Inventing historical differences is one of the upside-down
consequences of being a Canadian liberal and, at the same time, being against
integration with the world’s greatest liberal republic just next door. They are
also doubly burdened with the obligation of upholding Tory myths.
We’re not repelled by America’s mission statement: “Life, Liberty,
and the Pursuit of Happiness.” How could any Western liberal or contemporary
conservative? And, in truth, we’re not serious monarchists because we treat our
prime minister like a president. We simply have a separate mission statement of
our own.
“Peace, Order, and Good Government” came in our first
constitution in 1867. Popular mythology
teaches that it shrewdly reflects our relatively temperate ways. It’s flat on
purpose, our quiet offering to a reckless, foolish world.
Neil Reynolds of the Globe
and Mail, wonderfully, has no time for comfort food for Canadians of any
stripe. Yesterday, he brought to the attention of Globe readers the truth about what we thought we were all about:
“As a matter of historical fact,
it (peace, order, and good government) was imperial boilerplate that dated back
to the 1700s – more than a century before it made its way into Canada’s
constitution, the British North America Act, in 1867. Aside from Canada, this
ubiquitous phrase turned up in the colonial constitutions of Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa and Ireland – and of lesser British territorial domains.
It is as uniquely Canadian as kippers.
“As used in Section 91 of the BNA
Act, the phrase merely confirmed Queen Victoria’s right – through Parliament –
to govern: “It shall be lawful for the Queen … to make laws for the peace,
order and good government of Canada.”
Sorry.
POGG is in Canada’s constitution because busy English legal draftsmen
put it there. It’s not a North American
idea. As such, it’s a feeble symbol to use to uphold Canada’s independence.
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