This Wednesday, February 15th, Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast celebrated National Flag of Canada Day. National Flag of Canada Day was first declared 16 years ago, in 1996, to mark the date in 1965 when Canada’s red and white maple leaf flag was first raised, not only at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, but in hundreds of communities across the country. His Majesty the King George V designated red and white as Canada’s official colours in 1921.

On February 15th, 1965, when our current flag was first raised, then-prime minister Lester B. Pearson declared that, “… this day, the 15th day of February 1965, will always be remembered as a milestone in Canada’s national progress.” It certainly will be.

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society was pleased to mark this week’s celebration of a key moment in our nation’s history. We hope that Canada’s flag will be celebrated for many years to come.

Today, February 6th 2012, marks the 60th anniversary of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. This momentous occasion will be the focus of a year-long Diamond Jubilee celebration in Canada, which will be kicked off this week by, among other things, the dedication of a stained-glass artwork at the Parliament Buildings. To mark the occasion, His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, along with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, launched the Jubilee Medals in a ceremony at Rideau Hall this morning. The inaugural 60 Diamond Jubilee Medals were presented to 60 “outstanding citizens” — one medal for each year of the Queen’s reign. The Peace Tower will also be flying the Jubilee flag for the entire week.

Furthermore, as a part of this year-round celebration, the federal government has set aside a $7.5 million budget for Jubilee projects to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. This money will be used mainly for Jubilee medal presentations, which will be held throughout the year in Ottawa and our provincial capitals.

As it is part of the Macdonald-Cartier Society’s mission to educate young people about our public institutions which include the Canadian crown, Parliament’s relationship with the Queen, and our country being a constitutional monarchy, we look forward to celebrating this great moment in Canadian and Commonwealth history. Queen Elizabeth II has had an involved relationship with Canada since taking the throne on February 6th, 1952. For instance, in 1957 she became the first monarch to preside over an opening of our Parliament. She proclaimed the opening of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, and declared the enactment of the Constitution Act in 1982. In all, she has toured Canada over twenty times during her reign.
While the Queen herself will not be visiting Canada this year, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be conducting a Royal Tour of New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Ontario this May. The Macdonald-Cartier Society will be closely following the tour as it happens.

On a related note, the Ottawa branch of the Monarchist League of Canada will be hosting Immigration and Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney at the University of Ottawa this Tuesday, February 7th, at 6:30 PM for a discussion of the monarchy’s importance in Canada. Macdonald-Cartier Society founder and executive director Immanuel Giulea will be in the crowd at this event, and had the following to say about his attendance: “This is an extremely important topic for discussion, and I look forward to seeing how the Monarchist League of Canada and Jason Kenney present the monarchy’s role in Canadian society.”

For more information about the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals

Statement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper about the Diamond Jubilee Medals

Original CTV footage of Queen Elizabeth II from 1970 to her latest visit to Canada in 2010

Diamond Jubilee Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

On Tuesday January 24th, representatives of First Nations communities met with officials from the federal government, in an historic Crown-First Nations Gathering. Among others, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor-General David Johnston, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan, and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo were in attendance.

The theme of the gathering was “Strengthening Our Relationship–Unlocking Our Potential,” and it was meant to provide, in Minister Duncan’s words, “an opportunity for a practical and frank discussion on how we can work together to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity of First Nations in Canada.”

An excerpt from a statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the gathering:

“John George Diefenbaker was, in many ways, the initiator of the modern era of Crown – First Nations relations. It was he who named the first First Nations member to the Parliament of Canada, Senator James Gladstone in 1958. And, it was he who, two years later, extended to aboriginal Canadians living on reserves the right to vote in national elections. In addressing that long-standing and fundamental injustice, he was a man ahead of his time and in many ways, an apt inspiration for today’s proceedings. [...] It is in no small part the vision and conception of the National Chief that has led to this gathering today, and I know we all congratulate him for that leadership.”

National Chief Shawn Atleo had the following to say in his closing remarks on Tuesday:

“Today was an important day in advancing our call to “renew” the relationship between First Nations and Canada. I thank the Prime Minister and all of the Cabinet for being here with us throughout the day as well as the important Regional Roundtable yesterday … these are critical opportunities to be heard and to begin the dialogue needed. [...] First Nations demonstrated that today: we have the answers. We are the prime movers in change and we must be full partners in this important work. We will settle for nothing less.”

