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Halifax, Saturday, September 20, 2008
It is a pleasure for me to join you today.
Although I have had to limit my participation in public events due to the electoral campaign, I felt that it was very important for me to join you to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of parliamentary democracy in Canada.
As you know, democracy is the cornerstone of our society.
It is the base that grounds our system of justice.
It is the pillar upon which our freedoms rest.
It is the arch which connects us all in an ongoing dialogue on the common good.
And dialogue—making your voice heard, critical thinking, and dissent—is the very essence of democracy.
For it enables us to explore and work together in order to strengthen the social bond that unites us.
Some may wonder why this is important.
Why do we need to spend time debating about our society?
Why should we bother to vote?
Shouldn’t we just let others make the decisions for us?
Don’t we have more pressing concerns?
These views are unfortunately very prevalent in our society.
Apathy—yes apathy—is well and alive. It is fooling many of us into believing that democracy is not your business; that government is not about you; that you should sit back and assume no responsibility.
But two-hundred and fifty years ago, people in Nova Scotia realized that their individual and collective well-being was predicated on making their voices heard.
Their desire to influence the decision-making process pressured the government of Britain to allow some Nova Scotians to elect Canada’s first parliamentary assembly in 1758.
Some of you will point out that most Nova Scotians were not allowed to vote: women, Aboriginals, African Canadians, and others were denied the franchise.
That ultimate decision-making power did not reside in Canada’s legislative assembly.
That in fact, the assembly only met once a year.
All these observations are true.
Yet what Nova Scotia developed is still very crucial: for the province helped to enshrine in Canada the principle that citizens should be the ones to determine the ways in which their lives are governed.
Once implanted in Nova Scotia, the idea proved fertile, spreading like wildflowers across the country and bringing more and more people into its sway.
Today, every citizen aged 18 and older has the right to vote; and anyone, irrespective of their age, has the right to exercise the right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
We as a country have a lot to thank Nova Scotia for this gift.
But I think we should also thank Nova Scotia for what it has done today.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary, the province has decided to focus most of its energy on young people.
I have been so impressed to learn about the youth town halls on democracy you have held across the province with young people.
Because I too believe that young people hold the key to building a better society.
Do you know the weight of your vote? Do you realize the difference you can make? Your voice, your ideas do count. You, the youth, are part of the solution.
That is why as soon as I was installed as 27th governor general of Canada, I chose to make youth one of the main priorities of my mandate.
I wanted to make the institution I represent a space in which your voices could resonate across the country, a space in which your ideas could be taken seriously by decision-makers and civic as well as business leaders, and a space in which you could create networks and new partnerships across the boundaries of region, language, culture, ethnicity and class.
That is why I am so pleased to be here today with some of the most prolific young leaders from Nova Scotia and around the country.
I would like to hear about the ways in which you see your role in a democratic society like ours.
I would like to know how you think more youth can be encouraged to recognize that voting is an integral part of democratic life.
And I would like to know how you believe young people can come together—breaking down the solitudes of geography, language, ethnicity, religion and color—to strengthen your voice across the country.
I am so pleased that Apathy is Boring brought you together today. Because I too believe that apathy is boring!
And I would also like to congratulate Democracy 250 for their excellent work.
I know you have a lot to say.
So let’s start the dialogue.