JUNE 2017 A time to celebrate our founders 150 years of Confederation

Also INSIDE: Beware the Canada’s eroding What does The emerging Border Tax democratic traditions Putin want? Japan-India axis 1 Published by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute

PublishedBrian LeeBrian by Crowley, theLee Crowley,Macdonald-Laurier Managing Managing Director, Director [email protected] Institute David Watson,James Anderson,Managing ManagingEditor and Editor, Communications Inside Policy Director Brian Lee Crowley, Managing Director, [email protected] David McDonough, Deputy Editor James Anderson,Contributing Managing writers:Editor, Inside Policy Contributing writers: Thomas S. Axworthy PastAndrew contributors Griffith Benjamin Perrin Thomas S. Axworthy Andrew Griffith Benjamin Perrin Thomas S. AxworthyDonald Barry Philip Cross Stanley H. HarttCarin Holroyd Mike PriaroPeggy Nash Mary-Jane BennettDonald Barry Laura Dawson Stanley H. HarttDean Karalekas Mike PriaroLinda Nazareth Carolyn BennettKen Coates Jeremy Depow Paul KennedyPaul Kennedy Colin RobertsonGeoff Norquay Ken Coates Paul Kennedy Colin Robertson Massimo Bergamini Peter DeVries Tasha Kheiriddin Benjamin Perrin Brian Lee Crowley Brian Dijkema Audrey Laporte Roger Robinson Ken BoessenkoolBrian Lee Crowley Audrey LaporteJeremy Kinsman Roger RobinsonJeffrey Phillips Don Drummond Scott BrisonCarlo Dade Ian Lee Steven Langdon Robin V.Mike Sears Priaro Carlo Dade Ian Lee Robin V. Sears Derek Burney John Duffy Audrey Laporte Richard Remillard Patrice Dutil Catherine CanoLauraLaura Dawson Dawson JaniceJanice MacKinnonMacKinnonBrad Lavigne MunirMunir Sheikh SheikhRobin V. Sears Elaine Carsley Martha Hall Findlay Ian Lee Munir Sheikh Michael ChongGuy Guy Giorno Giorno Tom Flanagan LindaLinda NazarethMeredith MacDonald AlexAlex Wilner WilnerJohn Thompson Dan Ciuriak Chrystia Freeland Janice MacKinnon Gil Troy StephenStephen Greene Greene GeoffGeoff Norquay Scott Clark Daniel Gagnier Velma McColl Michael Watts Ken Coates Guy Giorno Ted Menzies Alex Wilner Past contributors: Mary-Jane Bennett, Carolyn Bennett, Massimo Bergamini, Ken Boessenkool, Brian Bohunicky, Scott Brison, Past contributors:Celine Cooper Mary-Jane Bennett,Stephen Carolyn Greene Bennett, Massimo Bergamini,Robert P. Murphy Ken Boessenkool, Brian Bohunicky, Scott Brison, Derek Burney, Catherine Cano, Dan Ciuriak, Scott Clark, Philip Cross, Celine Cooper, Peter DeVries, Don Drummond, John Duffy, Derek Burney, Catherine Cano, Dan Ciuriak, Scott Clark, Philip Cross, Celine Cooper, Peter DeVries, Don Drummond, John Duffy, Patrice Dutil, Joseph Fantino, Daniel Gagnier, Brad Lavigne, Tasha Kheiriddin, Jeremy Kinsman, Steven Langdon, Velma McColl, Patrice Dutil, Cover Joseph photo: Fantino, Colton’s Daniel North Gagnier, America Brad, 1861: Lavigne, Public Tasha domain Kheiriddin, via New Jeremy York Public Kinsman, Library Steven Digital Langdon, Archives Velma McColl, Ted Menzies, Robert P. Murphy, Peggy Nash, Gil Troy, Michael Watts. Ted Menzies, RobertProduction P. Murphy, designer: Peggy RenéeNash, DepocasGil Troy, Michael Watts. The contributors to this publication have worked independently and are solely responsible for the views presented here. The contributorsThe toopinions this publication are not necessarily have workedthose of independently the Macdonald-Laurier and are Institute,solely responsible its Directors for or the Supporters. views presented here. The contributors to this publication have worked independently and are solely responsible for the views presented here. The opinionsThe opinions are not are necessarily not necessarily those those of the of theMacdonald-Laurier Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Institute, itsits DirectorsDirectors or or supporters. Supporters. Inside Policy is published six times a year by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. The contents of the magazine are copyrighted, but may be re-produced with permission in print, and downloaded free of charge from the MLI website: macdonaldlaurier.ca Inside PolicyInside is Policy published is published six times four a times year aby year the by Macdonald-Laurier the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Institute. The The contents contents ofof the magazinemagazine are are copyrighted, copyrighted, but may bebut re-produced may be re-produced with permission with permission in print, in print, and anddownloaded downloaded free free of ofcharge charge from from the the MLIMLI website: macdonaldlaurier.ca macdonaldlaurier.ca For advertising information, please email: [email protected]

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insidepolicy [march].indd 2 14-04-01 10:00 AM From the editors Contents

appy Canada Day from MLI! 4 Beware the Border Adjustment Tax H As many of our readers know, to celebrate the 150th anniver- Stanley H. Hartt sary of Confederation, MLI has launched a major project to give us a 7 Celebrating 150 Years of Confederation new understanding of Canada’s founding. The Confederation Series Alastair Gillespie and Brian Lee Crowley of papers, authored by MLI Munk Senior Fellow Alastair Gillespie, 10 George Brown as a political pioneer and “Reformer” looks at the role played by five key political figures - George Brown, Preston Manning George-Étienne Cartier, Alexander Galt, Thomas D’Arcy McGee and 11 Following in George-Étienne Cartier’s footsteps John A. Macdonald. Jean Charest and Antoine Dionne-Charest We are pleased to showcase this project and more articles on Canada’s political traditions in this issue of Inside Policy. In their piece, 12 Alexander Galt deserves celebration during Canada 150 Paul Martin Brian Lee Crowley and Alastair Gillespie look at some of the major findings to emerge from the Confederation Series. As well, we include 13 Canada’s founding made us forewords to the papers from this series, penned by some of Canada’s the diverse country we are today Geoffrey Kellow most notable political figures, including Paul Martin on Alexander Galt, Preston Manning on George Brown, and Jean Charest and 14 Why diversity isn’t “Canada’s strength” Antoine Dionne-Charest on George-Étienne Cartier. Philip Carl Salzman Also inside, Leonid Sirota chides commentators for selling short 16 Our founders deserve much more credit the vision of our founders, Brian Lee Crowley argues that Confedera- Leonid Sirota tion’s promise of economic freedom for Canadians has been betrayed, 17 Provincial trade deal betrays the promise and Geoffrey Kellow explains that the diversity of Canada that many of Confederation prefer to celebrate today in fact has firm roots in Confederation. Yet, Brian Lee Crowley Philip Carl Salzman would argue, diversity is not “Canada’s strength” as 18 The erosion of Canada’s democratic traditions many believe, but we are strong because of how well we manage diversity. Patrice Dutil Another issue that can be debated is whether we should celebrate Great Canadian Debates: Canadian history is nothing all of Canada’s history (as argued by Jack Granatstein) or accept that 21 to be ashamed of? there are certain episodes that we should be ashamed of (as argued by Jack Granatstein and Noah Richler Noah Richler). Our history in dealing with Indigenous communities is What does Putin want? And how can we stop him? a frequently cited example of the latter. However, as noted by Heather 23 Richard Cohen Hall and Ken Coates, there is an opportunity for a new beginning in unlocking the resource potential of Northern Ontario. 25 The Caucasus as a laboratory for Russian hybrid warfare Also in this issue, Patrice Dutil warns that it’s not so easy, or advisable, Michael Lambert to reform Canada’s democratic institutions. And Stanley Hartt sounds 27 The Defence Policy Review: Déjà vu all over again the alarm about American plans for a Border Adjustment Tax. James Fergusson Canada also needs to pay attention to what is happening abroad, 28 China’s newest aircraft carrier a sign of its particularly China’s rise. David McDonough explores the maritime naval ambitions dimension to China’s great power ambitions, while Brian Lee Crowley David McDonough looks at the value of a Japan-India axis as a counter to China. 30 The emerging Japan-India axis as counterweight Russia’s newfound assertiveness is another concern, as noted in to China articles by Richard Cohen and Michael Lambert. Yet, as James Brian Lee Crowley Fergusson notes, our armed forces are poorly prepared for the challenge, 31 How to finally ignite Ontario’s Ring of Fire something that was not adequately addressed in the government’s recent Heather Hall and Ken Coates defence policy review. 32 A life in defence of free and independent thinking: Patrick Luciani This issue concludes with a look back by at the life Remembering Michael Bliss of noted academic, scholar, and public intellectual Michael Bliss, who Patrick Luciani recently passed away.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 3 canada-us border taxes iStock Beware the Border Adjustment Tax

Canadians should wake up and get mad about a new tax scheme being proposed by the Make America Great Again school of protectionist policy.

Stanley H. Hartt Prior to the GST/HST, we had a which is designed to accomplish precisely massively outdated form of federal sales the opposite, namely to build subsidies for anadians should be very concerned tax known as the Manufacturers’ Sales Tax exports and tariffs against imports into the Cabout a scheme emerging from the (MST), which was designed in an era when US system of corporate business taxation. politics of “Make America Great Again” the supply chain was much simpler. Canada In Canada, under the MST, a raw called the Border Adjustment Tax. What adopted the GST when we entered into the materials supplier sold his product to a is being described as a Value Added Tax on Canada-US Free Trade Agreement because, manufacturer who produced goods that were consumption will in fact be an assault on like all consumption taxes in the Value Added then sold to wholesalers or distributors. If a the established order of trade and taxation. Tax model, it is impossible to hide subsidies manufacturer needed to purchase something To understand why, it’s useful to or disguise tariffs in it. To understand what from another manufacturer, because such remember how Canada came to adopt a Border Adjustment Tax, proposed by inputs were tax exempt, he was given a our Value Added Tax, the GST (now some Republicans, means for Canada, the licence to “quote” to his supplier which harmonized with the sales tax regimes of starting point is to realize that the Border exempted him from the MST. Everyone else most provinces and known as the HST) in Adjustment Tax is not a consumption tax at paid the applicable rate of tax which, at its the first place. all but rather a rejiggered income tax scheme demise, had risen to 13 percent.

4 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute The only problem was that as the A VAT is different from a traditional sales Adjustment Tax that would change how economy became more complex, the tax because it is not imposed on a particular profits are calculated. Firms would no structure began to produce anomalous class of goods or services and operates best longer be able to deduct imports as costs results: manufacturers began buying things when there are no, or very few, exceptions while exports would no longer be included elsewhere than solely from other manufac- to or exemptions from its application. In in the calculation of revenues. Imported turers or suppliers of raw materials. If a short, it enables the legislator to ensure that goods purchased and consumed domesti- manufacturer acquired a computer at an the tax burden is borne precisely where it was cally would be subject to the tax while office supply store or online, the tax that he intended to be borne with no unintended goods produced domestically and sold never intended to pay became inextricably consequences. internationally would be exempt. hidden in his inputs with no mechanism to The United States of America does not The proponents of this system plan remove it. have a VAT system for consumption taxation. to couple it with a reduction in the rate of On the other hand, imports were being US sales taxes are a hodgepodge of national taxation applicable to corporate profits from subsidized because the MST was assessed sales taxes on particular goods and services, 35 percent to 20 percent. This feature will at the border, before significant costs for while all but five states operate general sales be important when we come to analyze the transportation, warehousing, marketing and distribution had been incurred, creating an advantage over Canadian-produced Prior to the GST/HST, we had a manufactured goods. So Canada looked at what the European massively outdated form of federal Union had done at the origins of its customs sales tax known as the MST. union and internal free trade zone: the elegantly simple solution was to require that every member state structure its consump- taxes at differing rates and, in some cases, legality of the proposal under international tion taxation in the VAT model, at a rate permit municipalities and counties to add on trade law and its impact on businesses and of no less than 15 percent. Free trade was their own sales taxes. consumers. facilitated by the principle that the exporting This is important when analyzing But it is important to note that, while country’s VAT came off at the border and the the rationale being offered by American the DBCFT is said to be modeled after the importing country’s VAT was imposed when commentators in defence of the so-called pure VAT systems operated currently by the article (or service) was sold within the Border Adjustment Tax. Several notables all OECD countries and some 160 other borders of the importing state. on the Republican side of the Senate and nations, it is in fact no such thing. Apart A Value Added Tax (VAT) is designed to House of Representatives appear to be from the feature of taxes coming on at the tax consumption of goods and services while angered by what they see as a significant border for imports and off for exports, it permitting producers and suppliers to claim disadvantage for the US in its various trade would be misleading in the extreme to credits for taxes paid on their inputs, thus agreements. They are advocating what compare the DBCFT to a traditional VAT. passing the effective tax burden on to their appear to be isolationist and protectionist, It does not propose to emulate the cascading customers, and, ultimately, the final consumer. beggar thy neighbour, policy stances. And of taxes imposed, billed and collected on and In the world of sales taxes, it has the distinct they have argued for a taxation system that by businesses, matched by credits claimed for advantage of avoiding complex mechanisms penalizes imports and rewards exports to taxes paid on inputs until the good or service to relieve businesses of unintended taxation improve the balance of trade position of reaches the ultimate consumer. of their inputs while targeting the act of their country. Most importantly, there is no relation- consumption as the source of the intended Originally developed by academics, ship between how imported goods and revenue. As long as the rate of taxation is notably Alan J. Auerbach at the University services would be taxed compared with appropriately fixed and the VAT operates in of California, Berkeley, and included in goods and services produced and consumed conjunction with an income tax regime which the policy paper prepared by the leadership domestically. Under the EU VAT tax is used to raise the bulk of the government’s of Republican Party in 2016 titled “A system, the removal of an exporting budgetary resources, it can even be structured Better Way – Our Vision for a Confident country’s consumption tax at the border to be progressive in its application as between America”, the “destination-based cash is a simple matter of parity – the good or lower and higher income earners. flow tax” (DBCFT) is a form of Border service arrives in the importing country

