Speech

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper commemorates 175th anniversary of the Rideau Canal

June 16, 2007
Merrickville, Ontario

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Member of Parliament Gord Brown, Member of Parliament Guy Lauzon, your Worship the Mayor, members of the Historical Society, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

First of all, thank you, John, for your introduction, and thank you for inviting me today. You should all know that besides inviting me to this event, John and I have a very special connection. John worked with my father in Toronto in the 1960's and was able to relate some stories of those times. Both my son Ben and I still miss Grandpa very much, so we really appreciate those recollections.

Friends, it's a great pleasure to be here today in Merrickville, which, as you know, is known locally as "the jewel of the Rideau" – and it's not hard to see why. The exquisitely preserved heritage buildings give visitors a real sense of what life must have been like back here in the Victorian era.

As you know, history is the reason we are here today. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the construction of the Rideau Canal, one of the truly remarkable engineering achievements in Canadian history. Construction began after the failed American invasion in the War of 1812. In case of future attacks, Canada needed an alternative military supply route to the St. Lawrence River. So, in the summer of 1827, under the direction of royal engineer Lieutenant Colonel John By, thousands of men began swinging their pickaxes to create a second navigable waterway that would link Montreal to Lake Ontario at Kingston. Now, I met Lieutenant Colonel By just a little earlier. He looks remarkably well-preserved for a guy who's a couple hundred years old.

The Canal, 202 kilometres in length, 47 locks and 74 dams, was an epic infrastructure project, as big and bold as the young country that built it and a testament to the resourcefulness and determination of its young and energetic population. I suspect it helped the Americans realize that their northern neighbours would be no pushovers, but even before the Canal was completed, our two nations were well on the way to developing the durable friendship that we enjoy today. The Canal, with its trails, parks and historical landmarks, now serves as one of North America's premier recreation and tourist attractions.

The Block House is one such landmark. Originally part of a military defence network for 40 years, it has served as a museum and interpretive centre for the thousands of visitors who come each and every year. Our government is pleased to have provided support for the museum's new interpretive exhibit that illustrates the important role that both the Rideau Canal and the Merrickville Block House played in Canada's history, and we are also proud to support the year-long celebration that is marking the Canal's 175th anniversary.

Thanks to events and facilities such as these, Canadians and visitors and guests from other countries have the opportunity to learn about the rich history of this region and its contribution to the growth of our great country. So congratulations to the Merrickville Historical Society on your new exhibit, and in a few minutes I know we're going to be honouring some fine young people who will participate in your society's essay contest on the history of the Rideau Canal. For that and for everything that you are doing to keep our history alive for current and future generations of Canadians, we thank you. God bless our great country.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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