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Survival itself is an accomplish–
ment for a democratic society span–
ning a giant continent, where a
small population earns its living in
a north temperate-arctic climate.
lt
is
rw
lcss an achievement cons ider–
ing that multicultural Canada bor–
ders on a military and economic
colossus to the south .
For these reasons, Canada's best
writers and thinkers sense that her
national experience is significant for
the world as a whole. Canada's
enduring test of nationhood is a
remarkable triumph of Aexibility,
moderation and common sense. The
Canadian story is well worth the tell–
ing:
l f
Canada with all its diversity
can survive and Aourish, her his tori–
ans ask, why not mankind?
Firs t, let's tackle the cherished
myths.
The Real Canada
Canadians and Americans,
whi le setti ng the best
example of neighborliness
an d f ri end sh ip in t he
world, are not identical.
Canada's founders were
French. To this day 1 out
of 4 Canadians is of proud
French s tock. Canada's
largest city, Montreal, is
the major French-speak–
ing community outside
París. Many Bri tish Cana–
dians descend from the
United Emp ire Loyal–
ists- refugees from the
American Revolution. These loy! l–
ists chose the harsh wilderness and
the British con nection over a repub–
lican system. No indecisiveness
here.
Queen Elizabeth
ll,
the titular
head of s tate, is Queen of Canada,
yes, but on ly in the sense that she is
Queen of Australia and of New
Zealand as well. The Queen reigns
but does not rule. And she reigns
by the consent of most Canadians.
l t works like this: In Canada, as
in Britain, the power and the g lory
are separate. The monarchy is rep–
resented in Canada by the Gover–
nor General, whve the Prime Min–
ister and his cabinet run the day–
to-day affai rs of the country.
Most Canadians feel this is a
convcnicnt a rrangement. Politi–
cians- the good , the bad a nd the
mediocre-come and go, accounta-
12
ble to the ballot box, while the he–
reditary monarc h stands above
elections, recessions, depressions
and wars as an e nduring symbol of
national unity.
Any serious study reveals that
Canada's monarchy is no after–
thought or irrelevant relic, but an
organic part of the parliamentary
system.
Socialist governments? The
province of Saskatchewan elected
the first socialist government in the
Wes tern Hemisphere in 1944.
True, the new Democratic Party,
one of three major Canadian par–
ties, is definitely left of center. But
Canadian socialism draws on the
cooperative movement, rather than
the Soviet Union, for inspiration.
Example: One prominent socialist,
ex- Premier Allan E. Blakeney of
Saskatchewan , is also a longtime
member of the Canadian Monar–
chist League.
Canada and NATO? Even Third
World superstar Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau is now calling for a
st ronger Western alliance. Few of
Canada's critics have heard of the
North American Aerospace Defense
Command (NORAD) , the joint
Canadian-American venture in con–
tinental defenses. NORAD, head–
quartered in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, is ajoint Canadian-Amer–
ican venture. Historically, Canada's
commitment to the defense of the
West is sealed in blood.
From the Crimean War to the
Korean conflict, Canadians have
not flinched from paying the price
of freedom as thcy saw it. Her
1,642 casualties in Korea were next
only to America's and Britain's.
The Second Canadian Divis ion in
World War
li
stormed the beaches
of Normandy with their Anglo–
American cousins. And who can
fo rget the "Canadi an caper" in
Iran , the spiriting away of six
American embassy personnel from
Tehran in February 1980? A forc–
ible reminder of where Canadians
stand in the crunch!
Disputes over acid rain and U.S.
investments in Canadian firms paJe
before the ultimate fact: Thc
world's longes t undefended border
runs between Canada and t he
United States.
ls thc Confederation of 1867 col–
lapsing? The re is no s idestepping
the truth : Canada is in grave peril
The
PLAIN
TRUTH