As has become tradition at the annual Summer in the City celebration in Steinbach, time was taken to recognize several families who had obtained their Canadian citizenship over the past year. Each had the opportunity to address those in attendance and to tell them how special it was to be a Canadian citizen, citing the opportunities and quality of life they enjoy in Canada and Manitoba specifically.
For those of us who have been fortunate enough to call Canada our home our entire lives, it is always an important reminder of just how valued our country is by many around the world. It’s easy to take many of those advantages for granted. Not that Canada is a perfect country or one without its challenges. It can easily be argued and backed up by data, that over the past many years the country has fallen behind in efficiency, affordability and economically when measured against other similar nations. This is something that all federal political parties seem to agree on, even if they differ on who should shoulder the blame.
But the fact that there are past missed opportunities or current challenges should not hide the fact that Canada still enjoys the freedoms, lifestyle and opportunities that make it a great place to live. And the reality that more can be done to enhance each of those attributes is more of a challenge than a rebuke.
Canadians largely understand this. It was only a year ago that Canadians were demonstrating a renewed patriotism in response to comments from the U.S. President that he desired to make the country the 51st State. I had the opportunity to attend Canada Day ceremonies in Ottawa last July 1 and without question patriotism was running high. And while some of the rhetoric coming from the U.S. has diminished over the past year, there remains a strong sense among the majority of Canadians that what we have in Canada is worth keeping. Even in the face of another question on provincial sovereignty (this time from Alberta not Quebec) there remains many more people who believe in a strong and united Canada than do not.
As in life, countries go through seasons. The early years of our confederation were marked by the establishment of democratic institutions based on those from England as well as the building of national infrastructure. WWI and WWII are often seen as the time when Canada became an independent nation although it would be decades later that Canada would create a Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms of our own.
Today, we are a country with a fully developed economy and a member of the G7. But recent times have shown us that we need to invest more significantly and more intently in our armed forces, develop our natural resources and diversify our trading relationships. These are certainly challenges, but they pale in comparison to many of those Canada has faced in the past.
This Canada Day, from coast to coast to coast, Canadians will come together to celebrate our nation and prepare to meet the challenges it faces. And even in the midst of those challenges, as with every Canada Day there will be much to celebrate, and much to be grateful for.