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 5 free of tax from the exporting country It is hard to believe that the US While there is no doubt that the so that the importing country’s own rate considers itself to be comparatively dollar would strengthen as a result of this of tax on goods and services of the same disadvantaged when it is the locale of most tariff cum subsidy regime, there can be no description can be imposed instead, thus breakthrough and innovative technolo- guarantee that the forces at play would drive creating a level playing field for competi- gies. Being self-sufficient does not produce the currency to this new equilibrium either tors regardless of where the goods or more economic welfare for anyone, swiftly or ever. Trade and investment forces services were produced. even a fortress America hiding behind are not the only factors which influence the The effects of the DBCFT look more bad analogies with how the rest of the exchange rate. Any failure of the predict- like a combination of an import tariff with developed international community deals ed increase to materialize in the short an export subsidy, both of which elements with commodity taxation issues. term could materially hurt low income would violate the international trading Some of the vehemence behind the households disproportionately by raising arrangements binding on the US. Moreover, DBCFT proposals arose from the spate the cost of the things they buy. it is not only protectionist but also discrimi- of “tax inversion” transactions where Most importantly, it is astonishing how natory – not all classes of goods and services American companies merged with foreign little reaction the DBCFT proposals have generated among business leaders in the US’s largest trading partners, in order to condemn this contortion of how a VAT operates into It is hard to believe that the US considers a justification for a “Buy America” infringe- itself to be comparatively disadvantaged ment of the basic principles of established international trade law. when it is the locale of most breakthrough Think tanks and observers have indeed and innovative technologies. taken issue with the self-serving structures endorsed by the adherents of the DBCFT, but many business leaders have been would be treated the same way: industries entities as a way to relocate their headquar- noteworthy not only for their silence with multinational markets for proprietary ters to foreign jurisdictions, beyond the in railing against such an initiative but products would be massively subsidized reach of the US taxman. It may be a in adjusting their business plans to take while industries that rely on imported legitimate goal to find ways to moderate account of the possibility that it might inputs would be hurt, perhaps irreparably, the number and size of those transactions, actually happen. In this era, where foreign by this structure. but violating international trade law is not political leaders appear to be playing The proponents unabashedly defend a way to tackle that problem. toady to the bullying tactics of President the DBCFT by arguing that these Perhaps most vexing is the argument Trump, lest they offend the new interna- discriminatory impacts are intentional, used by Auerbach and others to defend tional Sherriff in town, it is time that that the US has for too long been willing against the distortions the DBCFT someone stood up and called this Border to sign and live with trade agreements would cause in international trade. They Adjustment Tax out for what it is. that condemn it to procuring needed argue that the border adjustment tax of Hopefully, Canada will be wise and goods and services from abroad instead 20 percent applied to imports, and the strong enough to do so in the context of of encouraging their production at home. removal of exports from the corporate tax the recently announced renegotiation of This ignores the very purpose of free trade base, would cause the US dollar exchange NAFTA which the US, Mexico and Canada arrangements which is to increase the rate with all trading partners to appreciate have undertaken. standards of living of the populations of by some 25 percent. The stronger dollar all trading partners through the operation would keep domestic consumer costs Stanley Herbert Hartt, OC, QC is a lawyer, lecturer, of the theory of comparative advantage, lower in spite of the 20 percent corporate businessman, and civil servant. He currently serves as namely to allow production to take place income tax being applied to imported counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada. He has also where any particular article of commerce goods consumed domestically, effectively served as chairman, president and CEO of Campeau can be produced more efficiently and to cancelling out the higher tax on imports Corporation, deputy minister at the Department of trade for what the other economies can and making the border-adjustment tax Finance and, in the late 1980s, as chief of staff in the produce at less cost. value-neutral. Office of the Prime Minister.

6 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute COVER FEATURE

GEORGE-ÉTIENNE CARTIER GEORGE BROWN The Canadian

The Reformer by Alastair C.F. Gillespie With a Foreword by the Hon. Jean Charest and Antoine Dionne-Charest by Alastair C.F. Gillespie ALEXANDER GALT With a Foreword by the Hon. Preston Manning The Federalist THOMAS D’ARCY McGEE by Alastair C.F. Gillespie The Idealist With a Foreword by the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin

by Alastair C.F. Gillespie With a Foreword by the Hon. Bob Rae

Celebrating JOHN A. MACDONALD The Indispensable Politician by Alastair C.F. Gillespie 150 Years of With a Foreword by the Hon. Peter MacKay

Series covers: Monica Thomas Monica covers: Series Confederation

The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday with the launch of a major project aimed at helping Canadians gain a new understanding of their country’s founding. The Confederation Series takes a unique look at how five of our first-generation political leaders envisioned what it meant to be Canadian.

Alastair Gillespie John A. Macdonald. Each is authored by MLI Munk Brian Lee Crowley Senior Fellow Alastair Gillespie, and introduced by a prominent Canadian political figure. anada is celebrating 150 years of Confederation. The Confederation Series traces how Canada was CAs its contribution to this important national imagined by five of our first-generation political leaders, anniversary, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute is tracing their contribution to the idea of Canada, through releasing a series of papers on five key Fathers of speeches spanning their political careers. Our founders Confederation – George Brown, George-Étienne were not just pragmatists – they had principles and ideals. Cartier, Alexander Galt, Thomas D’Arcy McGee and They were educated, erudite and thoughtful statesmen.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 7 This is a fresh look at an old subject, told through the words of the participants themselves. Unlike histories that focus on the well-worn chronology of conferences, diplomacy and deals, the Confederation Series concentrates on ideas. Our founders spoke to a constant Canada, addressing persistent realities of diversity in Canadian national life. Taking this approach, we hope to shift how Canadians think about Confederation and do our part to give meaning to Canada’s sesquicentennial. Let us turn to some key findings.

