The Strange Demise of British Canada: The Liberals and Canadian Nationalism, 1964-68 [Paperback]

"The Canadian flag of 1965 remains probably one of the modern world's most successful and popular invented traditions," Champion concludes in this nostalgic account of the imposition of the maple leaf flag on the country.

True enough. It's the one time in the Twentieth Century that Canadian politicians took a decisive stand; generally, Canadians stall any decision into irrelevance by a perpetual search to make sure every feasibility and nuance is identified, debated, decried and delayed. It's why Canada is a branch plant economy; decision-making is exported, then Canadians do a more obedient and lower cost job than most others.

As a result, the average U.S. citizen regards Canada as "the Great White North of truly friendly and law-abiding people who have better health care, no military, Mounties and are still ruled by the Queen of England." It really puzzles U.S. residents that Canada is the one country in the Americas that is still ruled by an Old Lady in England when they might have curtisied to Princess Diana.

Such is the identity of Canada, even with its maple leaf flag. In contrast,and despite retaining the British Union Jack in its flag, Hawaii is distinct. No one mistakes Hawaii for Arizona, let alone for Canada or even Ontario. Identity is what a person, or a nation, accomplishes. As in its earliest years when it was the Kingdom of the Beaver, Canada merely provides raw materials for others -- such as the currently popular oil from the Alberta tar sands.

The struggle to shape a distinctive Canadian identity is what makes this book relevant. Champion seems astonished to conclude, "With all its fusions, diversities and continuities, the 'Res Canadiana' remains the product of a British world."

"British Canada did not die after all," he writes. If he looks south, he will learn 90 percent of the United States society has British origins, values and ambitions based extensively on the ideals of the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Going back further, the Anglo/Euro roots of North American free markets and robust democracy have roots in the trial-by-combat ethos of the Vikings.

Champion presents a bland reprise of the furious 1964 debate in Canada that led to "...one of the world's most successful and popular invented traditions." It's at least equal to McDonald's "M" or "Coke" or Nike "Swoosh" or even "BP" of the former Anglo Iranian Oil Company.

Look at Louise Devine's design of the Orillia flag and the impact it's had. It's original, distinctive, clever and appropriately simple -- yet Orillia today is the product of Casino Rama, and not of a distinctive flag. So, too, is the maple leaf flag. The difference is not the design, it is what people accomplish.

Champion has done a masterful job. This book by a painstaking and objective scholar is for thinking Canadians. It may prod some to consider, "What can I do to assert the distinct identity of Canada." Surely Canada is more than Beavers, Blackberries, Blizzards and British boffins.

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