Governor General praises tolerance, religious freedom in N.B. speech

Governor General Julie Payette, who faced criticism for a speech last week that some said mocked people of faith,
praised Canada's tolerance and freedom of religionTuesday.

She told the New Brunswick Legislature that Canada is in a fortunate position to be able to make a difference, because the country is rich in values.

"Our values are tolerance and determination, and freedom of religion, freedom to act, opportunities, equality of opportunities amongst everyone and for all," she said.

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The comments come a week after she criticized people who believein creationism and horoscopes and those who don't believe inclimate change.

Payette did not directly address the controversy over her earlierremarks, but the former astronaut spokeTuesdayabout seeing Canadafrom space without borders and talked of the need to work together.

"It is one planet and we all have a duty to protect it," she said. "We haveto work together. We have to use our power to work together and makedecisions and changes that are needed to preserve our world."

Payette'searlier comments came as the keynote speaker at theninth annual Canadian Science Policy Convention in Ottawa lastWednesday.

From astronaut to Governor General: Julie Payette's journey

7 years ago

Duration 2:57

From astronaut to Governor General: Julie Payette journeyed to space twice, but her next mission at Rideau Hall is expected to come with its own kind of challenges.

In that speech, she urged her friends and formercolleagues to take responsibility to shut down the misinformationabout everything from health and medicine to climate change and evenhoroscopes that has flourished with the explosion of digital media.

"Can you believe that still today in learned society, in housesof government, unfortunately, we're still debating and still
questioning whether humans have a role in the Earth warming up orwhether even the Earth is warming up, period," she asked.

"And we are still debating and still questioning whether life wasa divine intervention or whether it was coming out of a naturalprocess, let alone, oh my goodness, a random process."

Giggles from scientists

She generated giggles from the audiencewhen she said too many people still believe "taking a sugar pillwill cure cancer if you will it good enough, and that your future andevery single one of the people here's personalities can bedetermined by looking at planets coming in front of inventedconstellations."

Conservative political strategistAliseMills saidPayettewentway over the line with her speech, mockingpeople with religious beliefs, and specifically, evangelicalChristians who don't believe evolutionary science.

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn't seem to have any issuewith whatPayettesaid, saying his government and Canadiansunderstand the value of science.

In Fredericton on Tuesday,Payettemetwith Lt.-Gov.JocelyneRoyVienneauandPremier Brian Gallant before addressing the legislative assembly. She was officially welcomed with a21-gun salute.

Payette'svisit also included a tour of the Institute ofBiomedical Engineering's prosthetics labs at the University of New
Brunswick, and a visit to5thCanadian Division Support BaseGagetown.

She was scheduled to end her day by delivering remarks at areception hosted by Gallant at theBeaverbrookArt Gallery.

Payettewas sworn in as Canada's29thGovernor General onOct. 2.