Madam Speaker: Prior to Oral Questions, I would like to direct the attention of all honourable members to the Speaker's Gallery where we have with us today Her Excellency Mrs. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter, the Bahamas High Commissioner to Canada, and His Excellency Sir Anthony Goodenough, KCMG, the High Commissioner of Great Britain to Canada.
On behalf of all honourable members, I welcome you here this afternoon.
Madam Speaker: Today, March 9, is Commonwealth Day. Later this afternoon Their Excellencies will participate in a fuller observance of this special day than has been the practice of this Legislature in previous years. With the indulgence of the House, I would like to place a few words about the Commonwealth on the record at this time.
It is a 54-member association of nations, with a total population of 1.7 billion. These member nations range in size from India, with 900 million people, to Nauru in the South Pacific with 8,000 inhabitants. The Commonwealth is one of the largest and most well-respected associations of nations and peoples in the world. It is a unique family of developed and developing nations spread out over every continent and ocean. Its people are of many religions, races and cultures.
The nations of the Commonwealth are bound by some guiding principles, deeply held beliefs in the promotion of international understanding and co-operation and the belief that their interests are served by working in partnership with each other. Informal links of nongovernmental organizations, professional groups and committed individuals as well as intergovernmental organizations are the cement of the spirit and work of the Commonwealth.
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