house—thereby giving them “ownership” in both senses of the word.

Then, you use affordable loans to help these people buy their homes, using their mortgage payments to, in turn, build even more houses.

Habitat for Humanity’s formula is ingenious in its simplicity, and it works. The thousands of homes you have built around the world is a testament to your success.

In an age where so many people seem willing to throw up their hands and give up, the volunteers and staff at Habitat roll up their sleeves and get busy, making a tangible difference in the lives of so many men, women and children.

I salute your commitment to our shared humanity, and wish you continued success.

That is why I am so pleased to announce that I accept your invitation with enthusiasm to serve as the Patron of Habitat for Humanity Canada. I look forward to working with all of you in your campaign to bring decent affordable housing to needy families in this country. I have lots of ideas and cannot wait to put them into action. Why put off until tomorrow what we can do today.

Thank you.