Charlottetown, Monday, November 7, 2005

My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I are delighted to be with you this evening and sincerely thank you for hosting this dinner in our honour.

There are a number of reasons why I am so pleased to be on Prince Edward Island. This morning, I spoke of the special bond that exists between all islanders throughout the world.

From the island in the south, where my daughter and I were born, to your island here in the north, where we find ourselves today, a new map of the Americas is taking shape, reminding me of where I came from and calling me back to the country I now call my home.

I am proud to have my daughter join me on this trip which, as you can imagine, resonates deeply with us.

My husband and I are also pleased to be surrounded by Acadian women and men, with whom we feel a close bond through language and culture.

Your love of French, a love that we share, your willingness to protect and preserve the language, despite even the most difficult of obstacles you have faced, are truly an inspiration to us and to the international Francophonie.

From the time your ancestors first settled on this island in the early eighteenth century, you have risen above the trials of history and have refused to give up. Tonight, I applaud your persistence and your success.

Finally, I feel as though I am among friends after the tremendous welcome extended to my husband, my daughter, and I by Lieutenant Governor Bernard and his wife, and by your fellow Islanders.

This first day of my official visit to Prince Edward Island has been a very rewarding experience. I enjoyed getting to know Premier Binns, as well as the Speaker and the other Members of the Legislative Assembly.

And I was delighted to meet with the new Canadian citizens who were sworn in today, to hear of their plans and their dreams for their new lives here in Canada.

The dreams they shared with me that fuel their new life as Canadian citizens are the greatest tribute to the hope that Canada represents to the rest of the world.

In the coming months, I will be meeting with the women and men, in every corner, of every age, from every background, who are the very heart and soul of this country. I would like to begin a dialogue across Canada, where each of us can share our mutual concerns and aspirations.

I would like to meet with elected officials, community leaders, agents of social change, artists, farmers, fishermen, veterans, but also with women victims of violence, drop-outs, the homeless, the voiceless women and men confined to solitude.

When a dialogue is open to each and every individual and focuses on the betterment of all, that dialogue, for me, is the most powerful tool we have to break down solitudes. I am counting on your help in this task. Without you, my deepest desire to engage in this dialogue will go unfulfilled.

Tonight, we salute the friendship and spirit of solidarity embodied by all islanders, which I will take with me as I travel from coast to coast to coast. Here’s to our fruitful and ongoing collaboration over the years to come.