May 22, 1951 (21st Parliament, 4th Session)

Mr. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to join with the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) in expressing gratification that the plan, which I believe is to be regarded as the final plan, has been presented to the commission and forwarded by the commission to this house for consideration. As the Prime Minister has indicated, the efforts of those who have served on this- commission so unselfishly and so faithfully is evidence of that very citizenship which we are seeking to impress upon the minds of all Canadians at this particular time. It is one of those contributions that men and women can make in the furtherance of their own national developments, which has been done so well in this case.
To those who are visiting the parliament buildings there is now an opportunity to see something of what those plans will mean, interpreted in the actual form that they are intended to take. May I suggest, however, that these plans should not be regarded as providing only a beautiful community which will house the buildings in which the business of the nation is done, but also as being directed to the beautification of a city which

National Capital Plan to all Canadians is the capital of a nation which is assuming increasing importance in the world.
In every country, the capital city is something more than just a city. In a way it is an expression of the loyalties, the hopes and the expectations of the future. To the people of the United Kingdom, London is no mere city. It is the home of all that they cherish in the form of the great traditions of that nation with which we have been and will continue to be so closely associated. So it is with Paris, and with all the memories of the pride and glory of that other nation with which we have such deep and affectionate ties. So it is with Italy, where Rome holds the memories of their greatness in the past and their hopes for the future. So it is with every nation.
As we accept these plans, and as we have an opportunity to consider them, I hope there will be in the minds of all of us the belief that in the years ahead Ottawa is to be the capital of a nation of increasing importance which will give to all its people reason for pride in calling this their capital city.