Québec, Tuesday, October 9, 2012

It is wonderful to be here and to have the opportunity to address this assembly, especially during this, the International Year of Co-operatives.

I would like to begin by thanking the organizers of this important summit, and by extending a special welcome to those of you who have travelled great distances to be with us in Québec.

I think it is highly appropriate that we gather here in the province of Quebec, where co-operatives play such an important role in the provincial economy and the well-being of Quebecers.

As you may know, it was just across the river in Lévis that Alphonse Desjardins established the first Caisse Populaire in December 1900, and it is difficult to overestimate the role this institution has played in the life of this province since that time.

I would also like to highlight the fact that from the beginning, international co-operation—specifically, the sharing of information between Alphonse Desjardins and early co-operators working in England, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland—was essential to the success of the Caisse Populaire.

Now, as then, we are better when we work together.

Throughout Canada’s history, the impact of co-operatives has been felt from coast to coast to coast, not just in Quebec but in the North among Inuit communities, as well as in the Prairies, Atlantic Canada and Ontario.

And today, Canada is home to a wide variety of co-operatives serving consumers, producers, business owners, workers and investors in so many ways. 

Canadians have a great deal to contribute to the discussion on the future of co-operatives—and we are eager to learn.

As governor general, I have been calling on Canadians to explore new and innovative ways of building a smarter, more caring nation and a fairer, more just world. I know that each of you has the same desire, because co-operatives are essentially about working together to help each other and to strengthen our communities.

Everywhere I go in this country, I see evidence of this impulse to help others, and how it is both generous and practical. Allow me to share an example from the small farming community in Waterloo County in southwestern Ontario, where my wife, Sharon, and I lived before our move to Ottawa.

One day, Edgar was over at our house, while Sharon was going over the farm’s budget. At one point, she asked Edgar, “How much would it cost to replace the barn?” Edgar replied, “Why do you need to know?” To this, Sharon explained that she was trying to reduce our farm’s operating costs, and so was going over the insurance portfolio.

For this she needed to put a price on the barn in the event that it burned down. Edgar replied that there was no need to put a price on the barn, because if it burns down, the neighbours and community members would volunteer their time and recycled lumber to come together to replace it, free of charge.

He then hesitated for a moment, before adding, “Put $2,000 down because we’ll need new shingles.”

Now, I wouldn’t go so far as to equate the tradition of barn-raising with the co-operative movement, but I would say that both are driven by the same impulse: to serve both individuals and the community.

The genius of the co-operative model is its ability to harness our values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity in pursuit of shared goals. I often like to say that the most practical thing in the world is a good general theory when continually refined and tested against reality—and we need only look at the recent history of the financial downturn for a vivid example of the great strength of co-operatives.

As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently pointed out:

“The global financial and economic crisis has demonstrated the resilience of alternative financial institutions such as co-operative banks and credit unions.”

Without a doubt, we are seeing renewed interest in the co-operative approach in a wide range of social, environmental and economic spheres. The importance of the “resilience” of which the Secretary-General spoke is not to be underestimated in our complex, rapidly changing world, and increasing numbers of people are looking for new ways—in which both individuals and communities “win”—to strengthen our societies.   

To borrow from the theme of this gathering, the “amazing power of co-operatives” holds great promise for the better world of which we dream. I am particularly pleased to note the degree of youth participation in this summit and the preceding Imagine 2012 conference, because young people have such potential to turn this international year into the decade in which co-operatives set the standard for sustainable prosperity in our world.

Let me close by sharing with you an image from my coat of arms—that of a burning candle. The candle symbolizes not only learning and discovery, but also the transmission of learning from one person to another. This wonderful image serves as a reminder of a very simple but important fact: as we share our knowledge and experiences, our light grows brighter.

The sharing of knowledge collectively enlightens us, and that is why I am so pleased to see this gathering of co-operators taking place.

I wish you a productive and inspiring conference.

Thank you.