Queen Elizabeth II Archives | Elizabeth May

Buckingham Palace answers Green Party letter

Craig Cantin — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:44:39 +0000

For your information,

We have posted on our website the answer the Green Party of Canada received from Buckingham Palace to Elizabeth May’s August 30th letter demanding a Royal Inquiry to investigate what may potentially be criminal activities which influenced Canada’s last election. The letter was an action required by a members’ resolution at the August 2012 Biennial General Meeting.

Link to letters: http://elizabethmaymp.ca/parliament/letters/2012/08/30/letter-to-her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii-requesting-a-royal-inquiry-to-restore-canada-to-a-free-and-fair-democracy/

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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Awards Ceremony

Craig Cantin — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 05:06:51 +0000

On February 6th, Queen Elizabeth marked the 60th anniversary of her accession to the Throne. Only once before have we celebrated such an occasion, with her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

To celebrate Her Majesty’s 60 years as Canada’s Queen, the Governor General announced the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, to recognize outstanding Canadians of all ages and all walks of life. It’s an opportunity to honour exceptional Canadians for their contributions to their fellow citizens, their communities and their country. About 100 constituents from Saanich-Gulf Islands offered recommendations on who should receive this unique commemorative medal. These individuals have made exceptional contributions to our community and country, either in a volunteer capacity or as part of their career – public or private sector.

A committee of four had the difficult task of choosing 30 medal recipients from the 100 submissions:

John Treleaven, Past President of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce;
Dr. Margaret Fulton, OC, Past President Mount St. Vincent University;
Dr. Ambrose Marsh, Chief of Medicine, Saanich Peninsula Hospital; and
myself.

An awards ceremony was held on September 13th at the Mary Winspear Centre, in honour of our valued medal recipients.

Anna Isabelle Allen is being awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal for a lifetime of selfless dedication to mental health, child welfare reform, family and child counselling. A native British Columbian, she graduated from UBC, beginning her social work career, focussing on children in 1957. She and her late husband, Michael, had a long association with the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). Anna remains active in St. John’s Ambulance and continues to mentor and support students, including financially, in the UVic School of Social Work.

Arthur Edgar Bernhoff is an exemplary member of the Canadian military, with a Master’s Degree in Terrorism and Asymmetrical Warfare. A graduate of Parkland, his undergraduate work focused on Islamic and Arabic Studies. He is currently at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland working on his PhD, but remains on active duty as a member of a Scottish military unit through the Reserve Force Foreign Service Arrangement. Arthur also has a long record of volunteer work to our community, including with Red Cross water safety courses and in wildlife rescue in North Saanich.

Kenneth H. Curry is a true Canadian hero. A veteran of World War II, he was captured at Dieppe and spent three long years in a German Concentration Camp. For those years, he was shackled and chained. He was nominated by his daughter Lillian, who spent nearly the first three years of her life without seeing her father. Lillian also noted the bravery of her mother Norma. Following the war, Kenneth Curry served as Major in charge of cadets at the Argyll and Sutherland Cadet Corps in Hamilton, Ontario.

Helen M. Evans is an exceptional woman whose nursing career began in Toronto in 1952, rising to the position of Vice-President, Nursing at Mount Sinai Hospital in 1980. She pioneered a number of important developments through research, including in neurosurgery under hypothermia, and teaching in the Faculty of Nursing at University of Toronto. Once in Victoria, she served as Chair of the Capital Health Region. As a volunteer in Sidney, she has made a huge impact in our community, including as chair of the Board of Beacon Community Services, and Board member of the Victoria Symphony Society and Broadmead Care Society.

Dr. Mary Hapgood earned her medical degree in the UK, moving to Canada to Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit) to become the medical officer. She was responsible for the health care for six Inuit communities, and then was stationed for three years on Baffin Island – the base from which she provided medical care from a Coast Guard vessel that toured the coast. She also served in Inuvik where she was in charge of the hospital and local clinics. She moved to BC for the position of Zone Director for the First Nations Population for all the First Nations of Vancouver Island, and a portion of the mainland as well. In retirement, Dr. Hapgood has been a tireless volunteer working on the board of Beacon Community Services, the Mt. Newton Centre Society, and volunteer with the Island Breaststrokers Dragon Boat Team and Shoal Centre.

