Harper praises ’strong and resilient’ Canadians (1)
Addressing a massive Canada Day crowd, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canadians have faced a challenging year but “are a strong and resilient people.”
Harper, speaking to tens of thousands of Canadians gathered on Parliament Hill, spoke optimistically about the current recession.
“Looking around the world, Canada has fared better than most and looking to the future, Canada is poised to lead,” he said.
The prime minister also paid tribute to how far Canada has come in its first 142 years, and where it will go in future.
“We must never forget that our country, our way of life, did not come about by accident,” Harper said.
“We are a product of diverse peoples from all corners of the Earth, but committed to common values, a country that cherishes freedom, democracy and justice, a country that offers opportunity to all who seek it, a country proud of our past and confident of our future.”
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Updates:
5:46 pm EDT, July 1st, 2009 –Canada Day marked in Afghanistan with tank decor, soldiers’ festivities
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Male, retired and the rest is of little interest to anyone. The site keeps me busy and if it helps others to stay abreast of daily events then my time is well spent.
stageleft Says:
Ya know what…. Parliament Hill is a 20 minute bus ride for me but I didn’t bother going because I just knew that Harper would stand there, like every other PM before him, and spout off about “how far we have come”.
What progress have we made in the last year? The last two years? How are we better off than we were 5 years ago? 10 years ago? Canada has embraced secret trials, we have unequal treatment of citizens abroad, the police are allowed to engage in secret wiretapping with no accountability, the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” just keeps on growing, and in case anyone missed it (which wouldn’t surprise me because the media gave it as close to zero coverage as they could without actually ignoring it compleely) UNICEF issued a Canadian suppliment to its State of the Worlds Children report and we don’t look to friggen good at all folks.
Harper may be confident about our future but I am not… and before to many folks here start b*tching me out for complaining on Canada Day I’ll say the same thing I said on my site — I’m not willing to give Canada a break just because its her birthday, if it makes ya fell any better call it “tough love”, that’s supposed to be a good thing if I recall correctly.
Posted on July 1st, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Jack Says:
What a party pooper.
“Jeez.”
Posted on July 1st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
UV Says:
Stage left -whats that old say, “better the devil you know.” At least hes not from Quebec like so many of our recent PM’s. Finally, the ROC is in, particularly the west and hes certainly been kind to we pensioners with his pension income splitting policy.
Posted on July 1st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Matt Says:
Stageleft, have you ever checked out the link at the top of the this website. “Harper Gov’t Record”? Because that is enough proof to me that we have made progress in the past couple years. At one point I couldn’t acknowledge myself as a Canadian, but as an Albertan. But now and only because of our Conservative Government have I been proud to be a Canadian.
Posted on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:50 am
UV Says:
I havent been a proud Canadian ever since losing my federal civil service job many years ago to PeeAir Truedeough’s ‘Official bilingualism’ policy.
However, inspite of what the lieberals have done to me & some of my family, still happy to be living in this great country. At least the Conservatives have helped seniors such as myself with his very generous pension income splitting policy.
Almost helps pay Ontario Premier McFibb’s “I wont raise your taxes” health tax.
Posted on July 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Cynapse Says:
UV:
So that’s what it is. Always wondered why you pressed so hard on the language thing (not to say that it’s not true). Whatever complaints anyone raises against the direction of any one government, our system is still superior to most of the world. Even our worst party tends to govern better than the best/only parties in many countries.
stageleft:
Harper’s neocon turn (which is still not as sharp as many thought it would be) won’t last in the long run. Trends come and go. Moreover, some of the best patriots are the ones who stick their necks out to draw awareness to a threat rather than wave the flag with their eyes closed.
Posted on July 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
UV Says:
Cynapse, ‘the voice of balanced reason’ on this blog – I have lost family fighting for this country in World War II so our family has dont its part but its still difficult to feel proud when ones government discriminates you just on the basis of a minority language. All that being said, am still glad to be here.
As for Arper, I think he’s gone more to the left than to the right with all of his recent bail-outs and his time too shall pass. Hopefully, the crown wont be passed to the LIEberals.
Posted on July 2nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm