I, me and my

I think it's a meaningless issue but since Conservatives have been counting the use of "I, me or my" in recent speeches by Michael Ignatieff, I picked a recent speech by Stephen Harper and did a count.

I picked the speech at random -- it was the most recent one produced in full on the PMO website (I set it out below).

Anyway, I counted 18 uses of "I, me or my". That ignores the use of "we and our". It's a pretty short speech; I read it out at normal speech speed and it took four minutes.

That's an "I, me or my" every 13 1/3 seconds.

But, in fairness, the speech does not read as an homage to self -- it is a normal speech using normal language to describe normal things in a normal way.

My point is that it is not strange to use "I, me and my" a lot and any complaint based on that use is misplaced.

Or so, in my opinion (at least to me) I think. (It's all about me me me; isn't it???).

PM accepts Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organization's President's Award for Excellence in Leadership

12 June 2009

Summerside, PE

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Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Kevin for that kind introduction.

Greetings also to Prince Edward Island's hard-working representative at the Cabinet table – Minister Gail Shea.

And, of course, to Mike Duffy. 

It's great to be here in Summerside today.

I want to thank your organization, the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations, for inviting me.

For thirty-five years, this organization has done much to promote a pastime that combines Canadians' passion for the great outdoors with the love of adventure. 
 
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of hitting the trails on a Ski Doo Renegade during a visit to Wilmot, Nova Scotia.

I can certainly see the attraction.

The outdoors.

The speed.

The rush.

I think I may be hooked! 

But my technique is still pretty raw, so I suppose winning your Outstanding Snowmobiler Award is probably out of the question. 

But I am very honoured to be receiving the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations' President's Award for Excellence in Leadership and pleased to be here among Canadians who cherish our great outdoors.

One of the best things about being Prime Minister of Canada, the best job in the world's best country, is that I have had an unparalleled opportunity to travel the length and breadth of our vast and awesome territory.

From Labrador to Vancouver Island to Southern Ontario to Alert in Nunavut, I've met Canadians who work, play and live on the land.

All this travel has reinforced my view that the heart of Canada is still in the countryside.

The timeless values of rural life, a close relationship to the natural environment, community interdependence, strong family bonds, these are the foundational characteristics of our country.

And they are the qualities that sustain our peaceful and prosperous society to this day.

As one author noted, and I quote:  "Nearly every Canadian feels, as a special part of his national identity, a closeness to the wilderness; and many a Canadian's personal identity is bound up with the pleasure he takes in wilderness activities."

Of course, however, with the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits comes the corresponding responsibility to preserve the Canadian wild for future generations to experience.

That's why the education, advocacy, and conservation efforts of organizations like yours are so essential.

Now, when we speak of conservation, we're not just talking about conserving wilderness and wildlife.

We're also talking about conserving the traditions, values, and love of country that form the foundation on which Canada has been built.

It's also no accident, in my opinion, that the words "conservation" and "conservative" are derived from the same root.

A conservative, ladies and gentlemen, is a conservationist.

We want to conserve our land and its riches.

We want to conserve strong families in healthy, safe, self-reliant communities

And, of course, we believe, fundamentally, that we have a duty to make Canada better by conserving and enhancing what our ancestors have built for us.

That's why our Government has made conservation such a high priority over the last three years.

We are, for example, expanding the boundaries of the spectacular Nahanni Park in the Northwest Territories.

We have created the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, the largest freshwater marine protected area in the world.

We have provided substantial support for the preservation of the Great Bear Rain Forest in British Columbia.

Here on the Island we are restoring vegetation and expanding the trail network in Prince Edward Island National Park. 

We have entered into partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and groups like Ducks Unlimited to conserve a half million acres of ecologically significant land. 

And, as Kevin mentioned, our Government announced a major investment in the country's trail infrastructure. 

There is no better way to appreciate Canada's rich natural heritage and unrivalled beauty then to explore our extensive network of trails.   

Over the next two years, our Government is partnering with the National Trails Coalition to create, upgrade and sustain snowmobile and ATV trails from coast to coast to coast.

And with your organization as one of the lead Trails Coalition partners, I have no doubt that this collaboration will be a tremendous success. 

In the short term, this significant investment will create jobs and generate economic activity in communities across the country.

In the longer term, it will attract tourists from around the world and create a lasting legacy of pristine trails for the generations of Canadians to come. 

In closing, I'd once again like to thank the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations for this generous honour.

I'd also like to pay tribute to your efforts.

Few of us appreciate, or do as much, to conserve and strengthen Canada's natural heritage as sportsmen like you.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I'd like wish you a successful AGM and a great season ahead.

Thank you.
James Morton
1100-5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4

416 225 2777