The Macdonald-Cartier Society closely followed the meeting as it developed. During the meeting on Tuesday, SMCS Founder Immanuel Giulea stated that:

“In light of recent events such as the Attawapiskat crisis, the expectations for this Gathering are quite high. All my hopes are that the meeting today is the first step to finally completing Confederation, 145 years after the process was started in 1867. I agree with Mark Starowicz who recently wrote in the Globe and Mail that ”The Confederation project is incomplete. As we approach our 150th anniversary as a nation, and as we prepare to celebrate who we are, there’s still time to imagine who we could become.”

After the meeting, Giulea said,

“We at the Macdonald Cartier Society see the Gathering of this week as a concrete step forward to improve Crown-First Nations relations in Canada. We hope that the partners in the Crown-First Nations Gathering will maintain the relationship through an ongoing dialogue that outlines clear goals and measures of progress and success and that the commitment to work together and release a progress report in January 2013 will be followed on. The Society looks forward to working with First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and Innu youth as we develop our programs in the future, and hearing their visions of tomorrow’s Canada.”

Since 8:30am this morning, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is participating in the much-anticipated Crown-First Nations Gathering, which is meant to bring together representatives of both the federal government and First Nations in order to provide, in the words of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan, “an opportunity for a practical and frank discussion on how we can work together to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity of First Nations in Canada.” (The rest of John Duncan’s statement can be read here).

Along with Prime Minister Harper and Minister Duncan, Governor-General David Johnston and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo are also attending this Crown-First Nations Gathering, which is being held at the John. G Diefenbaker Building on Sussex Drive, in Ottawa.

The Macdonald-Cartier Society has been closely following this meeting as it develops. SMCS’ Founder, Immanuel Giulea said this morning,

“In light of recent events such as the Attawapiskat crisis, the expectations for this Gathering are quite high. All my hopes are that the meeting today is the first step to finally completing Confederation, 145 years after the process was started in 1867. I agree with Mark Starowicz who recently wrote in the Globe and Mail that ‎”The Confederation project is incomplete. As we approach our 150th anniversary as a nation, and as we prepare to celebrate who we are, there’s still time to imagine who we could become.”

Yesterday, Senior Adviser Joseph Quesnel was interviewed on the Sun News Network about his views on the Crown-First Nations Gathering. His interview can be seen here:
Joseph Quesnel on Sun News

A more complete reaction will follow after the meeting concludes this afternoon.

What a year 2011 has been.

Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister was born on January 10th 1815 in Glasgow, Scotland around 4pm.

We are now just 3 years away from his bicentennial. Sir John A. deserves a big party for his 200th !!

That doesn’t mean Cartier won’t be jealous for his 200th birthday on September 6, 2014, so let’s not forget about him !!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Organization Celebrates 2-Year Anniversary

Youth-led Organization Begins Third Year with Growing Role in Public Discourse

MONTREAL, QC. November 2, 2011 – Today the Société Macdonald-Cartier Society celebrates two years as an organization promoting the education of young leaders about history, heritage and culture while encouraging greater civic literacy in our youth.

The Society’s second anniversary comes as a major organizational project, Save Wellington Street, comes to a close after attaining its goal of preserving the name of the historic street. Entering its third year, the organization hopes to focus its energies on new projects such as a campaign to restore the LaFontaine House in Montreal, support for celebrations of the bicentennial of Sir George-Étienne Cartier’s birth in September 2014, Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth in January 2015, and the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.

Society founder Immanuel Giulea commented on the anniversary, stating, “It has been a tremendous honour to lead our organization over the past two years. I have met countless people from all walks of life united in their commitment to strengthening our public discourse and civic literacy as a country. As an organization we share these goals and are excited to continue to highlight heritage, culture and civic literacy amongst youth as we begin our third year.”

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society would like to extend its thanks for all the public support the organization has received over the last two years and the Society will continue to show its commitment to the education and engagement of Canada’s youth in the years to come.