One Canadian People Parlimanent Hill: The original Centre Block (1859-1916) The first Canadians faced a startlingly mod- (Photo: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons) ern question: how to form a country out of peoples of diverse origins, languages and re- In a world where resurgent ligions. George-Étienne Cartier voiced only the best-known of these Canadian answers: nationalism is causing other countries “a political nationality with which neither to turn inward, the Canadian model the national origin, nor the religion of any individual would interfere.” Other founders appears increasingly significant. added their own gloss on this very Canadian Unionism Freedom alchemy suggesting diversity is the thread linking their Canada and our Canada, how With the Civil War raging to the south, Our founders also remind Canadians that to manage it the constant task of Canadian our founders also wanted a real union, with Canada was born with free institutions, statecraft. a central government powerful enough to the rule of law and the broadest measure govern effectively and resist the centrifugal of self-government short of complete in- Federalism forces of state rights. But federalism was dependence. After the rebellions of 1837, Federalism was the indispensable catalyst an indispensable pillar of Canadian union- Canadian governments were made respon- of Canada’s founding, the structural adjust- ism. The way was cleared for our new sible to assemblies elected to represent the ment that brought Canada’s people togeth- national politics by pushing contentious people – real freedom summed up in the er. Our series tracks five founders’ winding local issues down to the provinces, preserv- textbook phrase “responsible government.” paths to federalism as the solution to Can- ing provincial self-government within an Those freedoms required expansion in now ada’s pre-Confederation political problems. ample sphere. obvious ways, leaving our founding “in- Federalism helped Canadians inoculate a complete” in important respects, whether bitter cultural, religious and linguistic con- National Marketplace considering the electoral franchise or the flict simmering before Confederation: the Another central goal of the Fathers of Con- exclusion of Canada’s Indigenous peoples. clashing popular wills of modern Ontario federation was to establish a single national Canadians should still take pride that our and Quebec, lashed together under a single market, tearing down tariff barriers that founders’ speeches breathe an atmosphere government that could not reflect the elec- stunted trade between the provinces. Advo- of liberty, even if that liberty was not yet toral impulses of both. Unlike the dry bones cates of a stronger economic union will find wholly realized. of the constitutional division of powers, our much to inspire within. Alexander Galt, founders’ speeches bring federalism to life as Canada’s first finance minister, argued trade Made in Canada a system of values, securing the unity of the and commerce was the natural purview of The Confederation Series presents Confeder- whole and the liberties of the parts. the federal government – free trade was one ation as a Canadian achievement – whether of the “chief benefits” of Confederation. considering the Charlottetown and Quebec

8 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute been dismissed as an exercise in pragmatism. This might have been a plausible conclusion in the 1960s, when international politics was dominated by the ideological contest between the United States and the Soviet Union. New times present an opportunity to revisit a tired piece of conventional wisdom. Differences of national origin, language and religion continue to fuel human conflict between and within states. We argue Canada’s founding was our precocious response to the most pressing problems of government today, and the intellectual underpinning of our later success. Parlimanent Hill: Celebrating all Canadians and their future Like our American neighbours, Canada (Photo: Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons) is also a country of the New World, promising a better way of life, even as we have conferences, the ratifying debates held in to all races and creeds?” We find Macdon- struggle to live up to those ideals. The present each provincial legislature, or the intellectual ald arguing, “This country is settled by sev- crucial effort for reconciliation with Canada’s path followed by each founder as an advocate eral races, having various religions, and it is Indigenous peoples is the most striking of Confederation. Self-governing in all but very important for the mutual inhabitants example of how far we still have to go. external affairs, Canada was more indepen- of Canada that we should agree as much In this anniversary year, Canadians are dent in 1867 than commonly appreciated. as possible, and if so we should respect conscious that Canada is stronger than ever, each other’s religious principles and preju- and for reasons that resonate with our times. Parliament and the People dices.” Brown claims universal importance As the prime minister recently wrote in The At the centre of Confederation was Parlia- for Canada’s unusual national project: “we Economist, “diverse and resilient countries ment itself, and we proudly declare this is are endeavouring to adjust harmoniously like Canada don’t come about by accident.” a parliamentary history, set in Parliament greater difficulties than have plunged other In this, he is resoundingly correct. Occasion- and tracing developments from precedent countries into all the horrors of civil war.” ally Canadians have been misled that our to precedent in a parliamentary way. The ex- federalism and diversity were uniquely tent to which Confederation and Canadian Confederation and the Future Canadian obstacles to national unity. If federalism were conceived in, debated in, In a world where resurgent nationalism is these arguments ever made sense, this is no and authorized by Parliament should never causing other countries to turn inward, the longer the case today. be overlooked. We believe Canada’s political Canadian model appears increasingly signifi- The Canadian way of life imposes tradition is ripe for restoration – a monu- cant. In a speech at London, Prime Minister duties of the highest order of citizenship ment every bit as rich as the splendid Victo- Justin Trudeau attributed our success to Ca- – unwritten laws seen in shared values, rian buildings under reconstruction on Par- nadians’ view that diversity “isn’t a challenge peaceful cities and contented communi- liament Hill. Parliament can put the people to be overcome or a difficulty to be tolerated. ties. Our country points the way to a better back into Confederation. Rather, it’s a tremendous source of strength.” world. Its ideals are those of tomorrow, with We agree – and the Confederation Series the potential to revolutionize the human Diversity and Canadian Values helps explain why. condition for the better. The Confederation Series is about Cana- Our founders spoke constantly Canadians have an uneasy relation- dian values, arising in our founders’ re- about diversity; how to make a people of ship with exceptionalism, yet often say the sponses to Canada’s early diversity. “How Canadians, regardless of national origin, world needs more Canada. It’s 2017, and it’s could someone possibly aspire to become language or religion. Canadian nationality clearer than ever what that means. a statesman worthy of the name, in our has always depended on bridging divides. country,” Cartier asks, “without being fully How we did it is the subject of this series. Alastair Gillespie is a Munk Senior Fellow at MLI. resolved beforehand to render equal justice Too often, the Canadian founding has Brian Lee Crowley is the Managing Director of MLI.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 9 confederation series George Brown as a political pioneer and “Reformer”

In his 15-year campaign for constitutional change, George Brown proved to be a spirited partisan who sacrificed his own career, and laid partisanship aside, for Confederation.

