St. John’s, Thursday, July 6, 2006

My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, our daughter Marie-Éden and I would like to thank you for your very kind welcome to Newfoundland and Labrador.

I would like to begin by saying that on July 1^st in Ottawa, I participated in a remembrance ceremony at the National War Memorial to honour those Newfoundland and Labrador soldiers who fought at Beaumont-Hamel, where 255 among them were killed, 386 were injured and 91 of their comrades went missing in the Somme region.

I would like at this time, to those of you gathered here today, to reiterate the message of this week’s tribute and salute the unwavering courage of these fine, young soldiers who sacrificed their youth and at times, their lives, in the name of justice and freedom.

It is wonderful being here in St. John’s, the oldest city in Canada, and capital of the youngest province in Canada.

In the days ahead, we look forward to traveling widely throughout this beautiful province, and getting to know the citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador a little better.

I know that the people of this province have been through some very challenging times in recent years, as traditional ways of life have been overwhelmed by economic forces beyond your shores.

This has led to hardship for some, and hard choices for others, as many young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were forced to move in search of opportunities elsewhere.

But the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have always been resilient and ingenious—a result of centuries of life on a beautiful but challenging landscape.

There has been a renaissance here; the off-shore oil and gas industry is an important part of the reason why, but it is only one part.

After all, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have been very successful in capitalizing on the natural and historical beauty of this province, turning the tourism industry into an important economic sector.

I look forward to seeing this for myself. My husband and I will be going up to Bonavista and Trinity, to take in a Rising Tide production, and enjoy a “Mug Up” at the Lester-Garland Premises.

A few days later, we will be in breath-taking Gros Morne National Park, where we can experience one of the many examples of Newfoundland and Labrador’s grandeur.

In addition to oil & gas and tourism, another promising area appears to be the high tech sector, for example the ocean technology cluster here in St. John’s, as well as the important scientific research being done at Memorial University.

And even in a time-honoured area like the fishery, there has been some good news of late.

I’m sure many people were pleased when the federal Fisheries Minister announced the opening of a small inshore cod fishery for the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

And in a symbolic sense, perhaps the food fishery announced at the same time was even more meaningful. With a daily limit of five cod per person, it may seem like a pale shadow of past hauls, but perhaps it is also a glimmer of hope.

And in a land that has been associated with cod fishing for more than 500 years, I know that hope has always been one of the elements that has inspired the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Over the next five days, I look forward to meeting the people of this Island—as someone who was born in Haiti, I have always felt a special bond with other Islanders!

My husband and I look forward to meeting with grass-roots organizations, social workers, artists, members of the Coast Guard, fishermen, filmmakers, elected officials, and, of course, many citizens of this province.

As you know, I have made it one of my primary tasks to reach out to all my fellow citizens, and foster a great national dialogue on how we can work together to make Canada a better place, from coast to coast to coast.

In all my travels, I have sought to engage members of the English and French communities; the young and the old; urban and rural communities; Aboriginal peoples, New Canadians, and more established citizens.

I intend to pursue this discussion in my meetings here in Newfoundland and Labrador. I know that your province is a very distinct part of the Canadian family—a land with a long and proud history, a rich and unique culture, and a population that is as strong and resourceful as it is warm and friendly.

I know that you, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, have concerns to share, inspiring stories to tell, and so much to teach us and the whole country. And I look forward to all these discussions.

While I will be limited to the island portion of the province during this first visit, rest assured that I will return to visit Labrador, and I very much look forward to discovering the realities of that region and the issues and aspirations of Labradorians.

And so, in closing, let me thank Lieutenant Governor Roberts and Mrs. Roberts, Premier Williams, Mrs. Williams, and all of you here today for this tremendous welcome.

I think this is a very good start to what I am certain will be an enjoyable and memorable visit.

Thank you very much.