Governor Jim Douglas received the National Order of Québec (l Ordre national du Québec) yesterday at a ceremony in the Québec National Assembly, becoming only the 4th American and first American public official to receive the honor. Québec Premier Jean Charest cited Governor Douglas work in strengthening the historic Québec -Vermont relationship throughout his career in public service during the investiture ceremony held yesterday.
Governor s remarks:
Merci, Monsieur le Premier Ministre. Et je remercie aussi le peuple du Québec pour ce grand honneur. [Thank you Premier Charest. I thank you and the people of Quebec for this tremendous honor.]
Monsieur le Premier Ministre, nous avons poursuivi nos juridictions respectives depuis les dernières sept années et l amitié que nous avons développée représente bien l amitié profonde que partage le peuple du Québec et du Vermont. [Premier Charest, as we have both led our respective jurisdictions these last seven years, the friendship we have developed is emblematic of the deep and historic friendship of the people of Quebec and Vermont.]
Quebec and Vermont share many things; our history, our culture and our economic wellbeing. Indeed, we share the past, the present and most certainly, the future.
From the moment Samuel de Champlain first viewed the Green Mountains from the shores of Lake Champlain after he founded this great City, the future of Quebec and Vermont have been intertwined.
Throughout my career serving the people of Vermont, I ve known first-hand how important the relationship between Vermont and Quebec is for our people.
Over time, the friendship among our people has deepened. It is with great pride that I look back on these past seven years and know that my State and your Province have only grown closer together; that our historic bonds have been strengthen and our mutual interests advanced.
As a new Governor in 2003, I was eager to reach out my hand to an incoming Premier so that we could address the very real issues facing the people we serve.
From environmental protection to economic development, we are standing shoulder to shoulder to bring positive change to our shared region of the world.
We celebrated our history together with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City by Samuel de Champlain in 2008 and the 400th anniversary of his journey to the shores of Vermont on the lake that now bares his name.
As Governor of Vermont, I have witnessed the good that has been accomplished through our close relationship. Two years ago, Jean, you discussed with me your idea of bringing together all of Canada s premiers with the governors of all the states of our United States.
And so just two weeks ago was I was honored as chairman of the National Governors Association to welcome the premiers of the Council of the Federation to our NGA Winter meeting in Washington, D.C. We had a very open and full dialogue, and I am confident the friendship, Jean, that we and our jurisdictions so share will inspire other provinces and states to do like-wise to the benefit of all Americans and all Canadians.
And even though my time in office will be ending with the New Year, it is with great comfort that I know that the fruits of our mutual efforts those of Quebec and Vermont will continue to blossom for years to come.
Our special relationship is so important, especially today. The people of Vermont, like Quebec, are confronting many challenges from a global recession that has touched the lives of our families and friends on both sides of the border to environmental threats that know no boundaries.
But together we have and we will continue to overcome these obstacles and ensure a more prosperous, a more healthy and a more secure tomorrow for all our people.
We will do so by keeping our border open to tourism, trade and commerce; by promoting and developing industries from agriculture to software; by exchanging ideas and knowledge to strengthen the education of our next generation; by working together to clean our air and our waterways; and by leveraging the vast resources of our shared region to provide clean, renewable energy that will power our economy well into the future.
Aux Québécois, m avoir présenté si gracieusement l ordre National du Québec est une leçon d humilité. Personnellement, je suis profondément reconnaissant et je reconnais l honneur de ce geste d amitié entre le peuple du Vermont et du Québec. [To all Quebecers; that you have been so gracious to present me with the Ordre national du Quebec is truly humbling. I am deeply grateful on a personal level, but I recognize that this honor is a true gesture of friendship among the people of Vermont and Quebec.]
Aujourd hui, cet honneur est partagé par tous ceux qui ont travaillé à façonner, créer et renforcir cette relation spécial. Aujourd hui, nos efforts combinés ont enrichi la vie de la population résidant des deux côtés de la frontière et ont bâti une fondation pour un avenir meilleur. [This honor today is shared by all those who have worked through the years to shape, build and strengthen this special relationship. It is all our efforts combined that enrich the lives of people on both sides of the border today and provide a foundation for an even better tomorrow.]
Au nom de mes concitoyens du Vermont: voisins du Québec; nous vous estimons et nous sommes impatients de collaboré dans le future et de développer plus d amitiés. [On behalf of my fellow Vermonters, we cherish you, our neighbors, and look forward to a future of collaboration and friendship.]
Merci Beaucoup! [Thank you so very much!]
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Source: Governor's office. Quebec City. 3.12.2010.