Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Speech on the Occasion of a Luncheon Hosted by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Toronto, Tuesday, February 21, 2006
I am very pleased to join you all today, and I greatly appreciate the kindness demonstrated by the Lieutenant Governor.
I must say that I feel I have found a kindred spirit. His Honour James Bartleman and I have had similar experiences in our lives.
For example, we were both confronted with adversity and discrimination in our childhood and early youth. Fortunately, we both succeeded in overcoming these barriers. We were able to complete our studies, establish families and pursue rewarding careers.
We also share a commitment to helping the less fortunate, and using the offices that we are privileged to hold to make a positive difference in our society.
I want to pay tribute to the Lieutenant Governor for his efforts to raise awareness of mental illness, and address the challenges associated with this highly misunderstood affliction.
I salute him for his involvement in the ongoing campaign against racism and discrimination, which continue to be problems in our society.
Finally, I want to highlight the extraordinary work he has done to foster literacy and education among Aboriginal peoples here in Ontario. Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples struggle under many burdens, and one of the greatest is their lack of access to educational opportunities.
Throughout history, education has been the greatest equalizer, lifting people out of desperate situations and placing them on the road to prosperity, health, and well-being.
I was reminded of that earlier today, when I sat down with representatives of Toronto’s Youth Cabinet and a number of other youth leaders.
As you can imagine, the central issue we discussed was what we can do about the violence we have seen recently here in Toronto.
We tried to identify what it is about Canadian society in 2005 and 2006 that would plant the seeds for the tragic situation this city has witnessed. More importantly, what do we need to do to move from despair to hope?
It is clear to me and to others that too many citizens of this great country are falling by the wayside. We are living in a period of unprecedented prosperity, but not enough citizens are able to share in that wealth.
Part of the solution is education. We must give Canadians the tools to thrive in the knowledge economy.
As a small country in a world of giants, we cannot afford to waste the talents of any of our citizens.
More importantly, as a wealthy nation with a history of a strong social support system, we have a moral duty to assist our fellow citizens.
What I have seen in this visit to Toronto is that there is a serious need for help, but also a great capacity for help. I have seen hopelessness and promise, hardship and wealth, and citizens ready to use one to address the other.
I know that Torontonians are proud of the great city they have built. You are justifiably proud of your central role in Canada, in terms of the city’s economic power, but also its universities and hospitals, its diversity, and Toronto’s great contribution to Canadian culture.
I am confident that with the goodwill and the determination of the people of this city, its challenges can be overcome.
I have very much enjoyed this visit, and regret only that it has been so brief!
I thank all of you, and I thank His Honour James Bartleman, for making me feel at home here in what we in Québec call La Ville Reine. Rest assured that I am already looking forward to my next visit!