– 30 –

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society is one of Canada’s most dynamic youth-led non-profit organizations. Its mandate is to educate young leaders about Canadian history, heritage and culture; increase their level of civic literacy; and bring their voices and ideas to the nation’s public policy discourse.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Immanuel Giulea, Founder and Executive Director, at immanuel@macdonaldcartier.org or 514-577-2669.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dave Meslin, Joseph Quesnel Join the Société Macdonald-Cartier Society

Organization welcomes two more senior advisors to its ranks

MONTREAL, QC. November 1, 2011 – The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society is honoured to welcome Joseph Quesnel and Dave Meslin to the organization to act as senior advisors.

Dave Meslin is a Toronto-based activist, community organizer and professional rabble-rouser. He is fiercely optimistic and embraces ideas and projects that cut across traditional boundaries between grassroots and electoral politics as well as the arts community.

Meslin is best known for his role during the 2006 City Idol contest; as co-editor of Local Motion, a book about civic projects and engagement in Toronto; Dandyhorse, Toronto’s first urban cycling magazine; and Spacing, an award-winning urban affairs publication. Most recently, he founded the Ranked Ballot Initiative of Toronto (RaBIT). Meslin’s online writings can be found at his blog, Mez Dispenser.

Joseph Quesnel has a Bachelor degree from McGill University with majors in political science and history. He specialized in Canadian and American politics with an emphasis on constitutional law. He is completing a Master of Journalism degree at Carleton University with specialization in political reporting. Quesnel covered House standing committees and Senate committees for two years following his graduation from Carleton. He completed internships at CFRA 580 AM, a talk radio station in Ottawa, and the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC).

Currently, Joseph works as a policy analyst at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy where he focuses on Aboriginal matters and property rights. He is based in Lethbridge, Alberta, is originally from Sudbury, Ontario, and is of Métis ancestry from Québec.

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society is pleased to count both Dave Meslin and Joseph Quesnel among our closest advisors. We look forward to working with them and gaining valuable insight from their leadership and experience.

– 30 –

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society is one of Canada’s most dynamic youth-led non-profit organizations. Its mandate is to educate young leaders about Canadian history, heritage and culture; increase their level of civic literacy; and bring their voices and ideas to the nation’s public policy discourse.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Immanuel Giulea, Founder and Executive Director, at immanuel@macdonaldcartier.org or 514-577-2669.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alastair Sweeny and Nick Brune Join the Société Macdonald-Cartier Society

Organization proud to welcome two senior advisors to its ranks

MONTREAL, QC. October 31, 2011 – The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society is honoured to officially announce Alastair Sweeny and Nick Brune will act as senior advisors to the organization. Sweeny and Brune have provided advice on the strategic direction of the organization for over a year.

Alastair Sweeny PhD is a Canadian historian, biographer, author and publisher with forty years of experience. He received an Honours Bachelor degree from Trinity College (University of Toronto), and an MLitt and PhD from Trinity College, Dublin. Alastair has managed research programs in addition to producing reference and learning materials with many leading private and public sector organizations. In 1977, Alastair was an adviser to the Pepin-Robarts Commission (Task Force on National Unity).

Alastair is best known for his biography of George-Étienne Cartier and recent books such CanQuiz (2002), BlackBerry Planet (2008) and Black Bonanza (2010). He is also author, co-author and producer of a number of educational portals that serve as student resources on civics, history, democracy, Canada’s first nations, John A. Macdonald, and George-Etienne Cartier.

Currently, Alastair is the Executive Director of The Civics Channel, a partner of the Macdonald-Cartier Society. He is completing a book on the War of 1812, Fire Along the Frontier (2012).

Nick Brune, BA , MA , BEd is an award-winning Canadian historian, teacher and author. He received an Honours Bachelor degree in History and Political Science and a Master in History from the University of Toronto. Nick has won both the Marshall McLuhan Distinguished Teacher Award (1992) and the Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History (2002). His teaching experience spans more than twenty years in Switzerland, Korea and Canada.

Nick is a passionate educator, a fact reflected in the dozen books, textbooks and educational resources he has authored, co-edited or produced, on Canadian history and civics. He has worked for a number of different organizations including The Dominion Institute, ALPHA, Classroom Connections, and the CBC.