Preston Manning

n the late 1990s, as Leader of the IReform Party of Canada and the Official Opposition in Ottawa, I once addressed a “reduce the taxes” rally held in Toronto’s St. Lawrence Hall – one of the oldest public meeting places in Ontario. After the meeting, one of the building custodi- ans approached me, saying something about there being “nothing new under the sun.” He then showed me an old poster advertising a meeting in that same hall in the 1850s. The subject of the meeting? “The iniquitous state of taxation in the colony.” And the speaker? George Brown, Leader of the Reform Party of Upper Canada. George Brown was an extraordinary George Brown, 1818-1880 political pioneer – a nation builder in the (Photos: Courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-26415; Preston Manning) truest sense despite the accusations of his opponents that he was merely a “narrow sectionalist.” He vigorously championed many ideas and policies fundamental to the On the democratic front, development and success of Canada as a democratic federation. He did so at a time George Brown famously championed when most of those ideas and policies were “representation by population.” fiercely resisted by the political establishment of his day. On the democratic front, George best elements of our past and present. But his statue on Parliament Hill, recognizing Brown famously championed “represen- we also continue to need “reformers” – those him as one of the foremost of the Fathers tation by population.” On the economic who will vigorously pursue constructive of Confederation. He also richly deserves front, freer trade. On the religious front, changes to our economic, social, environ- an honoured place in our minds and hearts separation of church and state. On the mental, democratic, and constitutional as residents and citizens of the democratic geographic front, Canada West. And on arrangements and institutions. Let such federation he helped to create and build. the constitutional front – George Brown reformers especially, draw inspiration and eventually became one of the strongest courage from the story of George Brown. The Hon. Preston Manning was the Founder and champions of “Confederation.” While he never became a Prime Former Leader of the Reform Party of Canada. This Canada today needs political people who Minister or a Premier (other than for two article originally appeared as the foreword to the MLI will vigorously advocate conservation of the days in 1858), George Brown richly deserves paper, titled George Brown: The Reformer.

10 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute confederation series Following in George-Étienne Cartier’s footsteps

Cartier was a strong advocate for a federal solution to the challenges facing the union between Upper and Lower Canada.

Jean Charest only think of railroad constructions, Antoine Dionne-Charest in particular those of the Grand Trunk Company, of which Cartier was both a any men have left a mark on political advocate and a legal advocate, Mhistory. However, few can claim which was common during that period. to have created a country. Yet George- Moreover, it was largely due to Cartier that Étienne Cartier was one such man. British Columbia and Manitoba joined Canada’s history is intimately linked the newly created federation, something to Cartier’s story, so much so that it’s that would have been unthinkable without impossible today to take interest in the the railroads. We should also add that latter without meeting at some point economic development, like pragmatism, the former. Of this political life, three is supported by convictions. It allows dimensions naturally come to mind. provinces to be fully autonomous in their Firstly, Cartier’s approach to politics areas of jurisdictions, which is essential if is one of healthy pragmatism: he Quebec wants to perpetuate its institutions, conducts politics according to its practical history and language. consequences. He adheres to the principle Thus, if Canada remains today a of responsible government, according contested ideal, this means that Canada’s to which both the prime minister and efforts at nation building are incomplete. We George-Étienne Cartier, 1814-1873 his cabinet members are answerable to Photo: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons are a young nation. A nation that includes Parliament. He is one of the first politicians other nations. This multinational character to defend such a principle and to put it into is not an obstacle to the construction of practice. His pragmatism is also support- Sir John. A Macdonald. The latter is crucial our country, but a chance, even a form of ed by convictions. Cartier is a reformer because it demonstrates that, regardless of strength. It will, however, only be a form in that he is always looking for a political linguistic, religious and regional differenc- of strength if we recognize such a form middle ground. He opposes the Rouges, es, a federal union is possible. It also shows of diversity, by becoming aware that the who advocate for Canada’s annexation to that both the French-Canadian nation and country’s unity lies not at the top, in the the United States, as well as the Ultramon- the English-Canadian nation can share the federal government, but at the bottom, tains, for whom political power must be same political nationality. It goes without that is, in the provinces, national minorities subordinated to the Catholic clergy. He is a saying that, at the eve of Canada’s 150th and citizens. It is them who maintain our philosophical liberal in that he defends the anniversary, this notion of duality must unity, and it is thus up to them to follow in right to property for all, because it confers a be interpreted in the most inclusive way George-Étienne Cartier’s footsteps by taking sense of dignity to all. Finally, as one of the possible. That being said, when Cartier puts over Canada’s nation building process. Fathers of Confederation, he defends the in place the Council for Public Instruction, idea that the Canadian political national- the Civil Code or when he opposes the The Hon. Jean Charest is the former Premier of ity is based on equality of the country’s unitary vision of the country, he is merely Quebec. Antoine Dionne-Charest is a PhD student in provinces and peoples. expressing this understanding of duality. Philosophy at the Université de Montréal. This article Secondly, this equality is made possible Thirdly, Cartier is a staunch advocate originally appeared as the foreword to the MLI paper, by Cartier’s political alliances, notably with of economic development. One need titled George-Étienne Cartier: The Canadian.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 11 confederation series Alexander Galt deserves celebration during Canada 150

As Canadians celebrate our sesquicentennial, they shouldn’t forget the pivotal role Alexander Galt played in Confederation.

Paul Martin The reasons behind

espite the century-and-a-half that Galt’s initiative will Dseparates us, Alexander Galt and I be of immense share a common background. We both live or lived in Quebec’s Eastern Townships and interest to Canadians we were both Canada’s finance minister, who are proud of albeit he was the first. A pioneering figure in Canada’s railways Canada’s diversity. and the initiator of Canada’s first tariff to encourage domestic industry, Galt played from each other. Alexander Galt took a beacon of equality and freedom. a pivotal role in Confederation as Canada’s completely different tack. The paradox in all of this is that first federalist, every bit a fitting rival of Galt argued for more diversity, adding the First Peoples of this land, the First better-known Fathers of Confederation. The new provinces from sea to sea, not less. By Nations, the Métis Nation and Inuit time has come to rediscover Galt’s federal- enlarging the national stage, by building a whose ancestors had been here since time ist legacy: the ideas and institutions that national economy with a federal division of immemorial, were not invited to the party. continue to shape Canadian life today. powers, Galt saw the way to a new structure. Yet they were major players. Nine years before Confederation, as an In his words, Canadians could “find in the Given this, it would have been independent backbencher, Galt tabled the diversities of race and religion an incentive to understandable in both 1864 and 1867 first resolutions proposing the federal union honourable rivalry in favour of our common had the representatives of Indigenous of all the provinces of British North America. country rather than to leave them, as now, Canada asked: Why weren’t we invited to He appealed to Canadian ambitions, calling the subjects by which any party leader may your meetings? Just as their descendants for the expansion to the Pacific and a greater build up an evanescent and baneful popular- a century and a half later are asking with future as one united people. Just months ity by arraying one class against another.” rising impatience: What is our place in later, he became a government minister, and All Canadians will recognize Galt’s vision Confederation today? the Scottish-Canadian businessman from that Canada’s strength stems from its diversi- I believe, were Galt alive today, he would Sherbrooke was on his way to England with ty, but Galt was its first and bravest pioneer. answer that question by calling upon us to do his plan to unite the provinces to create a He stood for Confederation at a time when justice to the Canadian dream by embodying new federation in North America. political realities discouraged vision, and when a new relationship with the Indigenous The reasons behind Galt’s initiative will too many took the partisan road. Fortunately peoples. This is because, as we have learned be of immense interest to Canadians who are Macdonald, Cartier and others saw in Galt’s since Confederation, equity and mutual proud of Canada’s diversity. 1858 initiative the origin of a greater country. respect among all of us, without exception, Initially, what are now known as Confederation was the coming together are the essential conditions to the unity,

