Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling on Canadians to recommit to the country’s values, including respect, hope and kindness, in his official Canada Day message.
The prime minister said that the national holiday is an opportunity to commit to the values that the maple leaf represents, adding that the flag is more than a symbol.
“It is also a promise: a promise of opportunity, a promise of safety for those fleeing violence and war, and a promise of a better life,” he said.
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In his message, the prime minister says that Canada, home to 38 million people, is strong because of its diversity, from indigenous people to people who have only been here for a few weeks.
“No matter what our faith, where we were born, what color our skin is, what language we speak or whom we love, we are all equal members of this great country,” he said. “And today we celebrate the place we all call home.”
In an apparent reference to the treatment of indigenous people, including in residential schools, the prime minister spoke of Canada’s “historical mistakes,” saying that while we can’t change history, we can work to build a better future.
In her official Canada Day message, Governor General Mary Simon said Canadians should work together to build an inclusive society.
He urged people to be kind to each other, learn from each other and listen to the Indigenous Peoples, on whose land we live.
The governor-general will deliver a speech at formal celebrations in Ottawa on Friday, which the prime minister will also attend.
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