Speaking Notes for the Honourable Helena Guergis, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Status of Women)
Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case

Rideau Hall, Ottawa
November 7, 2008

Check against delivery

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a real honour to be here in my new role as Minister of State (Status of Women).  Having volunteered with organizations like the Barrie Rape Crisis Centre, run my own small business, and in my previous portfolio, had the pleasure of working with dynamic businesswomen in Canada and abroad, I understand very well the issues facing contemporary women.

I am delighted with my new appointment and look forward to working with my Cabinet colleagues, Status of Women Canada, and our many partners across government and in the private sector.  Together, we can reach our goal of equality for women, and ensure their full participation in the economic, social and democratic life of this country.

Let me begin today by thanking Your Excellency for your gracious patronage of this event, and for welcoming us into your home.  The Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case blend solemnity with celebration - the perfect setting for honouring the extraordinary Canadians who dedicate their lives to advancing equality between women and men.

As many of you know, October is Women's History Month in Canada.  This year's theme was Women in the Lead / Les femmes en tête, which honoured the Canadian girls and women, past and present, who went first, who led the way and opened doors for others to follow.

Throughout October, in addition to preparing for and participating in the federal election, Canadians celebrated the many and significant contributions of women - of all ages and all backgrounds - in virtually every area of human endeavour.  Pioneers, activists, scholars and visionaries.  Mothers, sisters, neighbours and friends.  By devoting an entire month, every year, to extraordinary girls and women throughout Canadian history, we raise our country's collective awareness of women's lives, past and present.  And we inspire future generations to make history!

As the newly appointed Minister of State (Status of Women), it is a distinct honour for me to present these prestigious awards.  As in other traditionally male fields of endeavour, women continue to make significant inroads into federal politics and step by step are changing the face of governance in Canada.  Progress has been slow, however, and women politicians have continued to struggle to balance their personal and family lives with the often extreme demands of their public work lives.

Faced with the sometimes monumental challenges of a non-traditional career, women politicians, like women executives, women carpenters, women astronauts, women engineers and women electricians, can look to the past for inspiration and find it, over and over again, in the stories of our courageous foremothers.  It was the infamous Nellie McClung, one of the Famous Five, who said:

I am a believer in women, in their ability to do things and in their influence and power.  Women set the standards for the world, and it is for us, women in Canada, to set the standards high.

Like the Famous Five, the recipients of the 2008 Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, each in their unique and socially relevant way, demonstrate unwavering commitment to the principles of equality, justice and dignity for the women of Canada.  All have taken risks, acted on the courage of their convictions and travelled unfamiliar terrain in pursuit of their ideals.

Just as individuals grow and mature, so too do societies.  Women and girls have taken some big strides in recent years, and piece by piece, we are removing some of the longest-standing barriers to equality.  Underlying many of our successes are the partnerships we have formed, among ourselves but also with men and boys.

I think of the words of Senator Thérèse Casgrain, a supporter of the Famous Five who led the fight in Quebec for women's right to vote, to practice law and to participate in public life, who said:

The true liberation of women cannot take place without the liberation of men.  Basically the women's liberation movement is not only feminist in inspiration, it is also humanist.  Let men and women look at one another honestly and try to give society a new set of values.

With this in mind, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the six recipients of the 2008 Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

We can take real pride in the achievements of these six amazing individuals, who embody the very best of the Canadian spirit: courage, integrity, strength and above all, compassion.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, and of all Canadians, I extend my sincere congratulations to each of you on this well-deserved Award.

Thank you.

- 30 -