Mr. Speaker, Canada is proud to join all other nations in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the birth of the United Nations Organization.
We take particular pride in marking this anniversary, since Canada was directly involved in the founding of the UN. To Canada, the UN is an example of co-operation and openness.
It is no easy task to bring together daily some 200 countries with widely divergent interests and ask them to work on finding and developing ways to improve the lives of the people of this planet. Like the UN, Canada has always appreciated the advantages and potential of a relationship built on tolerance and the acceptance of diversity.
Today, Canadians are gathered together to wish a long life to the UN and to a united Canada.