Michael Heppell is awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for a multi-faceted life of service. For 34 years, he served as a firefighter with the Victoria Fire Department, 17 years of which he was Fire Chief. His time was marked by innovative leadership, including earthquake preparedness and partnering with the B.C. Ambulance Service to create the First Responder Emergency Medical Response Programme. For 30 years, Michael has also served with the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) and now serves as Honourary Colonel. Those efforts benefitting from his volunteer work are too numerous to list in total, but include the Red Cross, Rotary, Meals on Wheels and Parish Council, Christ Church Cathedral.

Randy L’Heureux has saved thousands of lives through his work with the British Columbia Ambulance Service over the last 35 years. Now, serving as Director of Critical Care Operations, it was Brendan L’Heureux who championed the creation of the air ambulance service and extending its reach to the remotest parts of our province and into western Alberta. In 2007, he received both the Exemplary Service Medal from the Governor General in 2007 and the Excellence in BC Healthcare Award.

Alvin Donald Huffman was born in Ontario in 1924 and joined the RCAF in 1942. He piloted bombers in the Second World War, attached to 415 Squadron 6 Group, Bomber Command in East Moor, Yorkshire. Al was decorated for his war service. Once home in Canada, he obtained his degree in Chemical engineering from the University of Toronto and embarked on a busy and successful career with a number of industries, including Domtar and Prairie Malt Ltd. He served as director of a number of industry associations. In 1985 he joined CSP Foods Ltd as CEO. In retirement, Al has been active in Lions Clubs and the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada.

Cynthia Robinson is a mother of three and a dedicated Saanichton volunteer who does not let her own disability get in the way of enormous levels of community activity. She has volunteered for ten years as a Beaver, Cub and Scout leader and all three of her sons achieved gold in the Duke of Edinburgh award for excellence in scouting. Cynthia has been a paralympic torch bearer and is an inspiration to all who know her.

Danny Daniels has had a remarkable life, spanning professional achievement in the federal civil service (serving with CIDA in Nigeria for two years and for many years in Whitehorse, Yukon) and excellence in athletics. Born in the UK, in 1929 he took up Middle Distance Running. Moving to Canada, with his wife Marjorie in 1957, he never lost his passion for athletics – coaching, mentoring, leading athletic and fitness activities. In 2010, Danny was inducted into the BC Athletics Hall of Fame. Danny continues to compete internationally, breaking records in the Masters Age Group and winning medals in World Masters Decathalon and Pentathalon Championships in 2009 and 2010.

Lieutenant-Commander Gerry Pash, CD was until recently the Public Affairs Officer for the Maritime Pacific Headquarters in Victoria. In June, the Hon. Jason Kenney appointed him to be a citizenship judge. While associated since his teenage years with the Cadet Corps and then the Canadian Army Reserve, most of his professional career was non-military. Gerry worked in radio broadcasting, as a radio host, news reporter, as well as owner and manager in stations serving Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Hope, Penticton as well as Victoria. With volunteer service contributions too numerous to list, Gerry Pash is a worthy recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Jill M. Wheaton is a dedicated volunteer on Salt Spring Island. In fact, at 83, she is the longest-serving volunteer for the Salt Spring Library. She recently received a Certificate of Appreciation for 25 years of service as treasurer, board member, reference librarian and various other roles. Her innumerable volunteer hours helped the community develop and then build a new library serving the community.

Bob Paert is an unsung hero of the British Columbia conservation movement. Over forty years of volunteer and public service, Bob Paert, a registered professional biologist, has contributed to sound policy for parks, land use, First Nations and youth education. Bob has worked within government, with the Ministries for Aboriginal Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment, as well as in the conservation movement as Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, BC Chapter. He currently volunteers as Vice-Chair of the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada.

Kenny Podmore arrived in Canada from the UK 14 years ago, staying permanently after coming for a Town Crier contest. Now serving as Sidney Town Crier, as well as an elected member of Town Council, Kenny’s name is synonymous with community service. He has spearheaded fund-raising for good causes, from the Lions Food Bank, to Sidney-by-the Sea Rotary events, emergency relief following the Haiti Earthquake, to many individuals facing hard times. Among many other community awards, for his work to raise funds for a police officer stricken with cancer, Kenny received the RCMP Certificate of Appreciation.

