THETFORD MINES, QUEBEC – The Honourable Christian Paradis, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Mégantic--L’Érable, spoke by phone with Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada, to welcome her to the riding.

Although he was on his way by air to Saskatchewan, where he will be making an announcement as part of his ministerial duties, Mr. Paradis wished to speak to the Governor General as she visited city hall in Thetford Mines. Mr. Paradis also took the opportunity to tell Ms. Jean once again about the advantages of his region.

“As I did the first time that I met with Ms. Jean, I told her that the riding of Mégantic--L’Érable is one of the most beautiful in Quebec,” said Mr. Paradis. “Ms. Jean knows the region well, since this is where her family settled when they came to Canada.”

Minister Paradis added: “So I welcomed her home!”

The Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, visited Thetford Mines today, September 19, 2007, to take part in the swearing in of new Canadians.