Madam Speaker, before I begin I would like to give my deepest condolences on behalf of the constituents of Sturgeon River—Parkland for those lost at James Smith Cree Nation. Sturgeon River—Parkland is home to many first nations and Métis people, including the Enoch Cree Nation and the Alexander First Nation. I know that the events that took place in Saskatchewan have hit all of my constituents, particularly in those communities, very hard.

I also wish to, on behalf of the constituents of Sturgeon River—Parkland, pay my respects to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and give my condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and his family on their loss.

Queen Elizabeth is the only monarch I have ever known and the only monarch that most Canadians have lived under. The Queen has touched all of our lives in so many ways, not only because of her many visits to this country or because her portrait hangs on our walls or because her image is stamped on our currency. Most significantly, she has touched all of us through her character and her life of service to the Commonwealth.

In a rapidly changing world, we have seen so many traditions go by the wayside. The world is a far different place than it was back in 1952 when Her Majesty ascended the throne. While many of those changes have been for the betterment of humankind, I think some could be forgiven for feeling a sense of confusion about their place in the world and how things should be. That is one reason why the reign of Her Majesty these past seven decades has been such a source of strength for so many. If someone were to have travelled in time from 1952 to the present day, they may be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of societal change but comforted by the ever-present foundation of our constitutional monarchy, which was embodied in Her Majesty and has remained unchanged through all this time.

Her Majesty was a good Queen. She left the institution intact and, if anything, increased the prestige of the monarchy during a time when many countries have radically changed their systems of government, often to the detriment of their citizens. She was someone that we could look to as above the common politics of our day to day, someone who carried a legacy stretching back through the hundreds of years of our shared history to our present day.

As we see the continuation of that legacy through the accession of King Charles III to the throne, I believe that we can feel assured that the future of our constitutional monarchy and our country and Commonwealth are in good hands. We can feel confident that we have a King who, like his mother, our dear late Queen, exemplified a commitment to a lifetime of service to his people.

In closing, I am proud to have been a subject of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and I reaffirm my oath, both given as a member of Parliament and as an officer in Canada's armed forces, to bear true allegiance to her heirs and successors.

May His Majesty's rule, with the grace of God, continue to be a blessing to our country. God save the King.

Dane Lloyd

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