It has a nice ring to it: Prime Minister Sir Stephen Harper. He might prefer to be made an earl but Canadians would have to check the Internet to find out if an earl was as important as a baronetcy. And it costs much less to honour Canadians with a title from the Queen than it does to make them a senator. We might as well go back to royal honours, since the Order of Canada is meaningless to most Canadians.
Stephen Harper is probably counting on it. After the famous argument between Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and publisher Conrad Black, Canadians probably concluded there was some law against Canadian citizens accepting foreign titles. There is no such law. There is nothing more than the 1919 Nickle Resolution of the Canadian parliament that has been ignored or enforced by various governments as they wished.
But there is a custom that has developed. As the late Kenneth Thomson so elegantly put it: “When in London, I am Lord Thomson of Fleet. When in Toronto, I am Ken.” It is the Canadian way.
Mr. Harper seems to be about to change that. After his government’s test to return the Canadian forces and regiments to their various “royal” designations, he has determined that nobody really gives a damn. Other than the feeble screams and rants of some bloggers and editorial writers, life has gone on. Maybe we ranters and screamers should have emphasized the ludicrous expense involved in this silly action but it is too late now. The dumb deed is done.
The feelers are now out again. The Prime Ministers’ Office is testing the waters. They are checking the optics, as they say. That arch enemy of Liberalism, Tom Flanagan, Stephen Harper’s sage adviser, is leaking to the media the possibilities of Stephen developing stronger ties for Canada with the monarchy. Another visit from the royals is planned for this year to follow up on the very successful honeymoon trip last year with Willy and Kate.
Heir apparent Charlie and his lovely bride Camilla will be visiting this year. Maybe they will bring greetings from the Queen and announce that henceforth royal rewards will once again be allowed for Canadians. Will Canadians be able to contain their excitement? Would they want to dispense with the foolishness of the monarchy when honours could be had? Will a Companion of the Order of Canada feel cheated? Will this writer be recognized as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire? Probably not!
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Copyright 2012 © Peter Lowry
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