FILE 1743

ADDRESS TO THE NATION – THE RIGHT HONORABLE STEPHEN ENUARAQ, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA

Location: Office of the Prime Minister, Ottawa, Ontario

Fellow Canadians, chers Canadiens et Canadiennes,

I would like to begin by offering my most sincere condolences to the victims of yesterday’s cowardly terrorist attack. My heart goes out to all the victims and to their relatives. We share your grief. Our thoughts also go to our American friends who lost their lives protecting us.

Rest assured that we are using every means at our disposal to bring the perpetrators to justice. I am well aware that, through deception and misinformation, these terrorists have preyed on our weaknesses and gained the sympathy, if not the support, of some of the population. Their goal is to use our fears against us, but they will not succeed. They may paint themselves as patriots, but they are terrorists, and they will be hunted down and punished as such.

Your fears are real. I recognize that. I share those fears. The destruction of Mexico City was a tragedy, and the images we have seen on television are forever imprinted in our collective mind.

The sight of the American metallic giant standing over our parliament has left many terrified that Ottawa would suffer the same fate as the Mexican capital.

Some members of the press, for personal or professional gain, have suggested that the destruction of more than half of Mexico City was unprovoked, a coup d’état in favor of a more favorable president. That reckless and irresponsible behavior has led many throughout our continent to protest and riot based on unverified information that ultimately proved to be false.

We now know of the nefarious plot orchestrated by the former president, and the new administration’s acceptance of the American offer to become a US territory should suffice to convince even conspiracy theorists that there exists no ill will between these two nations.

Let me be clear. The metallic giant standing a mere hundred meters from this office is not our enemy. I have personally asked our southern neighbor to join us in our efforts to restore peace and tranquility on our streets. Our relationship with the United States government is and has always been one of mutual respect and understanding. It is in that spirit that they have graciously offered their assistance.

Peace. Justice. Preserving the environment. These are the values that unite us all. They are the building blocks our country is built on. Throughout our long and beautiful history, we have fought for these values, here and abroad. It wasn’t always easy. We have made sacrifices along the way. Today, we must again sacrifice some of our hard-earned freedoms to preserve our way of live.

At eleven o’clock this morning, I have asked the Governor General to invoke the Emergencies Act, formerly known as the War Measures Act, and suspend our parliament until such time as civic unrest has ceased and order has been restored. For your protection, I ask all of you not to leave your home after sunset. To that effect, military and law enforcement forces have also been given broad powers to maintain the peace. The brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces will secure our streets with the help of the American troops from New York and Washington State. Their expertise and experience with this very type of situation will ensure our success, and we thank them for their invaluable support. General Meredith Scott will oversee the operation and ensure that essential services that fall within the purview of the federal government are provided efficiently and constantly while parliament is in recess.

We are not alone. Other nations across the globe are facing these very challenges as we speak.

Many are facing them for the first time and without help.  We are not alone. Our American friends are here, with us, at every step. They will not abandon us. Together, we will protect our way of life and preserve what we hold most dear.

The solutions to the problems we are facing today will not come easy, but we will find them, using all the tools at our disposal. The most powerful of these is not a weapon. It is not a machine that dwarfs our tallest building or a regiment of tanks patrolling our streets. Our most precious asset is knowledge, and by pursuing knowledge we gain the power we need to surmount what stands in our way.

Our voluntary genetic-screening program was an overwhelming success. More than half of Canadians have sent in samples and received their Healthy Canada Card. The information we gathered will help us create health and safety measures tailored to the needs of every Canadian, and I am proud to announce today that we are expanding the program and making it mandatory for everyone. Those of you who have yet to participate will receive your sample kit through the mail shortly. The included instructions are easy to follow. When you’re done, reseal the package and drop it in the nearest mail box. It’s that simple. Within a few weeks, you will receive your HC Card and a comprehensive report that will teach you about yourself, your health, and your ancestry. You’ll even find out about your prehistoric relatives. I guarantee you’ll love it. Get ready for long and interesting conversations around the dinner table. I, myself, discovered that more than a third of my ancestors were Scandinavian. Who would have thought?

Your HC card provides invaluable information to first responders in case of an accident. You should carry it with you at all times. Be prepared to show it to police and military personnel as they work tirelessly to keep us safe.

I am proud of each of you, and proud to call Canada my home. I have every confidence in the men and women protecting us, and I ask you to let them do their job. Stay in your homes at night. Spend time with your families. Rediscover game night or watch the playoffs together.

Speaking of, I know all of you are eager to get back to the game, and I will not keep you any

longer. I’ve been told that as prime minister, I’m not allowed to take sides in a game opposing two Canadian teams, so it is in my own name that I say: Go Leafs!

Good night.