Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the repatriation of our Canadian Constitution (which includes Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedom). Mr. Harper overlooked the 25th anniversary (given the benefit of the doubt because his government was new/inexperienced.) Yet yesterday, once again the anniversary date was overlooked (a press release doesn't cut it.) Why? (As a point of pride, the 1997 South African Constitution promulgated by Nelson Mandela, was framed on our 1982 document. In 2001, another Calgary Reform MP voted against making Nelson Mandela an honorary citizen of Canada). Anti-Liberal pique? Sadly not, Harper dislikes anything "Before/Not Harper." The fiftieth anniversary of Diefenbaker's "Bill of Rights" was snubbed back in August 2010. Why is it not a surprise Mr. Harper ordered removal of previous Progressive Conservative Prime Ministerial portraits, from Sir John A. MacDonald to Brian Mulroney from the Parliamentary Conservative caucus rooms in order to replace them with his own photographs. The minority government of Lester Pearson convinced Parliamentarians to remove "Royal" from the Canadian military. This was not an anti-monarchist spite. It was a declaration to our role around the world, that we were an independent country, not a colony of Great Britain. Mr. Harper reversed this, without debate. Great idea? Two words: King Charles. So what's next? Expatriate the Canadian Constitution back to Westminster? Re-introduce the Royal Ensign in place of the Canadian Maple Leaf? Debates? "Suck it up buttercup, we won."If any Liberal Prime Minister had ever refused to celebrate Canada Day because a Conservative Prime Minister signed us into Confederation, the national press would have gone ballistic. Yesterday, barely even a peep. This is beyond small-town cheap.
