Speaking Notes

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, at a special citizenship ceremony celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Canadian Citizenship Act

Ottawa, Ontario, February 16, 2007

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Thank you, Madame Justice, for that kind introduction.

And thank you as well to the Chief Justice of Canada and Her Excellency, the Governor General of Canada, for joining us today.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this special day and very special ceremony.

This is indeed an historic occasion.

As we reflect on 60 years of Canadian citizenship, I ask you to turn your thoughts back to 1947 and think about what citizenship in this country meant at that time.

If you were a Canadian national recently returned from the battlefields of Europe, or if you were welcoming your soldier home, in the eyes of the law, you were considered a British subject living in Canada.

Despite the founding of our country by Sir John A. Macdonald 80 years before, and despite coming of age in two World Wars, Canada was still not an entirely independent country.

It was time indeed for Canadian citizenship.

With passage of the Canadian Citizenship Act in 1947, Canada became the first Commonwealth country to establish its own citizenship.

Today, as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, I am proud to be a part of 60th-anniversary celebrations.

And on this special occasion, I want to take a moment and reflect on what I believe is the characteristic that perhaps most defines us as Canadians.

I believe that characteristic is welcoming.

This was generally true for those who first came to this country, and it has been a constant ever since.

For six decades, Canada has welcomed immigrants from Europe first and then from all around the world. Here immigrants found freedom, opportunity, tolerance and a genuine appreciation for cultural diversity.

This was also the sentiment of Prime Minister Harper who said last month:

“The characteristic that most defines Canadians is welcoming… East and West, French and English, immigrant and Native-born, we are all proud champions of these founding values — of the Canadian way.”

Today, Canadians can be proud to live in a country that shares this cross-cultural understanding and mutual respect.

Almost every one of us is here because we, or someone we know and love, made a choice — our choice was Canada.

As Minister, I am amazed by the many stories I’ve heard of the courage, perseverance and sacrifice that many of you as newcomers have demonstrated in coming to this country.

Some of you have traveled great distances looking for peace from war, some looking for freedom, some seeking the respect and acceptance they knew Canadians would provide.

Most of you have had to say goodbye to friends, loved ones and familiar surroundings.

Such stories move us all deeply, but in choosing Canada, you have chosen to treasure our values of freedom, respect and justice.

You’ve chosen to treasure our values of openness, understanding, collaboration, and goodwill.

And you’ve also embraced our values of caring and compassion, sharing, fairness and responsibility.

These values show up in how we work together, how we approach problems and solve them, and how we live our daily lives.

Our values as Canadians make us an example to the world.

Every day we show that our many differences do not have to divide us.

It is possible to be a diverse and harmonious society.

Each and every time someone chooses to become a citizen of Canada, they are saying that this is a great country.

They are telling all Canadians and the world that they feel at home here — and by calling Canada home it further enriches our country.

By choosing Canada, you are endorsing the values that Canadians share — the values that make Canada an open, fair caring and culturally diverse society.

On behalf of Canada’s New Government, let me say to all who become Canadians today: We are grateful that you chose Canada as your home and proud to welcome you as Canadians.

Thank you, and welcome to Canada.