Captain (retired) Harry Rice has served Canada and the Canadian Forces through a long and distinguished career in the Canadian Forces. Beginning in the 1950s in the Canadian Forces, he has served at home and overseas, achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. He went on to accept the Queen’s Commission as a Captain. In retirement, Capt. Rice has become a mainstay of the Royal Canadian Artillery Regimental family. He has also volunteered with the Federal Superannuates National Association, as well as helping veterans receive health benefits and complete income tax returns, through his liaison work with Veterans Affairs Canada.

Gladys Otto is a stellar community volunteer. She moved from Moosejaw to Brentwood Bay in 1933 and made a huge impact on the community. She is a founder of the Central Saanich Senior Citizens Association (CSSCA) and played in key role in the creation of the Seniors’ Centre. Thanks to her leadership and the strong support of the community, CSSCA has invested over $1 million in operating, maintaining, expanding and improving the centre serving Central Saanich Seniors. On June 9, 2012, Gladys celebrated her 90th birthday.

Betty Wilson is a mainstay in the Sidney business community. For 30 years, she has owned and managed the Saanich Peninsula’s only bowling alley. Betty has donated countless hours to community services – bowling leagues for seniors, children and special efforts to create opportunities for the physically challenged. She has a smile for everyone and knows her customers by name. As her nominator said “she is always ready to go the extra mile to support her community.

Edward Russell Murphy CD is perhaps uniquely qualified among all Canadians receiving the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. On behalf of his regiment, he participated in the Queen’s Coronation in 1953. He served in Korea and was in the Battle of Kapyong, for which President Harry S. Truman awarded him the U.S. Presidential Citation. A resident of Pender Island, he has served his community through 30 years as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 239, speaking to school groups as well as working on the annual Poppy campaign for two decades. He contributed time and energy to the Lions Club fundraising and the building of the local school, medical clinic and senior housing.

Elizabeth Joan Sparling has dedicated her life’s work to helping people with autism. She is currently the Clinical Director for Pivot Point Family Services, the largest provider of autism services in BC. Her earlier career involved work in the Saanich public school system, including coaching the Parkland Secondary School Girls’ Rowing Team. Many charities have benefitted from her volunteer work, including work overseas through CIDA. Elizabeth continues to run marathons and ultra marathons.

Karen Anne Morgan is a mainstay in the Saanich Peninsula. Past Chair of the Board of the Mary Winspear Centre, Past President of Sidney-by-the-Sea Rotary, current director of the Norgaard Foundation and Executive Director of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation, Karen has made an indelible imprint on her community. Karen was appointed by the Prime Minister to the National Round Table on Environment and Economy in the early 1990s. Her drive and professionalism for the Saanich-Peninsula Hospital has enhanced our community through new emergency rooms, a new CT scan, development of the Palliative Care ward and the new multi-faith chapel, among many other services.

Patrick Lane is one of Canada’s most prolific and respected writers. A native of Saskatchewan, resident of North Saanich for many years, Patrick represents all that is outstanding in the arts, producing, over 50 years, 28 books of poetry, a novel, short stories and a memoir, earning national and international honours. He has been a writer-in-residence at universities in Manitoba, Alberta, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. He volunteers his time and talent to mentor emerging writers. In 2007, he received British Columbia’s highest literary honour, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence.

Captain Denis Pettigrew is in a unique position. The Commissionaires themselves of Victoria, the Islands and the Yukon have recognized Captain Pettigrew as their nominee for all Commissionaires in this, their 75th anniversary year. Denis Pettigrew grew up on the Saanich Peninsula and joined the RCAF in 1965. He served as an air traffic controller, retiring with the rank of Sargeant in 1991. Captain Pettigrew was called to service to assist in the post September 11, 2001 revisions to security protocols. Since 1999, he continued to serve public safety and security as a Commissionaire in the Victoria Airport. In 2006, he was awarded the Commissionaires Distinguished Service Medal.

