Regina, Monday, May 8, 2006

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you ever so kindly for the honour bestowed upon my husband and me. We are delighted to be here. And I am pleased and honoured to be addressing you today in this, the first year of Saskatchewan’s second century as a Canadian province.

During our visit, Jean-Daniel and I hope to learn more about the people and natural riches of the “land of living skies”, home to 100,000 lakes and swift-flowing rivers. I fully appreciate that Saskatchewan’s unique and important gifts to Confederation continue to enrich us in countless ways.

In 1980, when Evelyn Eager wrote her then definitive history and analysis of government in Saskatchewan, she subtitled the book, “Pragmatism and Politics”. The more I learn about your province and the resilience of its people, the more accurate this characterization appears. Pragmatism inspires innovation; it measures action on the basis of results; it feeds concrete and practical solutions.

The examples of innovation and creativity by the people of Saskatchewan are exemplary. You created the first bird sanctuary to protect avian wildlife. It was here that the air ambulance first took flight in North America, creating more accessible health care. The first ATM was opened here, changing our way of life.

In addition, Saskatchewan has sent more players to the NHL than any other province or state in North America! Without a doubt, your population is among the most innovative and accomplished in Canada.

Is this the continued manifestation of the Saskatchewan pioneer spirit?

In his influential book, The Great Plains, historian W.P. Webb described the environment that greeted Western settlers’ as being: “far from markets, burned by drought, beaten by hail, withered by hot winds, frozen by blizzards, eaten out by grasshoppers, exploited by capitalists and cozened by politicians”.  And—one might add—threatened by floods.

Clearly, withstanding such an inhospitable welcome demanded strength of purpose, self-reliance and enormous perseverance. But in addition to these qualities, your ancestors had a unique strategy.

It is a compelling aspect of Saskatchewan history that, in the face of such obstacles, farmers in this province at the turn of the 20^th century harnessed the power of collectivity. The co-operative movement that emerged helped to provide social and economic security, and to return wealth to the people who created it, rather than to outside investors.

This legacy of collaboration lives on.

It is reflected in your provincial motto, “From many people, strength.” It resides in the gift of medicare, championed by Tommy Douglas. And it remains appreciated by citizens across this country who last year recognized your favoured son as being “The Greatest Canadian.” In the globalized world of today, it is interesting to note that the spirit of sharing and of working together in the collective interest took root here in Saskatchewan so many years ago and lives on as one of your most enduring values.

Yet the legacy of this province is much greater than even the most inspirational politician or successful program. It embodies the very vision of possibility reflected by your co-operatives of a world in which inclusion and the public good defeat exclusion and “everyone for himself.” A world in which no person is left behind.

I have pledged to use my office to focus attention on breaking down solitudes—the differences of all kinds that continue to separate us: those imposed by geography and age, gender and ethnicity, language and religion, poverty and ignorance.

Saskatchewan has long been a province marked by great cultural diversity. Unlike the rest of Canada, from your inception, people of Aboriginal, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Scandinavian and British heritage have co-existed, and co-operated.

You know better than most that only by working together can we eliminate the barriers that prevent skilled immigrants from fully contributing to their new country. Only through collaboration can we find meaningful solutions to the social alienation that drives some young people to isolation and despair.

The marginalization of any human being is a loss to us all. And nothing in our affluent society is more disgraceful than our failure to nurture and support those who are most vulnerable. Children and youth represent not only our future, but also our present. We have a profound duty to them, not only to pass on a better world, but also to ensure they have the capacity to embrace it and each other with respect and responsibility. I am also aware of the particular challenges that face First Nations and Métis youth, and I am eager to meet and learn from them.

A better world is part of our collective dream and an achievement that has eluded many societies. Close to realizing it in so many ways, we cannot afford to take it for granted, or to assume that it is someone else’s task.

Every one of us, with every action we take and every attitude we express, has an opportunity to foster respect, to promote dialogue, to nurture co-operation.

During this first official visit to Saskatchewan, I look forward to speaking with you and the citizens you represent about this and many other issues.

The conversation we start this week will be but the first chapter in our ongoing dialogue. I know that you have important matters to discuss, inspiring stories to share, and valuable lessons to teach me.

I am here to listen. Thank you.