Celebrating
Canadian Milestones
By
Françoise Boivin, M.P. for Gatineau, Québec
On
July 1st, Canadians celebrated our country’s 138th
birthday. Canada Day is always a cause for proud reflection, and
particularly so this year.
Several
key celebrations are marked by 2005 - the 25th anniversary of
our national anthem, the first Maple Leaf flag to fly atop the Peace Tower
on Parliament Hill came home in time to celebrate its 40th
anniversary and the 20th anniversary of our country’s Charter
of Rights and Freedoms has been made particularly poignant with the
passage of the Liberal government’s Marriage for Civil Purposes Act.
‘O
Canada’ was officially proclaimed our national anthem 25 years ago on
July 1, 1980. It originally debuted in 1880 in Quebec City, and went
through years of changes before everyone finally settled on today’s
version. The song very aptly reflects our diverse country, as “with
glowing hearts, we see thee rise.”
History
also came home this Canada Day with the return of the first official Maple
Leaf flag from Belgium. After its unveiling by former Prime Minister
Lester B. Pearson in 1965, the flag had gone missing, and was subsequently
found this year in Brussels. It had been in the possession of the wife of
the late Senator Lucien Lamoureux. It was proudly presented to Prime
Minister Paul Martin on Parliament Hill at this year’s Canada Day
celebrations.
Canada’s
Charter of Rights and Freedoms is now 20 years old and continues to
represent the fact that a government can not, and should not, pick and
choose whose rights it will defend and whose rights it will ignore. If the
fundamental rights of one minority can be denied, so potentially can those
of others. A recent example of this protection that adds to the history of
equality rights in this country is the new bill that extends the right to
civil marriage to same-sex couples, while ensuring religious freedoms are
protected.
It
is extremely important to remember that civil marriage of same-sex couples
is indeed about civil – not religious – marriage. The Supreme Court of
Canada has confirmed in its decisions that no church, synagogue, mosque or
temple is going to be forced to go against its traditions and perform
marriages that are not in accordance with its religious beliefs.
This
bill will promote a society that advocates respect and understanding,
rather than the marginalization and segregation of its citizens. It is
also an affirmation of Canada’s commitment to protecting minority rights
and guaranteeing equality for all. In eight of Canada’s provinces and in
one territory, same-sex couples are already allowed to marry by provincial
law. The legislation passed by the House of Commons on June 28, 2005,
simply extends this right to all Canadians no matter where they live. The
Liberal government has re-affirmed this protection in its legislation.
The bill truly respects and defends the
Charter rights of all Canadians.
Whether
we’re talking about native Canadians whose descendents share in this
history, or new Canadians who are making history right now, we should all
be proud to be a part of this uniquely great country.