Richard Murakami of Salt Spring Island has a personal history that is the stuff of documentaries, chronicling injustice and the shameful chapters of history. His parents had a beautiful farm on Sale Spring Island, where they were raising xx children until the internment of Japanese Canadians in the Second World War. Surviving incredible hardships, at the end of the war, the family returned to Salt Spring and attempted to purchase their own farm. Not only was this not allowed, the family was met with rascism and rejection. Persevering, their father bought land in a new location. Despite many hardships, the family has offered much to their neighbours. Richard received the Order of British Columbia for an act of extraordinary generosity – donating his family land in the heart of Ganges to create low-income housing and a beautiful Japanese garden – the Muarakami peace garden.

Petty Officer Second Class (retired) Bobby Collins receives the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal not only for his long record of military service, including in with the Canadian Guards, the Canadian Airborne Regiment, and the US forces in Vietnam, but more particularly for his dedicated volunteer work for humanitarian causes. Bobby Collins has worked in the cause of children of war, aids orphans and child survivors of natural disasters. Bobby Collins is among those wonderful volunteers in the local work of the organization, International Canadians for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering (ICROSS).

Cyril Francis Lambert passed away on February 14, 2012 at the age of 87 after a remarkable life of service. Born in the UK, Cyril Lambert was called up in 1942 to serve in the British Army. He survived the assaults on the beach at Normandy, in Calais, France and served in Belgium, Holland and Germany. Following the war, he accompanied his parents as they moved to Canada, where he found employment in Trail, BC with Cominco. He worked for 35 years for the company. In that time, he married Bernice Elliott, and they had three children Cyril Lambert was a consummate community volunteer – for cubs, soccer teams, and his church. In retirement, the Lamberts moved to Brentwood and continued as active volunteers. Bernice Lambert will accept the medal in his name.

Constable Luc Beauvais, resident of North Saanich, has served as a police officer for over twenty years, currently with the Central Saanich Police Service. Prior to moving to British Columbia, he served with VIP operations with the Ottawa Police Service and on hit and run investigations with the Victoria Police Department. Even though he has given much to his community through policing, this award is primarily for his extraordinary work to raise funds for prostate cancer research. His efforts in Motorcycle Ride with Dad and the Westcoast Motorcycle Ride to live have raised more than a half million dollars.

Margaret Irene McDonald, 95 years young, continues in her indomitable fashion as Past President of the Canadian Club of Victoria, having served on two occasions as president. Born in Alberta, she made her way to the rank of Sargeant RCAF (WD) and served from 1943-45 in a highly skilled branch of intelligence, the “Enigma” “ultra” secret team, decoding messages. Following the war, she supported her husband in his work with a diplomatic posting to the RCAF. As a professional woman, she devoted herself to a career in teaching, while dedicating her volunteer energies to church and community.

Christine Hunt was born and raised in Alert Bay, BC. She has served the interests of the First Nations people and the wild salmon and other fisheries resources of British Columbia in multiple ways. Appointed by numerous ministers and different levels of government, Christine has served on the Fraser Panel Review, the Pacific Salmon Commission, the Agriculture and Forestry Land Reserve Commission, as well as currently on the World Fisheries Forum. She has worked tirelessly to protect the Broughton Archipelago in her traditional territory from the impacts of fish farms. Christine is also a mother and grandmother who has donated countless hours to work in family services, as well as as a foster parent to three aboriginal children. She currently lives on Salt Spring Island.

Richard Yoshio Nakamura was born in Comox, BC, but along with thousands of Japanese Canadians was interned in the war; his family losing everything. After the war, he dedicated himself to help the community in which he lived. He served in all three Canadian forces and is a veteran of the Korean War. He has been very involved, and recognized with many honours, for his work to achieve redress for the Japanese Canadian community. As well, he has volunteered with many service organizations, including Kiwanis Club (from which he received their service award), the Chamber of Commerce, the Intercultural Association of Greater Victoria and the Greater Victoria Japanese Cultural Association.

