Rideau Hall, Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Welcome to Canada!

We are here at Rideau Hall to celebrate and strengthen the friendship that exists between Canada and Germany.

Excellency, it is such a pleasure for my wife, Sharon, and I to welcome you, Mrs. Schadt, and the members of your delegation to our country. Yours is the first State visit of a German president to Canada in almost a quarter-century, and we are delighted to be part of the occasion.

Excellency, in your inaugural speech to the people of Germany, you asked:

“So what should it be like, this country of ours, this country our children and grandchildren will call ‘our country’?”

I would like you to know that your answer to that question resonated all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada.

You want a country that is inclusive and democratic, peaceful, innovative and prosperous.

You envision a country characterized by social justice and tolerance, which is both forward-looking and mindful of the lessons of the past.

You desire a country where citizens actively participate in society, where bonds of trust and co-operation are strong, and where people look outward to the world with confidence, curiosity and respect.

Let me assure you, Excellency: I share this vision—for Germany, for Canada and for the world of our children and grandchildren.

Just a few weeks ago we were singing at a memorial service for a distinguished Canadian, a Companion of the Order of Canada, the lines from a traditional Canadian folk song: “We rise again in the faces of our children.” And as a grandfather with eleven grandchildren, I would add: we rise again in the faces of our grandchildren.

Your visit comes at a significant moment for our two countries.

As you know, 2014 is a year of important anniversaries. The 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War; the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War; and, striking a more hopeful note, the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Each occasion calls for our solemn remembrance and reflection.   

I am pleased to note you will attend the “Transformations” exhibit at the Canadian War Museum, which brings together the work of Canadian painter A.Y. Jackson and German artist Otto Dix. Both served on the war’s front lines, and the exhibit is a timely reminder of our common humanity and of the terrible cost of war.

Turning to the present and to our shared future, I would like to emphasize what an important moment this is for the friendship between Canada and Germany.

Already, our two countries enjoy vibrant cultural, economic and academic relationships, as well as strong people-to-people ties. We co-operate on a range of international issues and are partners in numerous multilateral fora, and some 3.2 million Canadians count “German” as being among their ethnicity.

But I’m sure you will agree: we can achieve so much more together.

I had the privilege of meeting with Chancellor Merkel here at Rideau Hall in August 2012. It was among the highlights of my mandate so far, and our conversation underscored how much our two countries can gain from working with one another.

That is why I am so delighted to see such an impressive delegation on this visit. You are Parliamentarians, business leaders, cultural leaders and diplomats, and you will be welcomed by a cross-section of Canadians. You will meet with people of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, many of whom are leaders and innovators within their respective fields.

Canadians are eager to learn more about Germany and to develop new partnerships, and I am certain you will be warmly welcomed everywhere you go.

Canada and Germany have so much to gain as partners in learning, trade, innovation, science and technology and culture. I trust that your time here will highlight the breadth of our ties, as well as our potential to go further.

I also hope, Excellency, we find a moment to talk about a shared interest of ours: football. Canadians are making great strides in the sport, but it never hurts to get advice from World Cup champions!

Now, let us raise a glass to the ties that bind our two countries in friendship.