Trudeau thanks Canadians for standing up for each other in Canada Day message

In his Canada Day message, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised Canadian workers, calling them the “backbone of our country” whose “hard work, bold vision, and determination” have built the country we love.

“From Ontario steel to Quebec aluminum, from agriculture and the energy sector in the Prairies and the North, to forestry in British Columbia and fisheries in the Atlantic, Canadians get the job done – and build our communities along the way,” said Trudeau.

The prime minister acknowledged that today’s celebrations may be muted by the challenges that lay ahead, such as reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. But he said Canadians were up for the challenge.

“We stand with each other, and we will always stand up for each other. Canada’s success has always come from its people – lifting each other up, one community at a time.”

Trudeau is celebrating Canada Day on the road highlighting the stand he has taken against the U.S. government’s decision to impose tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products.

Trudeau met with workers at a major canning and food processing operation in Leamington, Ont., where the tomato paste used in French’s ketchup is made and later today will visit a major steel refinery in Regina – two industries at the centre of the trade dispute.

Mayor John Tory says Canada Day is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the true blessings of being Canadian.

“We have so much to celebrate here in Toronto. We’ve built this city together that exemplifies Canadian core values such as fairness, equality, respect, inclusion,” he says in his Canada Day message. “And Canada Day reminds us that we need to make even more effort to ensure that all Torontonians can benefit from these values and live a life full of opportunity and free from discrimination of any kind.”

Governor General Julie Payette says Canadians are fortunate to live in a country where so much is possible and where people can – as she puts it – “dare to dream.”

She urges Canadians to get out and discover their vast country in their own way, to have fun and to remain “open, caring and engaged.”

“Wherever you are today, whether you’re in Canada or abroad, wear your maple leaf proudly. This is your celebration.”

The former astronaut says her first year as Governor General has been “quite a ride,” allowing her to meet exceptional Canadians from all origins as she travels around the country.