Lynda Farmer is an extraordinary philanthropist and volunteer. Professionally she has worked in the public service and in non-profit organizations. The range of her interests is eclectic, from equestrian facilities, to opera, to arthritis, the United Way and helping the Mary Winspear Centre. Most recently, she, along with her husband, Murray Farmer, Chancellor of University of Victoria, co-chaired the fundraising efforts to establish Sidney’s Ocean Discovery Centre. She has been active, including as chair, of the Camosun College Board of Governors. A resident of North Saanich, she has contributed in a deep and meaningful way to the life of her community.

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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Award Ceremony

Craig Cantin — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:37:46 +0000

30 constituents from Saanich-Gulf Islands will receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on September 13th. Notices to all nominators and successful nominees will be sent out in early August. The ceremony will be open to nominators, medal recipients and their families.

When: 5:30pm – 9:00pm, Thursday, September 13, 2012
Where: Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney

The recipients are being selected by a committee consisting of:

John Treleaven, Past President of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce;
Dr. Margaret Fulton, OC, Past President Mount St. Vincent University;
Dr. Ambrose Marsh, Chief of Medicine, Saanich Peninsula Hospital; and
Elizabeth May, O.C., M.P.

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Sixtieth Anniversary of the Reign of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Craig Cantin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:52:30 +0000

Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I join parliamentary colleagues today in paying tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

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We have heard some very fine tributes, some anecdotes and memories of the enormous span of what has occurred in the time of her reign, moments of great affection which we relate to this particular queen as well to the system of government in which we have a head of state who resides in another country.

It certainly is the case that the notion of being a constitutional monarchy is found with disfavour among many of my friends and colleagues, and I will include among them many in my own party. There is a sense that this is somehow an anachronism. However, I would like to stand today not just to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, but to point out the many ways in which this system of government, of constitutional monarchy, makes sense for Canada.

I first want to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, the person. What an extraordinary life. The hon. Minister of Immigration did a wonderful job in refreshing our minds as to what happened to a young princess, the various blows in history that were so very personal to this one little girl, first the death of her grandfather and then the abdication of her uncle from the throne which put her in direct line to becoming the Queen of England and of all of the realm and Commonwealth. They were extraordinary times and she never failed to rise to the occasion.

Tragically then there was the death of her father, King George VI. For most of us, the loss of a parent is a time for deep grieving and we need to be alone to cope and deal with a moment of great personal grief. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it would have been for a young woman to realize that, with the loss of her father, personal grieving was something that duty would not allow. She stepped into the role of sovereign within moments of her father’s death.

Her Majesty the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh as well as her children, and the Prince of Wales who has been a prominent global environmentalist, and the ways in which they have conducted themselves have been examples to us all of duty over personal desires or momentary digressions. They have consistently applied themselves to the task, but particularly in the case of Her Majesty the Queen.

I have had occasion to meet with various members of the royal family, although I have never been so fortunate as to meet Her Majesty. However, because we were sharing anecdotes earlier, I recall one story. It is with respect to a friend of mine who at that time worked for a member of Parliament and was somehow put in a position on the royal tour of 1996 of looking after the two young princes. Will and Harry were young boys and their parents were busy with official duties, and lacking for anything to try to entertain them. It happened quite out of the blue that my friend suddenly had to look after the two little boys. To me this brings together the notion of the personal and the role as the symbol of our country. He decided that it might be entertaining for the young princes to see our brand new toonie. He pulled one out of his pocket and said, “You see, boys, this is our new coin. There’s a polar bear on our coin.” They were fascinated by it. They took it from him and they looked at it and said, “Oh yes, it’s a polar bear.” Then they turned it over and said, “Oh, and it’s granny on the back.” Then they asked if they could. I thought how dear was that for these little boys that their grandmother was on the coins of the realm, literally.

As we celebrate this Diamond Jubilee, so many stories are being shared through the media with respect to the sense of great affection and the role she plays as matriarch of a family that has gone through and endured tremendous stresses, while at the same time being our symbol.

Why does that make any sense in a modern country? Constitutional monarchy does something quite wonderful.

In the United States, where the notion of constitutional monarchy in 1776 was rejected and rebelled against King George III, members will notice that with the elected officials in the United States, the president and so on, the public clamours for royalty. Therefore, there is this notion of the first lady, the first family, the first dog, the family dogs of every president of the United States. I can recall the names of family dogs of presidents of the United States going back to F.D.R.’s dog Fala and who can forget Checkers, or L.B.J. and his beagles.