Ontario and Quebec were united under one of the descendants of European nations often strength and community of the whole. courtesyPhoto Institute Macdonald-Laurier the government, and the distinct wills of the two at war with each other, and a scattering of increasingly came into conflict. Alarmed by religions that certainly had their differences. The Rt. Hon. Paul Martin was the 21st Prime Minister the intensifying political battles, fuelled by Yet, from this, or perhaps because of it, was of Canada. This article originally appeared in the bitter partisanship and cultural differences, created a new land that opened its doors Ottawa Citizen and as the foreword to the MLI paper, some called for their complete separation to the world and which stands today as a titled Alexander Galt: The Federalist.

12 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute confederation series Canada’s founding made us the diverse country we are today

It’s time to recognize that the diversity and inclusiveness we are celebrating in 2017 is built on a foundation that was first laid 150 years ago.

Geoffrey Kellow The focus for Canada 150 on diversity and inclusion appears, on the surface, to n the spring of 2016, the Liberal govern- To rededicate, demand a turning away from Confederation Iment announced that it was updating the we must first itself. How can we both celebrate diversi- focus of Canada’s sesquicentennial celebra- ty and inclusion and lionize the literally tion. To mark the anniversary, Heritage recollect. monochrome Charlottetown photo of 25 Minister Mélanie Joly promised a special middle-aged white men? By remember- focus on “diversity and inclusion, reconcili- was renamed the Macdonald-Cartier ing not just what happened then, but what ation with Indigenous peoples, the environ- Freeway. In countless ways, then, Canadians happened next. ment and youth.” populated the national horizon with signposts The Fathers of Confederation left Implicit in the announcement was marking the path that the country had taken Charlottetown and almost immediately began the suggestion that the country’s 150th and indicating the direction it would go. a journey both political and practical towards birthday was an opportunity for the The best commemorations always do something bigger. That journey continues. country to rededicate itself to these this. Consider Martin Luther King Jr.’s At the heart of Confederation was always an laudable goals. Indeed, anniversaries are remarkable commemorations in the civil acknowledgement of the incredible diversity often opportunities for just such acts of rights spring of 1963. In that extraordinary of the country. Admittedly, the Fathers did reflection and rejuvenation, both in the year, Dr. King set out to mark the 100th not think of inclusion and diversity, in terms lives of individuals and nations. anniversary of the Emancipation Proclama- of indigeneity, ethnicity, age or environment. But what does such a rededication tion, the order that began the process of Nevertheless, they introduced the principles require? At the very least, it requires a serious eliminating chattel slavery that conclud- as surely as the slaveholding Thomas Jefferson examination of the original dedication or ed at Appomattox and in the thirteenth introduced to America the assertion of an commitment. To rededicate, we must first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. inherent equality of all. recollect. It is this remembrance that seems so In his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech The Fathers of Confederation, in strangely lacking in the current government’s Dr. King invoked implicitly and explicitly their legislative debates, introduced a vital celebration plans. Lincoln’s original promise and then, in a resource and set a course. As we celebrate the To accentuate the strangeness of this profound act of rededication, reformu- sesquicentennial, we can rededicate ourselves Hamlet without the Prince, consider Canada’s lated that century-old promise as a dream, to our Canadian principles of inclusion and centennial celebrations. Then, the country a vision of the future. Writing months diversity best by recollecting the context in combined perfectly, in countless projects, the earlier, in his famous Letter from Birming- which they first emerged. We can only track notion of a new and forward-looking nation ham Jail, Dr. King also connected the civil how far we have come and more important- with the past that the celebrations marked. rights movement to the American Founding, ly, how far we have yet to go, by marking the In the years leading up to the anniversary, which he described as one of the “deep wells moment we started out. monumental biographies of George Brown of American democracy.” and John A. Macdonald appeared, concerts Dr. King understood the past as both Geoffrey Kellow is an associate professor in the and compositions were commissioned, the record of the road travelled and source College of the Humanities at Carleton University. He medals pressed, more than two dozen of supplies for the journey to come. This is is collaborating with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute centennial arenas were constructed, and the what our own celebrations appear to have on a major project celebrating the speeches and main highway linking Ontario and Quebec, missed, and for reasons that Dr. King would documents of Canada’s founders. This article originally the two halves of the old Province of Canada, have both understood and rejected. appeared in the Ottawa Citizen.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 13 confederation series Why diversity isn’t “Canada’s strength”

Our country is strong because, despite our differences, we are united in our commitment to Canada’s unifying ideas and values.

