April 13, 2005

Honourable Senators…

I rise today to congratulate the City of Charlottetown on the 150th Anniversary of its incorporation.

The great small city of Charlottetown has a long and fascinating history from its naming after Queen Charlotte to its designation as the Capital City of Prince Edward Island by Captain Samuel Holland in 1765. It was officially incorporated in 1855, 150 years ago.

The City of Charlottetown has many rich and interesting stories, from the American pirates who in 1775 invaded and stole the great seal of PEI, never to be recovered, to the famous Prince Edward Island writer Lucy Maud Montgomery who attended city schools.

Charlottetown is also well known for hosting visitors over the years, everyone from the Irish writer Oscar Wilde and in more recent years Prince Charles and his first wife Princess Diana.

But without a doubt the most famous visitors to Charlottetown were the Fathers of Confederation who as Canadian historians have noted, walked up Great George Street in Charlottetown and into the pages of Canadian history.

The founding principles of our country were established at the Charlottetown Conference in 1864 and formalized at the Quebec Conference. Our two founding cities, Charlottetown and Quebec hosted the meetings that created Canada.

As our country expanded over the years, the significance of the Charlottetown Conference has been recognized in many ways.

Province House in Charlottetown where the Fathers of Confederation met is now a national historic site and every year visitors from all over the world come to view the very location where Canada was founded.

Next door is the Confederation Centre of the Arts, the national memorial to the Fathers of Confederation. Charlottetown is also the home to Founders Hall, an interactive museum that explores the important role of the Charlottetown Conference in the formation of Canada.

Canadians are sometimes critical of other countries, but we can learn valuable lessons in important areas such as their celebration and regard for significant historic cities. There is a wonderful opportunity for the Government of Canada to give Canadians and visitors alike a better understanding of the founding of Canada.

I would recommend that Charlottetown and Quebec City be included in an expanded mandate for the National Capital Commission. The NCC should be given new responsibilities to promote Ottawa, Charlottetown and Quebec City as our National Capital and Founding Cities Commission. This expanded commission would not only promote these three important historic cities, it would also teach lessons to Canadians and visitors about our country.

The 150th anniversary of Charlottetown would be a wonderful opportunity for the Government of Canada to explore this option for the promotion of Canadian unity. I will be communicating this suggestion directly to the Prime Minister and responsible ministers.

In conclusion, I would like to say Congratulations to Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee, City Councilors and the citizens of Charlottetown on their 150th Anniversary of incorporation.

Thank you.