This is an unhealthy fascination with people who are, like all of us parliamentarians, mere mortal elected officials. We come and we go. Our duty should be to our country and to serve in Parliament. It confuses things altogether to have so much pomp and ceremony surrounding an elected official, such as a president or a member of Parliament who holds the title of leader of their party and hence becomes a prime minister.

It is very healthy that we do not turn a prime minister into a royal. In order to avoid that natural human temptation, we need the monarchy. We need to know that there is a royal family, and we are not electing it. We need to keep those roles separate and a constitutional monarchy allows us to do that. It allows us recognize that we in Parliament, built on the Westminster parliamentary system, although I have to admit we are slipping on that point, should recognize that our prime minister is merely first among equals and the head of state is Her Majesty the Queen, ruling over all of the Commonwealth.

There is another important relationship, and I am grateful to my friend, the hon. leader of the Liberal Party, for mentioning it. Canadians need to think about, particularly those who do not see a role for a monarchy in our modern era, that the most direct relationship that exists between Canada’s first nation peoples and those of us who are descendant from the colonizers is directly through Her Majesty the Queen and the royal family.

I want to enter into the record some quotes about this.

Lord Denning, one of my favourite erudite and wonderful writers from the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, back in 1982 made this comment about the relationship between Canada’s first nations and the Crown. He wrote, “No Parliament shall do anything to lessen the worth of these guarantees”. He speaks of the guarantees of rights of indigenous peoples in Canada through their relationship to the Crown. He said, “They should be honoured by the Crown in respect of Canada as the sun rises and the rivers flow. That promise must never be broken”. Lord Denning was very respected jurist from the High Court of the United Kingdom.

I also want to share some thoughts from the current national leader of the Assembly of First Nations. National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo has spoken of these relationships very recently. In fact, these words were on the occasion of the May visit between the Assembly of First Nations leadership and Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. I will quote National Chief Atleo. He said:

I would like to thank the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall for spending time with First Nations leaders today as we have an historical relationship with the Imperial Crown pre-dating the existence of Canada. The meeting focused on the enduring relationship between First Nations and the Crown based on Treaties and noting the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 in October 2013, and how renewing the relationship must be the basis of our work today to achieve fundamental change for First Nations in Canada.

Canada, as a successor state, has not honoured the spirit and intent of Treaties and the Chiefs made sure to remind them of previous assurances provided by Queen Elizabeth when she affirmed the Treaties in an address on July 5, 1973 to the Chiefs in Alberta, stating “You may be assured that my Government of Canada recognizes the importance of full compliance with the spirit of your Treaties”.

It is this relationship which is quite fundamental. We often talk about Canada as being founded by two nations, primarily England and France, but I agree with John Ralston Saul, that it is a fairer country because we are founded more on three pillars than two. We are more a stool than an unbalanced twosome. We are because of first nations’ founding position in this country of ours. I think we must respect the fact that first nations’ rights go beyond inherent treaty rights. Indigenous rights go beyond what is in treaties and they are primarily recognized through a very direct and personal relationship.

The ancestors of our current Queen signed promises and commitments to first nations people in Canada, and that treaty relationship of Crown to indigenous peoples is one that continues and must continue.

On this 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, I join with all my friends in Parliament in saying, in a very personal way, that we have been so very fortunate to have such a dedicated, such an exemplary, such a hard-working and wonderful monarch who so truly loves all of the Commonwealth and has clearly shown her affection for Canada through so many visits. On this her Diamond Jubilee, we have all been honoured.

I thank the current Privy Council for making the decision to create a special medal and to allow each one of us as parliamentarians to work with our local communities to find those people who have done so much work in their community that they can be recognized with a Diamond Jubilee Medal.

This brings us all together, and as other members have said, the fact is the Queen is beyond partisanship, beyond rancour, plays no role in our domestic politics but sets an example. When we all take our oath as members of Parliament, we swear one thing only, and that is our allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen. We do this again today as we recognize, celebrate and commend an extraordinary woman on 60 years on the throne.

Long may she reign. Long live the Queen.

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