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Can you love a union? I love CUPE.
Believe it or not, and I can say this in my present geriatric phase,
I was elected to the Ontario legislature exactly 50 years ago
almost simultaneous with the creation of CUPE.
And I have followed the union year after year for the 50 years.
I've followed the principled and imaginative leadership,
I've followed the determination of the membership,
I've followed the way in which you have fought off the reactionary
right-wing philistines and protected the membership
and expressed support for all
working people everywhere, and of course,
intense support for the delivery of public services.
And I've watched with a great deal of good feeling
your solidarity, with support for international
social issues and of course the
great collaboration with the New Democratic Party.
And I'd be remiss not to say to you how much I appreciate
the response to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
As a matter of fact, I love everything about the union.
Its ambition, its principle, its strength, its energy.
You verge on angelic perfection.
I pay you tribute, and like many others,
I wish you another 50 years.