PM announces support for Diefenbaker Canada Centre

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Thank you very much, everybody.  Thank you, Peter MacKinnon, for that very kind and generous introduction. 

I want to welcome all of my colleagues who are here, Minister Lynne Yellich, MPs Brad Trost, Randy Hoback, and Kelly Block.  Nice to have all of you here.  Also Mayor Atchison, Mayor Scarrow, Chief Lonechild; nice to see all of you here as well. 

Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am indeed very pleased to be here today in Saskatoon at the beautiful University of Saskatchewan campus for a cause that I know is dear to the hearts of many, many Canadians, especially in this great province of Saskatchewan.
 
Since 1980, the Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker Centre for the Study of Canada has nourished the memory of Canada’s 13th Prime Minister.  It has preserved his papers, his books, and his memorabilia, and through public outreach programs and research, it has sought to educate Canadians about the ideas of one of our country’s most famous citizens.  For the ancient injunction, "let us now praise famous men", was coined for men like John Diefenbaker. 

John Diefenbaker was a man of great passion and vision and of seldom matched rhetorical power.  He was also a Canadian patriot to his very core. 

Importantly, he stood for certain values.  And he vigorously defended certain principles that are fundamental for the Canadian people, for the system of Canadian government, and for the relationship between them. 

John Diefenbaker believed that all Canadians were equal before the law.  He believed that the powers of government were not without limit.  Above all, he believed in freedom and that the essence of freedom was that law-abiding citizens should not suffer arbitrary intrusions into their lives from their government. 

To give practical expression to these principles, he stood before the House of Commons on Canada Day, then Dominion Day, in 1960 and introduced Canada’s first Bill of Rights.  You will see its ringing declarations displayed prominently here, and here in the centre’s files, among the many other valuable particulars that its dedicated curators conserve, you will find the words Diefenbaker spoke to Parliament that very day. 

He said, once again, "I’m a Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who shall govern my country.  This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind."

What can one add to that?  In fact, I remember that as schoolchildren we used to recite that regularly at my school.

The Diefenbaker Centre therefore serves a profound national purpose as keeper of this noble inspiration.  The time has now come to offer some tangible recognition of its value. 

Our government believes that Canadian communities deserve strong and modern infrastructure that will last for decades to come.  We also know that investing in infrastructure today will create jobs and help keep Canada’s economy moving into the future.  And we recognize government’s responsibility to maintain and care for our nation’s heritage.

And so it is with great satisfaction that I can tell you today that in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan, the government of Canada will make a substantial investment in rejuvenating the Diefenbaker Canada Centre. 

Our government’s support will allow the centre to better display its valuable collections. 

Actually, the federal government has been a major contributor to the Diefenbaker Canada Centre from the start.  While John Diefenbaker was chancellor of this university, he announced his desire that his archives should be housed on this campus.  The government of the day concurred, and financially supported construction of the centre. 

It is entirely fitting, therefore, that 30 years after the centre opened and 50 years after John Diefenbaker endowed Canada with its Bill of Rights, our government continues to support this national treasure. 

This is not, by the way, the only investment that our government has made in Saskatchewan, or indeed, in Saskatoon itself.

Users of Highway 11 can hardly have failed to notice work on twinning from Warman to Highway 2, south of Prince Albert. 

Our government has also invested heavily in improving water quality and supply in and around Saskatoon and, as you can have too much of a good thing, there’s a flood control project as well.

In fact, including support for the Diefenbaker Centre, our government has invested in 91 projects in the Saskatoon area and nearly 1,100 across Saskatchewan. 

It’s part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our plan to deal with the worst global recession since the Second World War. 

Under Canada’s economic action plan, the government of Canada has invested in almost 16,000 infrastructure projects across the country.  When combined with the contributions of our provincial, municipal, territorial, private partners, close to $60 billion has been committed to infrastructure projects from coast to coast to coast, and we are seeing the benefits. 

Canada has done better during the recession, far better, in fact, than its peers among the advanced countries. 

Close to 400,000 net new jobs have been created by the Canadian economy over the past year.  But as you know, ladies and gentlemen, in this fragile global recovery, nothing can be taken for granted. 

And we must stay on course.  We must continue to be focused on the economy and on jobs and that is why to make...that is why we make and are continuing to make strategic investments like this one. 

On a personal note, just before I relinquish the podium, I’d like to thank this centre’s staff once again for the valuable assistance they rendered in preparing my Northern tour in 2008, when we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of Inuvik. 

As you will recall, the very existence of Inuvik owes much to Mr. Diefenbaker and his vision of "A Canada of the North."  It was a vision that proved prophetic and this centre’s part in recalling that highly successful and enjoyable occasion was much appreciated. 

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the government and indeed all Canadians, I want to applaud the Diefenbaker Canada Centre and all those engaged in its valuable work.  Our joint investments here will lead to an impressive new centre, and I’m looking forward to seeing it complete. 

Thank you.

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