Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a humbling experience to stand in this storied House on behalf of my colleagues and constituents and offer sincere congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II on the 50th golden anniversary of her reign.
The heavy burden of public service and constitutional duty devolved on the Queen when she was only 25 years old and the mother of two was an awesome and daunting task. For half a century she has, with grace and complete and total integrity, discharged her constitutional obligations to the people of this country and throughout the Commonwealth.
The pledge made by the 21 year old Princess Elizabeth, and later made by her again as Majesty in her coronation oath, was to serve the people however long she may live. What more noble promise can there be than to serve the people and to preserve the rule of law? There is none higher.
In her Internet message this morning, the Queen expressed the hope that this jubilee year would not be nostalgic but rather an occasion on which to look forward with confidence and pride. We will do that.
Today, on the anniversary of the succession, many Canadians of an earlier generation than mine personally remember with gratitude the life and service of the Queen's father, King George VI, who died 50 years ago today. He came to the throne in a time of crisis, led the people through the second war and died much too young. Today we think as well of a widow of 50 years who forged an innovative and dynamic life of public service.
In my lifetime, and for a majority of Canadians, we have known only one person as our sovereign. Queen Elizabeth has always been there. There has been constitutional stability and we have grown up in a peaceable kingdom. Too often we take things for granted or because they are familiar. We fail to notice them.
This is the Queen's Canadian parliament. The laws we pass are the Queen's laws to keep the Queen's peace. Those who sit in the cabinet serve the crown in the name of the people, not as the masters of the people. At the very core of parliament and responsible government are the crown and the concepts of duty and service.
For 50 years Queen Elizabeth has fulfilled her pledge to the people of Canada. She has not been just a fair weather friend. In difficult times, in difficult circumstances, she has been loyal to us. We now have the honour to return that loyalty with gratitude. She has remained faithful to us in her duty and we thank her.
On behalf of the right hon. leader of the PC/DR coalition and my colleagues and constituents, we send to her our personal best wishes. We look forward with pleasure to her visit in this jubilee year and we echo the prayer from the anthem: Long may she reign.