Canadians across the country marked the 158th anniversary of Confederation on Monday. This year’s Canada Day held added significance, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag and the 45th anniversary of O Canada as the national anthem. Festivities featured flag-raising ceremonies, multicultural festivals, and performances of the anthem, as communities reflected on Canada’s past and its future aspirations.In a video address, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the enduring strength of Canada’s foundational vision. “One hundred and fifty-eight years ago, a few provinces bet on the idea that they’d be stronger together than they ever could be apart. They were right,” he said, acknowledging both the nation’s history and its current challenges, including a global order under strain, a trade crisis with the United States, and threats to democratic values. .Carney underscored the importance of partnership with Indigenous Peoples — First Nations, Inuit, and Métis — in shaping a shared future.Speaking later at Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, with Prince Edward of Great Britain as well as Governor General Mary Simon in attendance, Carney invoked the words of King Charles, noting that the world is “a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any time since the Second World War.” He highlighted Canada’s history of rising to challenges, citing Vimy Ridge, Normandy, and the generosity shown in Gander after 9/11. “In a more divided and dangerous world, Canadians are uniting,” Carney declared, outlining a bold vision for a unified Canadian economy..The Prime Minister pointed to the recent passage of Bill C-5, which introduced a national building permit to spur development in partnership with Indigenous communities. “We will build one Canadian economy connected by major projects, powered by Canadian energy, transformed by Canadian technology, and crafted by Canadian workers,” he said. Carney also called for breaking down interprovincial trade barriers to allow Canadians to buy local products and work anywhere in the country. He stressed the need to rebuild and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces, saying, “Canadian leadership is not only defined by the strength of our values but also by the value of our strength.”.Carney urged Canadians to harness the industrious spirit that built previous projects across the nation such as the St. Lawrence Seaway and Expo ‘67. “It’s time to build twice as many homes using Canadian skilled workers and Canadian lumber,” he said, advocating for hundreds of thousands of new careers in the trades and positioning Canada as a superpower in green and conventional energy. “Together, we’re writing our own story, not having it dictated to us by others,” he stated. “Greatness isn’t something defined by words, it’s achieved by actions.”