Nick is currently the lead writer with The Civics Channel, a partner of the Macdonald-Cartier Society, and holds faculty advisor and instructor positions at UWO’s Faculty of Education. His most recent book, The Story of Canada, was published in August 2011 with Carlton Publishing Group.

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society is pleased to count both Alastair Sweeny and Nick Brune among our closest advisors. We look forward to working with them and gaining valuable insight from their leadership and experience.

– 30 –

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society is one of Canada’s most dynamic youth-led non-profit organizations. Its mandate is to educate young leaders about Canadian history, heritage and culture; increase their level of civic literacy; and bring their voices and ideas to the nation’s public policy discourse.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Immanuel Giulea, Founder and Executive Director, at immanuel@macdonaldcartier.org or 514-577-2669.

October 30, 2011

Statement on Supreme Court appointments

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society welcomes the appointments of Justice Michael J. Moldaver and Madam Justice Andromache Karakatsanis to the Supreme Court of Canada. The announcement was made on October 21st by Prime Minister Stephen Harper who said, “Justice Moldaver and Justice Karakatsanis are both highly intelligent, greatly experienced and eminently qualified for their new roles as Supreme Court justices [...] I have every confidence both justices will serve all Canadians faithfully and with distinction.”

In reaction to the announcement, The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada said, “Justices Moldaver and Karakatsanis are extraordinary jurists and accomplished judges”. She added, “They both possess a wealth of experience in diverse areas and will bring their considerable ability, wisdom and judgment to the Supreme Court of Canada. My colleagues and I very much look forward to working with them.”

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced that his government was nominating Justice Moldaver and Justice Karakatsanis as the nominees to replace departing Supreme Court Justices Ian Binnie and Louise Charron. Both nominees appeared before an ad hoc government committee to answer questions from Members of Parliament last week.

On October 27, Justices Moldaver and Karakatsanis, who both sat as judges of the Ontario Court of Appeal, were sworn in as justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, at a private ceremony.

The official welcome ceremony for Justices Moldaver and Karakatsanis will take place at 10:00 a.m., on November 14, 2011, in the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Canada. On this occasion, it is expected that there will be remarks by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, and representatives of the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

Statement on the nomination of Canada’s next Auditor General

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society welcomes the nomination of Michael Ferguson as Canada’s next Auditor General. The announcement was made on October 24 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper who stated that: “Our Government is committed to accountability. I am confident that Michael Ferguson will provide an independent check to ensure that taxpayers’ dollars are being used effectively [...] He will bring a deep understanding of the role of an Auditor General, the relationship to Parliament and government, as well as the independence of mind required of an auditor. I am pleased that he has agreed to be nominated for this important role.”

Michael Ferguson was New Brunswick’s Auditor General from 2005 to 2010, and currently serves as Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary of the Board of Management for New Brunswick. He also worked for New Brunswick’s Office of the Comptroller General for over twenty years, five of which he spent as Comptroller.

According to the Auditor General Act, the appointment of a new Auditor General needs to be approved by a resolution from the House of Commons and the Senate. The government will also be tabling the Prime Minister’s nomination for referral to a Standing Committee, as per Standing Order 111.1.

Mr. Ferguson will appear before the House’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts on October 31, and before the Senate convened in Committee of the Whole on November 1.

Statement on the Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine House in Montreal

The Societe Macdonald-Cartier Society welcomes the news that the new owner of the Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine house in Montreal, QC, Kheng Ly, is “open to exploring ways to preserve the mansion and part of its grounds,” according to a report from the Montreal Gazette. Ly and his associates paid $28 million for the 140,000-square-foot site, part of which is where the house is located.

According to John Ralston Saul, who wrote a biography of La Fontaine called Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine and Robert Baldwin in 2010, the La Fontaine house ” is one of the most important historic buildings in Canada, period [...] It’s not simply that this was La Fontaine’s house. This is the house when he became the first prime minister of a democratic Canada.” Heritage Montreal policy director Dinu Bumbaru, who was among those who met with Kheng Ly and his architect earlier this month to discuss the future of the La Fontaine house, describes the building as “a national birthplace.”

