Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PARLIAMENTARY ADMINISTRATORS
Government House
Thursday, August 22, 2024, 12:00 noon
(please check against delivery)
Fellow Canadians, those of you who are servants of democracy, members of the Canadian Association of Parliamentary Administrators – welcome to Manitoba and to Government House.
As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I acknowledge that we are gathered on Treaty 1 territory and that Manitoba is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation; that Manitoba is located on the homeland of the Red River Métis; and that northern Manitoba includes lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit.
As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.
As Canadians, we all consider it our birthright to live in a society where laws are developed and policies overseen by our elected representatives. We expect these representatives to respond to the views of their constituents and debate the issues of the day and the principles of our country in the open – in Parliament, in provincial or territorial legislative assemblies, and in committee meetings.
But making democracy work is not just a job for elected representatives.
As I know from my own experience in Parliament, those debates we see snippets of on the news require the dedication of teams of hard-working professionals behind the scenes.
Just as there would be no movies in your local multiplex without camera operators, location scouts and production accountants, so too the debates we sometimes call “political theatre” require behind-the-scenes work in information and broadcast technology, human resources and finance, and all aspects of administration.
As Canada’s parliamentary administrators, you provide the crucial work that allows elected representatives to speak for their constituents. And you ensure that those constituents, from coast to coast to coast. are able to follow what goes on in Ottawa or their provincial or territorial capital.
Your jobs require a wide range of specialized skills – skills that are in demand in many other areas of the public and private sectors and skills that I know you apply without favour to all.
We all benefit from the fact that you have chosen to apply those skills to the benefit of your fellow Canadians and in support of our principles of open democratic government.
I thank you for your dedication and wish you a productive conference that gives you a chance to enhance your knowledge, make friends with colleagues from across Canada and enjoy the sights and hospitality of summer in Winnipeg and Manitoba.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom
