Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, April 13, 2012

Return of the word "Royal" Harper government feared the reaction of Quebecers

(Ottawa) The Department of Defense was concerned that the Harper government's decision to reinstate the word "Royal" in the Canadian Armed Forces last year does not cause a backlash in Quebec and among Francophones.

The fear was such that employees of the Department of Defense have prepared answers for the Minister Peter MacKay and his cabinet colleagues responsible for making the announcement of this new measure in some parts of the country on August 16 .

The purpose of these responses was nipped in the bud any controversy surrounding the decision to restore the historic designations of the RCN, the RCAF and Canadian Army. In Quebec, the links between Canada and the British crown have often been controversial.

Thus, it was proposed to include ministers to remind those who might challenge this decision one of the most famous regiments of Quebec, or even the country, is called the Royal 22nd Regiment, Quebec. "What reaction do you expect from Quebec and other Francophone communities?" It said in the note to Minister MacKay containing questions and answers.

"We hope that all Canadians recognize the glorious history of the Air Force. The present names of some regiments of the Canadian Forces who are called "royal" already enjoy wide acceptance, such as the Royal 22nd Regiment, Quebec, as the names of ships bearing the letters HMCS (Canadian Ship Her Majesty) ", they wrote to the Minister.

"We hope all Canadians will see eye to eye adopting the name Royal Canadian Air Force," says one.

The decision to reinstate the word "Royal" in the descriptions of the Navy and Air Canada has indeed raised eyebrows in Quebec. President of the Association of Veterans of the Royal 22nd Regiment, Elphège Renaud, criticized the decision. "The Royal Air Force is the aviation England. I have nothing against royalty. They make me neither good nor evil. But to have it in the names of military units ..., "he declared.

The Bloc Quebecois has meanwhile accused the Harper government wants to "revive the links between the Canadian government and the British monarchy."

The Minister of Veterans Affairs, Steven Blaney, who made the announcement in Quebec on behalf of the Harper government has argued that this change was aimed at enhancing the country's military traditions. But he said the same breath: "We are a constitutional monarchy for nearly 150 years, so it's time we took, we make the big boys and we assume we are."

The Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau had dropped the term "Royal" in 1968 when he joined the three branches of the military to baptize the Canadian Forces. But some units had retained the epithet in question, including the Royal 22nd Regiment based in Valcartier.

Original Article
Source: cyberpresse.ca
Author: Joël-Denis Bellavance 

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