Nomination Speech

Good afternoon, Bonjour

Thank you, Jay for your support.

Merci, Beatrice pour les mots gentils.

Bea's remarks brought back so many memories, memories of lessons learned.

The lesson of being grateful for the Canadian health care system. Without that universal access as young teenager, I would have experienced severe physical barriers.

The lesson too that our health care system was not perfect; that there were times and moments when an advocate was needed—someone to lean on—something that is so important as we face an ageing population today.

The lesson of compassion. I learned that any of us, may at any time, fall through the cracks, owing to illness or personal circumstances.

I also learned that with support, people can pick themselves up and move forward.

I learned above all that it was important to challenge yourself and to enable and inspire others.

I am definitely challenging myself today by asking for the honour of being your Liberal candidate. I hope to inspire you as well.

I want to be your candidate because I believe that our country and our Party are embroiled in defining questions.

Are we willing to change our present lifestyles in order to sustain the future?

Do we remain a country with peacebuilding as a major foreign policy plank?

How can we balance security issues with individual freedoms?

How will we be able to protect our natural resources, especially our water?

Those global questions hit us here at home in Ottawa Centre, requiring a candidate who can think globally but act locally.

I believe I am that candidate and let me tell you why we can win back this riding. Je crois que je suis la candidate et laisse moi vous le dire comment nous allons reprendre notre conte.

First, we already have a strong, experienced Liberal family in Ottawa.

My dad, Ken Hossack, went to Glebe Collegiate with the late Lloyd Francis, a man who exemplified integrity in public life. And I am so proud that Lloyd's grandson, Andrew Francis is here today. Thank you for your support, Andrew.

The Ottawa Liberal family has been enriched by caring and dedicated people over the years, people like -

Our good friend, Mac Harb, who has worked so hard on behalf of the people for Ottawa Centre and who continues his work in the Senate.

People like Jim Watson, who continues to play so many meaningful roles in Ottawa life.

People like Richard Patten, a popular and caring MPP - someone whom we will miss greatly in elected life

People like Richard Mahoney, who carried the Liberal banner in this riding with such strength and talent. We wish him well in the Pontiac nomination tomorrow.

People like Isabel Metcalfe, whose dedication to the Liberal cause is unparalleled.

People like my worthy opponent, Scott Bradley.

In addition to this team, many new Liberals have been recruited through this nomination process which I believe bodes well for success in the next election.

Second I have an enormous personal stake in this community—and with its public service.

My family roots are deeply planted hereómy grandfather, James Hossack was a public servant. So was my cousin Emmett Hossack who is here in the audience today. My husband David continues to build on his career of public service. I am so proud to be part of that background

When I worked in government, I had a chance every day for four years to work closely and well with some of the finest public servants possible. We Canadians often take our public servants for granted—and we musn't. We owe so much to their advice and wisdom.

Twenty seven years ago, David and I, chose to make Ottawa Centre our own home and to raise Chris here, knowing there is nowhere better. And of course, there is no better son.

I know this riding's historic and beautiful waterways, its precious green spaces, its friendly neighbourhoods, its education centres. I know its corner shops ; its several, beating commercial hearts with small business owners like Moe Atallah at the Newport Restaurant and Sharon Fernandez, at Tea and Ginseng on Bank Street. I know its fantastic local arts scene, about to reenergized by the new GCTC on Holland Ave. I know its busy stretches and its "fun" places. I know its secluded areas of peacefulness.

Over the past three decades, I have watched as our physical neighbourhoods across the riding have evolved creating tough but exciting challenges to our city.

The challenges of sustainable public transit and smart and fast training for our new immigrants. The challenges of the development of brownfield sites. The challenge of the potential disposition of federal lands and buildings—one of our greatest assests—and the transparency of that process.

The challenge of establishing a sympathetic balance between dynamic business development and distinctive local character. Our cherished neighbourhood personalities have to be protected even as they evolve.

And then there is the blank canvas of Le Breton Flats, with all its possibilitiesÖ.. the potential of our urban waterfront with masses of ìgreen alleysî and ìpathwaysî is exciting.

We live in a riding almost defined by water: two rivers, a canal and a man made lake. Water has always been one of the souls of Canadian identity. On the federal level, the sale or diversion of our waters is crucial.

Working across the board with other jurisdictions, we Liberals must continue to develop policies and laws to keep our water safe, secure and accessible for future generations. I would pledge to keep this issue at the forefront of my platform.

Of course, it is the people, not the resources, who bring vitality and character to this riding. Enabling people to fulfill their potential is the strongest part of the Liberal heritage

Nous vivons dans un conte unique. Malgré Ottawa Centre soit une communauté riche je pense que la richesse n'est pas partage également.

Chez nous, il y a ceux et celles qui ont des limitations et des obstacles qui les empêchent de réussir. Chaque obstacle ni la communauté de son potentiel

Liberals know if even one young child goes hungry, the whole community—the whole country—is robbed of its fullest evolution possible. Liberals know that the reengagement of youth activism and idealism is crucial for our democracy. Liberals know that we must dismantle the barriers for struggling working families and for underemployed immigrants who could infuse our economy.

The Conservative government has clearly shown it does not understand these challenges. The Conservative government is incapable of moving forward: it keeps wandering back in time.

Look at their position on childcare—one of the very first things they did was to veto the Liberal Party's commitment to affordable daycare across Canada. Too bad for young parents; too bad for work/life balance.

Look at their position on Kyoto–they dumped it and they have nothing with which to replace it. They don't understand climate change at all—they even took federal money off the table when public transit is raised as an issue.

Our leader, Stéphane Dion certainly gets it about today's challenges. He is the only leader who understands that a healthy economy and sustainable environment can blend together with social justice.

He understands and we Liberals understand that Canadians expect a different kind of political dialogue:

one that is honest and frank, not nasty and mean spirited.

one that may require us to find creative solutions—and M. Dion certainly found one this week -to age old problems mired in partisan warfare.

one that encourages us to work together for common causes because pandemics, pollution, terrorism do not respect borders or states or even political parties.

Canadians can and will accept these new challenges.

However, to protect our global reputation, our sense of fairness, diversity and progressive policies which are enshrined in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, our cherished independence, our enviable brand, we Liberals have to take back the responsibility of governing.

This afternoon, you must ask yourselves if I have the hutspa, the moxy and the mojo to beat the NDP in this riding.

In the last election, Jack Layton asked people if he could "borrow" their votes. Well, we leant them to him and look at what we got a Conservative government. That borrowing time is over.

Mesdames, messieurs, I ask for your support. I want the challenge of working along side all of you to recharge Ottawa Centre and to move Canada forward. On y va!

Thank you. Merci.