It is encouraging that Mr. Ly is willing to take steps to preserve such a piece of our nation’s history. Marian Scott interviewed both Saul and Bumbaru for the Montreal Gazette. Of Ly, Bumbaru said “They would like it to become a lively place” and added “[t]his (the La Fontaine house) would lend a certain prestige for their project”. Of the house, Saul said, “Its historic role is absolutely clear” and added “I think it should be a museum. A museum about the birth of democracy in Canada, why not?”.

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society sincerely hopes that the La Fontaine house is successfully restored and will make an announcement to this effect shortly.

For more information, please refer to the Montreal Gazette article here: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Louis+Hippolyte+Fontaine+home+Hope+grows+national+landmark/5592791/story.html

October 20, 2011

The Macdonald-Cartier Society welcomes the announcement that Justice Andromache Karakatsanis and Justice Michael J. Moldaver, two experienced judges, are the nominees who will be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Once confirmed, Justices Karakatsanis and Moldaver will return the bench to its full membership of nine sitting judges.

“Madam Justice Karakatsanis and Mr. Justice Moldaver are exceptional candidates who have the skills and qualifications necessary to serve Canadians as judges of the Supreme Court of Canada”, said Prime Minister Stephen Harper when making the announcement.

On Wednesday, October 19, both nominees appeared before an ad hoc parliamentary committee to answer questions from Members of Parliament. During their appearance before the committee, both nominees cited the Constitution and the Charter, and commented on their perception of the roles of parliamentarians and elected officials when compared to the role of judges.

Justice Moldaver, a former Ontario Court of Appeal judge, said, “Under the rule of law, it is not our function to create laws, nor do we have the right to direct governments on matters of policy. Under the Constitution, we have been given the authority to determine the legality of laws passed by Parliament and the legislatures.” He continued by saying, “In fulfilling that role, we must never lose sight of the fact that we are being asked to strike down laws that had been enacted by a democratically elected majority of parliamentarians. The need for caution and restraint in these circumstances is self-evident, but the ramifications of our decisions must never prevent us from acting fearlessly in accordance with the mandate we have been given.”

Justice Karakatsanis said, “Parliament has given judges the awesome responsibility to ensure that government acts in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, but we do so with respect, recognizing that it is the responsibility of elected officials to make the difficult public policy decisions and make the difficult decisions on how to spend public funds”.

This May, when The Hon. Mr. Justice Ian Binnie and The Hon. Madam Justice Louise Charron announced their retirement, the Macdonald-Cartier Society stated that “[t]he appointment of two new judges to the bench of the Supreme Court of Canada offers a unique opportunity to once again consider key reforms that have been tabled in the past. Some of these reforms include the appointment of bilingual judges, the review of appointees by a committee of the House of Commons, input from the provinces, and the possibility of the first aboriginal judge being named.”

The Société Macdonald-Cartier Society remains committed to making an important contribution to the much-needed conversation about the future and possible reform of the Supreme Court of Canada.

***

The current three-steps appointment process is as follows:

First, a pool of qualified candidates for appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada is selected. The Minister of Justice and federal Attorney General consult with the Attorney General of Ontario, senior members of the Canadian judiciary, and prominent legal organizations to develop this pool, and members of the public are also invited to submit their input with respect to qualified candidates who merit consideration.

Second, the list of qualified candidates is reviewed by the Supreme Court of Canada Appointments Selection Panel. This selection panel is composed of five Members of Parliament, (3 MPs from the Government caucus and 1 MP from each of the recognized Opposition caucuses) and is responsible for assessing the candidates and providing an un-ranked list of six qualified people to the Prime Minister of Canada and the Minister of Justice for their consideration.

Third, the two selected nominees appear at a public hearing under the purview of an ad hoc parliamentary committee to answer questions from Members of Parliament. This process was first established for the appointment of the Honourable Mr. Justice Marshall E. Rothstein in 2006.

***

About the nominees:

Mr. Justice Michael J. Moldaver was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1973, appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1985, and appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario in April 1990. He joined the Ontario Court of Appeal in December, 1995.

Madam Justice Andromache Karakatsanis was called to the Bar in 1982. During her career, she was appointed law clerk to the Chief Justice of Ontario, clerked for the Ontario Court of Appeal, and served as Ontario’s Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council (2000-2002) before being appointed as a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in December, 2002. Most recently, she was appointed as a judge of the Court of Appeal for Ontario in March, 2010.