Rideau Hall, Monday, October 17, 2011

Good morning and welcome to Rideau Hall, home of the people of Canada.

It is an honour to preside over this swearing-in ceremony, officially making you Canadian citizens.

But what is the meaning of citizenship? I know that the discussions you had here earlier today let you express your feelings on Canadian citizenship and your place in our communities. But allow me to explore this question for a moment.

We are privileged to have in attendance the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, former governor general and the founder of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. In fact, I would like to share with you what she said in Whitehorse, Yukon, in 2005, on precisely the meaning of citizenship:

“True citizenship is the ability to make decisions and to take action right where we live. It’s the ability to rise above our own narrow self-interest and to expand our definition of community…The creation of a truly civil society means making room for people we do not know, whose outlook may not be exactly like our own, but who also have the right to live and work and contribute here in Canada.”

These truths were understood by two pioneers of the Canada we know today: Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin.

Two men—one Francophone, one Anglophone—knew that by working together, they could bring together disparate forces and create a lasting and free country, where people of differing backgrounds were welcome to live in peace and security.

Through collaboration, friendship and tolerance, they were able to lay the groundwork for the united Canada they sought, and in 2017, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of their achievement: Confederation.

And as we approach this milestone, I invite you to contribute your own ideas of how we can celebrate and, most importantly, how we can create a smarter, more caring Canada.

Indeed, many of this country’s citizens have spoken out on how we can create the country of which we can all be proud.

Madame Clarkson’s husband, John Ralston Saul, created the LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium to allow leading thinkers and activists to discuss relevant issues of the day, and wrote a magnificent book describing the pioneering contribution of these two partners to responsible government and peaceful changes.

At last year’s symposium, His Highness the Aga Kahn, himself an honorary Canadian citizen, spoke about how we can attain global harmony and how Canada’s multicultural society can help us to be more caring.

He said that “[t]he world we seek is not a world where difference is erased, but where difference can be a powerful force for good, helping us to fashion a new sense of co-operation and coherence in our world, and to build together a better life for all.”

I know that each of you worked hard to obtain your Canadian citizenship, so you know better than most not only how precious it is, but also that it carries responsibilities.

By taking the oath today, you are committing yourselves to Canada’s values and ideals and to adding your unique cultural differences to our greater selves.

And, if I may offer a little advice, I urge you to involve yourselves further in your communities.

Volunteering makes a tremendous difference to the people around you; be bold and tackle the social issues that you see.

Continue to learn; you will be surprised what can happen when you keep your mind open.

And dream big, because new innovations are just around the corner, waiting to be created.

On behalf of Canadians everywhere, I welcome you into our national family. I have no doubt that you will achieve great things in your adopted home.

Thank you.