On the same day I was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada, I announced the most sweeping reform ever undertaken in the structure of our federal government.

I believe that Canadians have the common sense to see that a better future cannot be built on fragmentation.

Some of you may have been hoping that today I would speak about Lucien Bouchard's latest economic theories. But I have decided to spare him for the time being: after all, he is a man.

I'd be prouder still to say I was Canada's 10th woman prime minister.

We have to define and put into practice a better, more coherent and effective policy on income security.

The world has changed profoundly since our programs were first established.

There is no greater honour than to serve Canadians.

I have always believed governments must adapt to the needs of the people, not the other way around.

For too many, to work means having less income.

On the same day I was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada, I announced the most sweeping reform ever undertaken in the structure of our federal government.

An increasing number of Canadians must juggle the demands of work with the need to care for children, or for family members who are ill or too frail to care for themselves. Our programs have simply not kept pace with these societal changes.

For me, unemployment and poverty in the Greater Montreal area is not mainly a problem of structure, or design, or statistics. It is a profoundly human situation.

Our first Prime Minister saw a country that would be known for its generosity of spirit. And so it is.

Canada is the homeland of equality, justice and tolerance.

I know Quebecers don't want to relive old battles; they prefer to build for the future.

It would be naive to imagine we have solved all our income security problems simply because the roles of the federal and provincial governments in the area of skills training have been clarified.

Despite our high rate of unemployment, 300,000 jobs go unfilled largely because many of the unemployed lack the skills needed today as a result of technological progress.

To suggest that Quebecers willingly give up the chance to exercise fully their influence within the federal government would be to betray the historical role Quebec has always played in Confederation, and to undermine the legitimacy of their pride and ambitions.

I believe it is time for new leadership that is able to leave the '70s behind.

Canadians want to see real hope restored, not false hopes raised.

For people on social assistance, the loss of free dental care, prescription drugs and subsidized housing can greatly outweigh additional income from working. We've all heard the stories.

Government cannot and must not replace private initiative.

We Canadians are not given as a people to great patriotic displays.

In all modesty, we must admit that governments are not always the best doctors when it comes to diagnosing economic ailments and prescribing the right treatment.

For over 20 years, the federal and provincial governments have made enormous efforts employing a variety of approaches in an attempt to stimulate Montreal's economy.

Governments allocate enormous resources for social programs. And it is true that for many years we have had one of the best social service systems in the world. Yet we are still incapable of meeting the needs of tens of thousands of Canadian families.

Since the end of the Second World War, our population has more than doubled to 27 million people.

Canada is the homeland of equality justice and tolerance.

I see Canada as a country torn between a very northern, rather extraordinary, mystical spirit which it fears and its desire to present itself to the world as a Scotch banker.

Yet there is disappointment in Washington and in the United States that Canada is not supporting us fully.

Canada is hockey.

Another turn in my life happened when I took on the Canada Council.

Two races share today the soil of Canada. These people had not always been friends. But I hasten to say it. There is no longer any family here but the human family. It matters not the language people speak, or the altars at which they kneel.

My plan was to stay in Canada to make films.

I'd be prouder still to say I was Canada's 10th woman prime minister.

An uncle of mine emigrated to Canada and couldn't take his guitar with him. When I found it in the attic, I'd found a friend for life.

Not so much in Canada, but certainly in the US, as I'm sure you know, money is all, and if they can get another 26 programs of the same thing even though it advances the culture or those actor's careers not at all it doesn't matter.

Have you ever, on a cloudless night, looked down from a passing aircraft flying over Canada? Endless, glowing strings of cities, towns, and homesteads. Stretching on and on, one province to the next. With only the stars in the distance.

We came off the road of the last tour very inspired to just keep playing, so we went to Canada.

My great hope would be that Quebec would realize itself fully as a distinct part of Canada, and stay Canadian, bringing to Canada a part of its richness.

In Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada has at last produced a political leader worthy of assassination.

Our expanding Canadian operations are concrete evidence of General Motors confidence in Canada.

Americans are a decade behind Canada when it comes to sex education and understanding their bodies.

I've never seen anything like it since. Some of the Canada Cups came close, but by then a lot of European players came and played in our league so we were more familiar with them.

The Canadian government continues to say they will not help us if we go to war with Iraq. However, the prime minister of Canada said he'd like to help, but he's pretty sure that last time he checked, Canada had no army.

I am truly sorry that a fowl of Canada is no longer with us.

The joke newspaper, it says Canada abandons the monarchy.

Canada is preparing to play a major role in the continued stability and security of Afghanistan through ISAF.

As a people, we know what we can do, we know how to do it, and we just want to get on with it. How? By ensuring that Canada's place in the world is one of influence and pride.