Louise Arbour’s Speech

Yes, I was lucky enough to be in the Senate for the swearing in of Louise Arbour as Governor General.

She gave a remarkable speech, both intellectually and ethically. Within the historical context she evoked, she also laid out important ideas about how we as Canadians must act in this very difficult time. You can find the whole speech here.

In the meantime, here are a few quotes from what she said:

“[Mary Simon] has reminded us that reconciliation is a lifelong journey that begins with listening and with empathy.”

From her international experiences: “I have seen regions ravaged by war and poverty, where people, like all of us, yearn to live with dignity, in peace and security.”

“[Canada is] a country that is not afraid to reinvent itself.”

“Our future is our shared project, a project that calls on us to balance the many perspectives that shape our collective identity.”

“Extreme polarization is dangerous—but so is extreme consensus.”

“It is through our differences, and our fundamental right to express them, that we will nourish critical thinking, creativity and innovation. It is through our differences that we will build our common future.”

“We must continue to protect the public space in which our national debates take place: from schools and universities to the media, political parties, unions and civil society organizations. From theatres, concert halls and museums to courtrooms and the floors of our legislative assemblies.”

“We do not mistake humility for weakness, nor do we measure a person’s worth by the thickness of their wallet.”

“Young Canadians are citizens of the world—they are well educated, with both a deep climate awareness and remarkable digital literacy. Yet not all of them are able to reach their full potential as they face the headwinds of inequality. In that, we are failing them. It is our shared responsibility to correct course.”

“Our country is our shared work. So, too, is our influence on the world.”

“And don’t underestimate how lucky you are to grow up here, even if you’re rightly concerned about the major challenges of our time: the health of our planet, the inequitable distribution of wealth, the violence of armed conflicts.”

“As we undertake major initiatives to strengthen our security and grow our economy, including in the Arctic, we must remain attentive to the rights of those directly affected and we must always ensure a fair sharing of both burdens and benefits.”

“Our collective security rests, above everything else, on the trust that we place in each other.”

“I am mindful of the privilege given to me to go out and meet with Canadians across this country and to discover the wealth of ideas and ideals that inspire them.”

“I am preparing myself to be surprised and to confront my own stereotypes and unconscious biases.”

“I hope that each day, I will be able to embody the spirit of empathy that lies at the heart of our great reconciliation project.”