Not that Canadians would have noticed. It was an historic moment for Barbadians. Barbados became a republic the other day. Prince Charles was there to say ‘goodbye.’ It was all very civilized. And, of course, the island country will continue to participate in the Commonwealth.
But what was wrong with this major step in Barbadian history was that it was all decided by the politicians without full participation by the people. They had been talking about becoming a republic for the past 50 years.
Compared to Canada, Barbados and other island nations have far less trouble with severing ties with the British monarchy. They do not have the complexity of being a nation of different colonies uniting in a confederation of states. Canada’s constitution locks the nation in conflict between its provinces over their various responsibilities and the small-mindedness of the politicians.
Canada needs to address the questions of its nationhood from the bottom up. It has to start with a constitutional parliament. This would be a parliament of citizens elected in their respective federal electoral districts on a non-partisan basis. It might start by developing a vision of what Canada should become and then plan on how to get there. The only proviso is that whatever the parliament decides, has to be approved in a referendum by the Canadian people.
There are many who would fight this suggested path. They are the small minded of the provinces. They are federal politicians with their own agendas. They are those who instinctively fight against change. There are even those who like having a privileged monarchy.
But Canada has never had the opportunity to decide on its own destiny. Of course, it is easier for smaller countries throughout the Commonwealth to make these decisions but Canada is due. We have come a long way from our original French and English origins. We have welcomed people from the world. We are long past the point when we should have made better arrangements with our aboriginal peoples. It is our country’s future that is at stake.
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Copyright 2021 © Peter Lowry
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