Ambassador Kaoru Ishikawa Visits Queen's Park and Addresses the Ontario Legislative Assembly
His Excellency Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to Canada, paid a visit to Queen’s Park on April 7, meeting with His Honour, the Honourable David Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, as well as receiving the rare privilege of addressing the Legislative Assembly. (Above video courtesy of the Legislative Assembly and the Province of Ontario.)
Ambassador Ishikawa signs the guestbook in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. |
The Ambassador is warmly received by the Lieutenant Governor.
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His Honour and Her Honour Mrs. Ruth Ann Onley exchange gifts with the Ambassador commemorating their time together. |
After his arrival in Toronto from Ottawa in the morning, the Ambassador immediately called upon His Honour, who expressed his warm sympathies in relation to the devastation caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11.
The Ambassador, Premier (centre) and Speaker outside the Legislative Building. |
The Ambassador signs the guestbook in the Speaker's Apartment. |
The Premier greets the Ambassador before escorting him to Chamber. |
In the afternoon, the Ambassador was greeted at the south entrance to the Legislative Building by the Honourable Steve Peters, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario. The Ambassador was led by the Speaker to the Speaker's Apartment, where the two discussed various ties between Ontario and Japan in addition to the earthquake. Afterwards, the Premier met the Ambassador again to escort him to the Legislative Chamber.
The Ambassador addresses the Legislative Assembly as the Speaker looks on. |
The MPPs rise in acknowledgement after the Ambassador’s address. |
The Ambassador takes questions from the media.
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"I would like to thank you most sincerely for giving me the great honour and privilege to speak to you in this magnificent symbol of democracy, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario," Ambassador Ishikawa said in his address to the Legislative Assembly. Before speaking in detail of the earthquake and its effects, he said, “Allow me to offer my deep gratitude to all Canadians and Ontarians who have given us heartwarming messages of sympathy and condolence. From His Excellency the Right Honourable Governor General David Johnston, the Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper, His Honour the Honourable Lieutenant Governor David Onley, the Honourable Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Honourable Speaker Steve Peters to the countless number of residents from across Canada and Ontario, I want to take this moment to say thank you.” A full transcript of his speech, as well as the responses from the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Third Party are available here.
With Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Monique Smith (centre) and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Eric Hoskins.
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With the Speaker (second from left), Leader of the Opposition Tim Hudak (left) and Leader of the Third Party Andrea Horwath.
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The Ambassador is greeted at a reception by Atomic bomb survivor and activist Setsuko Thurlow.
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After taking questions from the media immediately after his address, the Ambassador was greeted at a reception by members of the Legislative Assembly as well as representatives from the local community.