STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA
Prime
Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement today at the
beginning of the nine-day Royal Tour of Canada by Her Majesty The Queen of
Canada and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh:
“It is a
privilege and an honour to welcome Her Majesty and His Royal Highness back
to Canada. We are pleased
that Her Majesty is coming to see us in a year when Canada is shining on
the world stage, both as host of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic
Games and, most recently, as host of the G-8 and G-20 summits.
“The Royal
Tour gives Canadians the opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as
a nation as well as on the important role that Her Majesty continues to
play as our Head of State.
“On this
Royal Tour, Her Majesty The Queen will celebrate and commemorate Canada
— past, present, and future — at several events and ceremonies taking
place across the country. It
will also provide Canadians with an opportunity to honour The Queen’s
life of duty and service as we prepare to celebrate in 2012 The Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession.
“During
the Royal Tour, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will attend an
International Fleet Review in Halifax to commemorate the Canadian Naval
Centennial, celebrate Canada Day in Ottawa, dedicate a cornerstone for the
new Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, attend the running of
the Queen’s Plate in Toronto and tour the RIM facility in Waterloo,
Ontario.
“I know
Canadians will participate in activities of the Queen’s 22nd Royal Tour
of Canada with enthusiasm and will be inspired to learn more about our
traditions and history while honouring our monarch.”
For more
information, visit www.royaltour.gc.ca.
|