100th Anniversary of the election of Sir Wilfrid Laurier

Two days ago, in the presence of the cabinet, I participated in a ceremony on Parliament Hill to mark the 100th anniversary of the swearing-in of Wilfrid Laurier as Prime Minister of Canada.

On that day, one hundred years ago, at 11 o'clock in the morning, Wilfrid Laurier left his home to travel by horse-drawn carriage to Rideau Hall. He was alone. (At that time, there was no need for an RCMP escort!) He spent an hour and a half with the Governor General, and he left Rideau Hall as Prime Minister of Canada. He took office that afternoon, and remained prime minister for 15 years.

People often forget one important thing about Laurier: he was initially opposed to Confederation. But he was a man with an open mind, and he soon became convinced of its merits. In fact, he became the most ardent Canadian of his time.

Laurier had great hopes for this country. He hoped that the 20th century would belong to Canada. He wanted us to become a strong, independent country whose voice would be heard on the international scene. And he also wanted Canada to become the first modern nation to celebrate its diversity, to practise tolerance, generosity and openness.

Have we realized the dream of Laurier? Have we passed the test of history?

There are always messengers of gloom and doom who want to diminish our achievements. But I say we have passed the test with flying colours. To see it, we need only look at Canada for a moment through the eyes of Laurier and his contemporaries.

What was Canada at the turn of the century? We had limited autonomy within the British Empire. There were only seven provinces. Our population was less than six million. Our prosperity depended mainly on exporting natural resources such as lumber and grain. We could not sit independently in major international bodies. The concept of a social safety net was unknown.

And now -- look how far we have come.

We played a key role in two world wars, a role far out of proportion to our population. A million Canadians took part in the war effort during World War Two. We provided the third largest merchant marine and the fourth largest air force. Our troops distinguished themselves by their bravery.

By the middle of the century, Canada had carved a place for itself as a middle power in world affairs. Prime Ministers Mackenzie King and Saint Laurent played a role in establishing the United Nations and NATO, and in transforming the British Empire into the Commonwealth. Prime Minister Pearson originated the United Nations peacekeeping force, which won him a Nobel Prize. Prime Minister Trudeau brought us into the Group of Seven, winning recognition for Canada as a major power among the world's industrial nations.

Wilfrid Laurier would be happy to learn that Canada now has the seventh largest economy in the world, that we are the sixth largest exporter and importer, that we are the seventh largest financial supporter of the United Nations, and that we are one of the most generous donors to developing countries.

He would be proud to see that we have created a social security system that is second to none.

As a defender of harmony in cultural diversity, Laurier would be pleased to see that modern Canada is a model of tolerance and openness for people around the world. He would be delighted to see that we celebrate our multicultural heritage, that Aboriginal rights are protected, that the status of our official languages is guaranteed, and that Canada plays a leading role in the international francophone community.

Yes, we have passed the test. Laurier would be pleased to see that Canada has become a great society in every sense of the word. For proof, we need only look to the United Nations, which has three times ranked Canada as the best country in the world in which to live. But even more important, Canadians in every region know it. In their hearts and in their minds, they know that Canada is the best country in the world.

Laurier was way ahead of his time in 1900 when he envisioned the Canada of today as a Gothic cathedral. And he said:

I want the marble to remain the marble; I want the granite to remain the granite; I want the oak to remain the oak... I want to take all these elements and build a nation that will be foremost amongst the great powers of the world.

Sir Wilfrid, we have done just that. The Canadian cathedral is solidly built on the visions and actions of those who came before us.

Laurier was man of incredible vision. He recognized the potential of this great country with remarkable foresight. I want to share with you another quote by Laurier.

...although Caesar once said that he would rather be first in a village than the second in Rome, I say that my ambition is to be the citizen of a great country. I look forward to the day when Canada will have a population of thirty million inhabitants, of forty million perhaps, and when its voice will weigh in the destinies of the world.

On the 100th anniversary of Laurier taking office, that day has arrived. There are now 30 million of us Canadians. We have been faithful to the legacy of Laurier. So let us take this opportunity to rejoice in our accomplishments. Here, in this place that was home to Laurier, let us find the inspiration for an even brighter future for us all.

Thank you.