Philip Carl Salzman

ccording to Prime Minister Justin ATrudeau, “Diversity is Canada’s strength.” This assertion is repeated by various Canadian sources, such as the Latino Star paper, and the Canadian Policy Research Networks conference “Diversity – Canada’s Strength.” In Canada’s Liberal government and many other circles, the statement that “Diversi- ty is Canada’s Strength” has become a motto, and largely an unquestioned and unquestionable one. Political slogans have their uses, usually to advance a policy position and claim the high moral ground. But they may also selectively draw on the facts of reality, and massage the truth so that it becomes unrecognizable. Whatever views Canadians may have about diversity, Canadians are independent citizens who often think critically rather than repeat ideas and slogans. In that spirit of critical consider- ation, this essay addresses the question iStock whether diversity is Canada’s strength. Let us begin by looking at diversity in sports. So too in the National Football League, same way. We welcome people regardless The strength of world class sports is the which may be the closest that any human of race, gender or sexuality, but we are uncompromising focus on the event. What institution can get to a pure meritocracy. If not just a collection of diverse individuals. people care about is how fast you can run, you are competitive in speed, strength, skill, We expect all Canadians to share in our how far or high you can jump, or whether and determination, you will get a chance to unifying ideas and values. you can get the puck or ball into the net. In show what you can do. The best of the college The “diversity” that is usually referred to selecting team members, no one cares about players are drafted, but other, non-drafted new in assertions that “diversity is our strength” race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preferences, players are frequently recruited from practice includes such census factors as mentioned or identity. The only pertinent question is squads. Likewise veterans, even former stars, above: religion, race, origin, etc. The the effectiveness of the athlete or player in who aren’t performing can quickly be out of question that should be raised in response to the specified discipline. a job. Performance in competition is the basis such statements is exactly how such diversi- In picking the Canadian Olympic Team, of selection. ty contributes to economic performance is any weight given to race, sexuality, and other An NFL team works as a collection and social and cultural strength. The virtues extraneous characteristics? My impression is of merit-based individuals because they of census diversity are more often asserted that team selection is based on performance. have a common goal. Canada works in the than demonstrated.

14 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute One argument in favour of the value resources: landscape, forests, cultivating Canada. My daughter, adopted in China, of diversity is that people of different races, lands, water, and carbon and rare metal now fluent in French and English, says, “I’m religions, and origins have different perspec- deposits, among others. a banana: yellow on the outside, Canadian tives and knowledge, which can be enriching. Second, Canada has benefited from on the inside.” But there is a risk here in treating people like its double European heritage, from France How can we support Canada’s strength? parts of ethnic blocs, and assuming that South and Britain, which has given the country One way is by selecting newcomers from Asians, or Muslims, or South Americans are the Parliamentary tradition, the distanc- other lands who are willing to contrib- representative of their cultures, have the same ing of church and state, and the idea of ute their talents to Canadian unity and experience, and think the same way. Such a human rights, enshrined in the Canadian commonality. Here the question of view of diversity could in fact undermine Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A strong Canadian immigration policy arises. Our social and cultural strength. work ethic is also part of Canada’s European immigration policy and procedures should ensure the compatibility of the views and objectives of newcomers with Canadian Our immigration policy and procedures law, institutions, and values. The recruit- ment of outsiders with different priorities should ensure the compatibility of the and goals, unwilling to respect Canadian views and objectives of newcomers with law and values, would be a disservice to Canada and Canadians. Canadian law, institutions, and values. Canadians are tired of hearing news about attempts to institute foreign religious law in Canada, about Canadian girls and There is another kind of diversity culture. Immigrants to Canada have for the women who are abused or murdered that is not celebrated today, and that is most part, and until recently, learned at because their families judge them to be diversity of opinion. Diversity of opinion least one of the official languages of French “too Canadian,” or because they married is often in our time seen as abuse, as and English, and adopted to a significant someone from the wrong religion or hate speech, advanced only by racists, degree Canada’s Western European-based caste. Or news about Canadian police and sexists, homophobes, Islamophobes, and culture. This has led to a commonality soldiers being murdered by people angry at whatever new -phobe is invented this of mainstream Canadian culture among the West. week. Diversity of views about certain Canadians, long term and recent. Canadian immigration policy and issues – such as those determined by Third, the Canadian mind-set and procedures should ensure the compatibility social justice discourse, for example – is attitudes of respect, tolerance, and a talent of the views and objectives of newcomers seen as a deviation that should be stopped for compromise have arisen to counter with Canadian law, institutions, and values. and punished. This illiberal attitude goes the deleterious effects of the foundational If we do, we will be reinforcing Canada’s directly counter to John Stuart Mill’s diversity of Canada’s two charter cultures real strength, the unity of our common argument in On Liberty that diversity of – French Catholic and British Protestant culture and shared institutions. opinion not only offers alternative points – that has been the source of repeated of view, but gives proponents of particular conflict and instability, A good example is Philip Carl Salzman is Professor of Anthropology at views the beneficial opportunity through Quebec’s independence movement, which McGill University. He has served as Senior Fellow debate to defend and thus strengthen their has threatened Canada’s very existence. at the University of St. Andrews, Open Society own views, or else replace them. This diversity is not the strength of International Scholar at the American University of So what is Canada’s strength? To answer Canada; it is the unity and commonality Central Asia, Erasmus Mundus International Fellow this we would have to take into account a forged through respect and compromise at the University of Catania, and visiting professor at wide range of factors: among Canadians in spite of diversity, the University of Sydney. His latest book is Classic First, geography. Canada is protected that is Canada’s strength. This Canadian Comparative Anthropology: Studies from the by vast oceans on three sides, and has a mind-set draws new Canadians from all Tradition. He is a member of the Academic Council of large, friendly country as a neighbour on around the world, most of whom willingly the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research, a Fellow the remaining side. Furthermore, Canada and enthusiastically enter into Canadian of the Middle East Forum, and a board member of enjoys a rich and plentiful array of natural mainstream culture and thus strengthen Scholars for Peace in the Middle East.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 15 confederation series Our founders deserve much more credit

Canada’s Fathers of Confederation carried out an impressive demonstration of how to solve constitutional and political problems.

