Remarks by the Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
Reception in Honour of the Opening of the Legislature
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Victoria, British Columbia
Good evening ladies and gentleman. Welcome to my world. Tomorrow we do again that which must be done as part of our collective constitutional history and obligation. It’s historic because of our link to the Crown of Great Britain. What we do is steeped in this royal connection to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It’s an obligation because we are again called upon to fulfill our individual roles, either at the canons or in the band.
British Columbians have come to expect this pageantry for respect of our democratic process. We are a nation run after all, not by the Crown, but by our elected officials. The Throne Speech is the beginning of this process but culminates this year with an election.
What is a nation? It is an entity recognized by other nation states as sovereign, with the right to defend its borders, to govern its people and to manage its resources. Canadians have a growing sense of identity that includes our international obligations, our RCMP, our Tim Hortons coffee, and many others. This identity is brought front and centre on days like tomorrow, when with great pride we showcase our loyalty to Canada, to British Columbia and to the constitution.
Ladies and gentleman, thank you for your dedication and commitment to our democratic process that defines us as Canadian. Tomorrow is not like every other day of the year. It is special because we get to participate in a celebration of our Canadian democracy and Canadian sovereignty.
- Honorary Aides-de-Camp:
- - Lieutenant (N) Nicole Rondeau
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