Listen Up! Proud to be Canadian, eh? | Commentary

I am writing this commentary on Canada Day and as I do so, I am reminded of quotes from three previous prime ministers who reflected on the greatness of Canada and its challenges. They all have something to say to us. 

Sir John A. Macdonald is Canada’s first Prime Minister and one of our Founding Fathers. He played a key role in the formation of Canada. He united the country by building a railroad from coast to coast. He established the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunners of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. My great-grandfather was one of them.

While Macdonald has much to be held accountable for in relation to Indigenous residential schools, they were in place before Macdonald became prime minister and during his time in office, attendance at residential schools was voluntary and not obligatory. It was not until many years later that attendance sadly became mandatory. Under our present inclination of cancel culture, few Canadians are aware of this.

But about Canada, John A. Macdonald said this: ”We are a great country and shall become one of the greatest in the universe if we preserve it; we shall sink into insignificance and adversity if we suffer it to be broken.”

John Diefenbaker was Canada’s 13^th prime minister. He brought about the Canadian Bill of Rights. He appointed Ellen Fairclough as the first woman member of the Canadian Cabinet and James Gladstone as the first Indigenous member of the Senate. He granted the right to vote to First Nations and Inuit people.  

Here is how John Diefenbaker described Canada: “I am Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”

The 15^th prime minister of Canada was Pierre Elliott Trudeau. He was a colourful character both on the national and international stage. Although a francophone from Quebec, he was a passionate Canadian. He invoked the War Measures Act when it was needed to put down rebellion in Quebec. He mandated national unity over the Quebec sovereignty movement. He decriminalized same-sex relationships, and he legalized abortion. He patriated Canada’s Constitution, and he established the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

This is what Pierre Elliott Trudeau said about Canada: “A country, after all, is not something you build as the pharaohs built the pyramids and then leave standing there to defy eternity. A country is something that is built every day out of certain basic shared values.”

No doubt, there are those that will have something much less flattering to say about each of these Canadian leaders. We seem to have a penchant for finding fault and dwelling on what has gone wrong in our society, rather than what has gone right. But on this Canada Day weekend I want to focus on the positive, something I think we do not do often enough.

Canada is indeed a great country, one envied in many parts of the world. Obviously, we have our warts but is there any place you would rather call home? 

As I reflect on these three quotes from Canadian leaders, I see a unifying thread even though the content is different. All of them see Canada as a great country. Each of them has contributed to its growth and relevance in the world. 

Pierre Trudeau recognized that nations like Canada evolve. They do not stand still. Priorities and the way things are done change over the years, and Canadians change with them.

Like Pierre Trudeau, John Diefenbaker was a strong advocate for Canadian unity. He also fiercely promoted freedom as a core value for Canadians, freedom of movement, and freedom to say what is on our minds without fear of retribution. He also promoted equality for all who live here.

John A. Macdonald was a key architect in the creation of Canada. He believed in its greatness and in its potential. But he also gave a warning, which is relevant in this age, and that is that we sink into irrelevance and adversity if we suffer Canada to be broken. 

I am one who does not believe Canada is broken. In my view, it is not even bent. But we must be careful not to move in that direction. Of course, we have challenges. Some of them are significant. As well, new priorities are emerging as Canada grows and changes. 

But at the bottom of all of this is a strong country, capable of meeting its challenges, embracing meaningful and appropriate change, and standing strongly together for a free and compassionate society.

I am proud to be a Canadian. I am not ashamed of my country. I firmly believe we have the ability, the courage, and the resources to meet any challenge that faces us; to speak out when we feel we need to, to be respectful of other people’s views, and to be united in keeping Canada at the forefront of international respect. We just have to work at it. 

It is also important to note, I think, that within the last week, Canada’s population has reached forty million people, a small but mighty force!  As we grow, our diversity grows and that I think is a good thing. I believe it makes Canada stronger and increases the need for tolerance, understanding, and respect. 

I celebrate diversity. As a father with an Indigenous daughter, and at least two of my extended family members in same-sex relationships, and others from different cultures, I know that diversity has made me richer in spirit, sharpened my perspective, and hopefully made me a better person.

So, on this Canada Day weekend, let us celebrate what is good about our country, be thankful for those who are making Canada better, and let us also cherish our freedom and our democracy.

In Huntsville this weekend, community leaders are continuing a tradition started years ago by Coldwell Banker and Thompson Real Estate of leaving a small Canadian flag at thousands of homes in our community.

What a great way to celebrate our country, eh?

Hugh Mackenzie

Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.

Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.

In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.

Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.

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