Mr. Speaker, the 16 Commonwealth leaders have agreed to a proposal to amend the rules governing the line of succession to the throne. No longer will it matter if an heir's first-born is a boy or a girl.
Obvious modernizations will help the crown to remain an institution that reflects the values of Canadians and all realms of the Commonwealth that have Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as our head of state.
Since the founding of the Commonwealth in 1931, our common heritage has united us. However, the Commonwealth has become more than just about common history. Our common values flow from that history; principles such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law also unite us. From this background, we draw our Westminster system of responsible government. We believe in principles that deserve universal application.
Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, there is still not universal acceptance of these principles.
As the Prime Minister said, the Commonwealth is a “noble aspiration”.
God save the Queen.