Alberta Hansard — 24 May 2005, Afternoon sitting (12:15) (Legislature 26, Session 1)

20050524

Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

May 24, 2005 Alberta Hansard Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 12:15 p.m Date: 05/05/24 [The Mace was draped] The Sergeant-at-Arms: Ladies and gentlemen, all rise, please. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. [A fanfare sounded] [Preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Speaker entered the Chamber. Her Majesty took Her place upon the throne] The Speaker: I would now invite Mr. Paul Lorieau to lead us in the singing of the Royal Anthem, God Save The Queen. Hon.

Members and Guests: God save our gracious Queen, long live our noble Queen, God save The Queen! Send Her victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us: God save The Queen! The Speaker: Please be seated. Your Majesty, it is an honour on behalf of all Members of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly to welcome You to this Chamber. The men and women who sit in this parliament and all who have served remain earnest in their de sire to express their loyalty and devotion to the people of this great province, their beloved country, and to their Queen. Alberta is a land of peace.

Freedom, tolerance, prosperity, and unbounded opportunity are words that reflect much of our history. We are fortunate in God’s grace to have been blessed with a beautiful landscape, with abundant natural resources, and with a population drawn from all corners of the globe. Our citizens have created a province known for its vision, its energy, and its spirit. Our public policies, the laws of Alberta, have been the product of passion, fairness, reason, and debate. Our Assembly is and has always been in a partnership with the Crown.

Safeguarding the rights of all of our citizens, Your Maj- esty’s representatives, our Lieutenant Governors, have well reflected the values that have been the personal hallmarks of Your reign: devotion to duty, an abiding concern for all, courage, stability, a sense of continuity, and above all grace and dignity. It is with humility and pride that we welcome Your Majesty. It’s now my honour to invite the Premier of Alberta, the Hon. Ralph Klein, to address Your Majesty and all here present. Mr. Klein: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Your Majesty, members of the Royal household, hon. members of the judiciary, former Lieutenant Governor, former Premiers, Mr. Speaker, hon. ministers, Leader of the Official Opposition, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and distinguished guests all: On behalf of the government of Alberta it is my very great privilege to welcome Her Majesty the Queen to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Albertans have long looked forward to this Royal visit as a highlight of our province’s centennial celebrations.

Her Majesty’s presence during this special year is an honour graciously bestowed upon all people of this province, one that is deeply felt and appreci- ated by all Albertans. It is truly a centennial gift to be treasured. Albertans take great pride in this country’s ties to the monarchy and its membership in the Commonwealth and all it stands for. This is as true for the young Albertans who are preparing to continue the work of building this province as it is for those who began that great work 100 years ago. Today students from Granum school – and Her Majesty had the opportunity of meeting them – and from St.

Matthew Lutheran school, which are also celebrating their centennials this year, are here to greet the Queen and to hear Her address to the Legislative Assembly. It will be the first time ever that a reigning monarch has addressed this Legislature, and it gives me great joy that some of Alberta’s young people, who represent the very best of this province, will have the opportunity to hear Her Majesty’s inspiring message. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Your Majesty, it’s my great honour to invite You to address our Assembly.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Address to the Legislative Assembly Her Majesty the Queen: Mr. Speaker, Premier, ladies and gentle- men, Prince Philip and I are very pleased to be back in Alberta in this centennial year as you celebrate not only your historic past but also the dynamism of your community today as well as the great opportunities that lie ahead. When looking back on the story of Alberta, we see it extend well before 1905. It is, indeed, the story of Canada. Your First Nations peoples inhabited the prairies over 10,000 years ago, living in harmony with nature then as they do now.

By the 1800s these first citizens along with the Métis were joined by explorers, homestead- ers, and railway workers from all over the world. They had a dream: to build homes in a land where freedom reigned. They created a spirit of belonging to a bountiful country under the principles of peace, order, and good government and the unifying influence of the Crown. It is a fitting homage to these ancestors that your motto is Fortis et Liber, strong and free. Je suis heureuse d’apprendre que le gouvernement de la province souligne cette année charnière en instituant un programme du centenaire laissé en héritage.

Il investit dans les parcs, les lieux historiques et les installations récréatives de l’Alberta. Ces projets prometteurs illustrent l’importance que les Albertains accordent à une excellente qualité de vie, aux perspectives économiques encourageantes et aux réussites dans les domaines de l’agriculture, de l’énergie et de l’industrie. Il témoigne aussi de votre gratitude envers les générations d’aînés et d’ancêtres, dont le travail acharné a permit d’édifier l’Alberta d’aujourd’hui.

Among the early settlers who came here so many decades ago to build a new life, there were thousands of families with children who were themselves destined to become the nation builders of the future. Today I’m speaking on air across the province, including schools in commun ities from Lethbridge to Fort Vermilion, from Wainwright to Grande Cache. Just half an hour ago at the Provincial Museum, now called the Royal Alberta Museum, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet some of the young people of Alberta who were touring that showcase of living heritage.

I hope that all young people in the province will take the opportunity of the centennial to learn of the way in which their own communities have flourished over the last hundred years. Alberta Hansard May 24, 20051618 Alors que les Albertains et tous les Canadiens voient leur histoire comme un récit coloré du passé, nous estimons qu’elle est aussi le fondement du présent et de l’avenir. Au cours de cette visite, puisque nous rendons hommage au dynamisme de ceux qui ont bâti ce grand pays, il convient de se rappeler que nous pouvons effective- ment faire une différence pour ceux qui viendront après nous.

Si nous nous efforçons dans notre vie et à notre manière d’améliorer le monde qui nous entoure, alors nous pourrons a bon droit être fière de notre contribution. During a previous visit 32 years ago I said: “I want the Crown in Canada to represent everything that is best and most admired in the Canadian ideal. I will continue to do my best to make it so during my lifetime, and I hope you will all continue to give me your help in this task.” I would like to repeat those words today as together we continue to build a country that remains the envy of the world.

May God bless you on this happy hundredth birthday, and I send to you all my warmest good wishes for the years to come. The Speaker: Your Majesty, through Your actions and through Your words Your Majesty has conferred a signal recognition on Alberta’s Legislative Assembly. Since its members have sought to serve their sovereign, this province, and the dominion of Canada faithfully and well. We face our future ever mindful of our heritage and our history and especially of our duty to future generations as yet unborn. We thank You for Your belief in us as a people. God bless Alberta. God bless Canada.

God save the Queen. [applause] Hon. members, ladies and gentlemen, if we could all rise now and join in the singing of our national anthem. We’ll be led by Mr. Paul Lorieau. Please feel free to participate in the language of your choice. Hon. Members and Guests: O Canada, our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. Car ton bras sait porter l'épée, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. [Preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Speaker, Ms White, Premier Klein, Dr. Klein, and members of the Royal party left the Chamber to the applause of members and guests] [The Mace was uncovered] [The Deputy Speaker in the chair] The Deputy Speaker: Please be seated. The hon. Government House Leader. Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to Government Motion 7, agreed to on March 7, 2005, I move that the House stand adjourned.

The Deputy Speaker: Hon. members, pursuant to Government Motion 7, agreed to on March 7, 2005, the House stands adjourned. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very pleasant and wonderful summer, and when you’re driving our freeways or our fairways, drive carefully. [Pursuant to Government Motion the Assembly adjourned at 12:31 p.m.]

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20050524
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L26 S1 20050524 1215 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	ad990c1d7ea7e009f34044d57df7a4616e228c84

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