Leonid Sirota James Madison. But that is a rather absurd tion plan have been receiving wide popular standard by which to measure any group of support in recent elections, Brown goes rom a government that seems uninter- statesmen. Considered in their own right, on to argue that people outside Canada Fested in celebrating Confederation in they were much more serious thinkers, – which is to say, mostly, in the United its sesquicentennial year to legal scholars not to mention better expositors of their Kingdom and in the United States – have that decry it as un undemocratic bargain ideas, than they are usually given credit for. been noticing too: struck by a bunch of white men, many Their constitutional endeavours involved a “And well, Mr. Speaker, might our in Canada denigrate the constitutional great deal of compromise and concession, present attitude in Canada arrest the compromise that gave birth to this country. as they openly acknowledged (in contrast, earnest attention of other countries. Here For instance, in an interview with the Globe perhaps, to the self-assured Publius). But is a people composed of two distinct races, and Mail given when he was about to retire if failing to meditate on the meaning of speaking different languages, with religious from the Supreme Court, Justice Ian Binnie separation of powers, or advance theories and social and municipal and educational insisted that we could not possibly consider of federalism, or leave cryptic thoughts institutions totally different; with sectional ourselves bound by the original meaning of on judicial review for us to decipher, they hostilities of such a character as to render the Constitution Act, 1867 because – unlike carried out a practical demonstration of government for many years well-nigh Americans – “[w]e don’t have a Jefferson or an Alexander Hamilton or a Benjamin Franklin, for us to read their views on what Their constitutional endeavours involved the Constitution does or doesn’t mean. At a great deal of compromise and the Quebec conference, Sir John A. Macdon- ald’s most memorable reflection was: ‘Too concession, as they openly acknowledged. much whisky is just enough.’ That was the guidance we got as to our Constitution.” Actually, the Quebec conference was how to solve constitutional and political impossible; with a Constitution so unjust held behind closed doors, so we don’t actually problems that was, in its own way, no less in the view of one section as to justify any know, except in outline, what memorable impressive – and has arguably better stood resort to enforce a remedy. And yet, sir, here reflections were made there. But we have the test of time, for now anyway. we sit, patiently and temperately discussing plenty of other sources to consult, if we take As Mr. Gillespie’s work shows, the how these great evils and hostilities may an interest in the thought of the Fathers of accomplishments of Confederation are justly and amicably be swept away for ever. Confederation. (Many of these sources are perhaps best appreciated if presented We are endeavouring to adjust harmoni- now easily available on the Macdonald- in the words of those who made them ously greater difficulties than have plunged Laurier Institute’s Confederation Project’s possible. Consider, for example, the other countries into all the horrors of civil war. website, thanks to the hard work of my following excerpt from George Brown’s We are striving to do peacefully and satisfac- friend, MLI Munk Senior Fellow Alastair speech during the “Confederation torily what Holland and Belgium, after years Gillespie.) Debates,” during which the legislature of of strife, were unable to accomplish. We are Now, I think it’s fair to say that, on the the then-Province of Canada considered seeking by calm discussion to settle questions whole, the Fathers of Confederation did whether to support the plan developed at that Austria and Hungary, that Denmark not quite have the philosophical depth or the Quebec Conference. Having noted that literary talent of Alexander Hamilton and the candidates supporting the confedera- Continued on page 33

16 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute confederation series Provincial trade deal betrays the promise of Confederation

Confederation was meant to free Canadians to carry on their profession or business across provincial boundaries. The newly announced Canada Free Trade Agreement is a poor way to honour Canada’s 150th.

Brian Lee Crowley forced Newfoundland and Labrador to sell Such freedom was explicitly to be a matter their electricity to Quebec at a fraction of its of shared national citizenship. his is a big year for Canada. The value remain and nowhere can I find that the Responsibility for achieving Mr. Tcountry was founded 150 years ago premiers promise to give up their latest fad: Brown’s vision was granted to the national in an act of supreme statesmanship. It is claiming the right to veto pipelines that cross government in a broader federalist arrange- the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy their territory. Alberta is already consider- ment. The essence of federalism is, after all, Ridge, where we came of age in a sustained ing creating a Crown corporation to handle the creation of a unified national economic act of courage, heroism and determination. government construction projects to escape space while buttressing local identities, be Governments in Canada are now claiming the opening of government procurement they linguistic, cultural, ethnic or religious. that their recently announced Canadian Free they just agreed to. Trade Agreement (CFTA) deserves to keep Finally, on actually enforcing the rules such exalted company and will come into of free trade our political leaders raised the force on July 1, Canada’s 150th birthday. monetary penalties for non-compliance. Does the CFTA deserve such hoopla? On Again, very nice. Does the CFTA the contrary. While it represents some modest But they’re hoping you won’t notice deserve such hoopla? incremental progress on creating a national they have essentially maintained their market open to all Canadians on equal terms, Rube Goldberg machine in which the On the contrary. this progress has much to be modest about. complaints of businesses and individuals Moreover the sordid backroom horse-trading about unfair actions or practices will be that gave rise to it, in which rent-seeking the subject of endless intergovernmental Matters of nation-building or common interests allied to various governments saw consultations and panels whose decisions interest – such as the functioning of the many of their unfair advantages maintained, will come long after the original business national economy – were thus to be entrust- was the very opposite of what the founders opportunity has died from neglect, ed to the newly created national government of Canada thought they were conferring on starvation and exposure. God help you if rather than provincial or parochial interests. their posterity. you want to get the courts to intervene to That’s why it got jurisdiction over Yes, it’s very nice that every field of make governments follow their own rules, peace, order and good government, trade economic activity is now covered by the because the governments have made it and commerce, and national infrastructure. CFTA, as opposed to the old dispensation clear they don’t want those judges sticking That’s why there is a national open-market where only those fields specifically included their noses in the provinces’ business. clause (Section 121). were covered. But the price the provinces It didn’t have to be this way. But that’s not what happened with exacted for this was well over 100 pages of The very purpose of Confederation, we the CFTA. There the federal government exemptions and exceptions to the principle often forget, was in large part about freeing continued the appalling tradition of its of free trade within Canada. Canadians to carry on their profession or predecessors in neutering federal power in The really tough areas, such as liquor, business across provincial boundaries. As order to appease the provinces and territories. financial services and regulatory harmoniza- George Brown famously described the The result is not only another bad deal for tion? Well they have promised to study those vision its authors had of Confederation: Canadian businesses, workers and consumers, some more. Don’t try to sell milk or eggs or “The proposal now before us is to throw it’s a disavowal of Confederation itself. any other “supply-managed” product across down all barriers between the provinces – to provincial boundaries. The barriers that make a citizen of one, citizen of the whole.” Continued on page 33

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 17 confederation series Photo via commons.wikimedia.org Photo The erosion of Canada’s democratic traditions Let’s remember the impressive history of Canadian governance, beginning with the first parliamentary election 225 years ago, when we consider the current government’s attempts to reform how we populate our Supreme Court, Senate and House of Commons.

Patrice Dutil bargain and a long parliamentary tradition; the Quebec Act of 1774. Fifteen years later, the process of selecting a Supreme Court pushed by events and hard political realities, rime Minister Justin Trudeau has justice with rigour, respect and confidential- Prime Minister William Pitt (the younger) Pspared few efforts in trying to transform ity has also served Canadians well. Neither passed the Constitutional Act of 1791. Canada’s fundamentally democratic institu- should be so easily cast aside. The new constitution provided both tions. He overhauled the appointments Canada’s politics are the product of Upper and Lower Canada with a governance process for the Senate and the Supreme generations of hard-won demands for that had the look and feel of the British Court, but failed with electoral reform, his effective, responsible government and for system. A governor would preside, represent- first major political disappointment. The the people to be represented and heard in ing the will of the monarch (read London). entire reform agenda of the current govern- decision-making circles. It goes back to the In Quebec City, the legislature was composed ment now requires some sober second Conquest of 1760. Indeed, it took little of two houses: a legislative council of 15 thought. time for the Canadiens to demand the right appointed representatives and a legislative It’s been 225 years since the first to be represented in government decision- assembly. The legislative council was selected election campaign to populate a parliament. making and the Royal Proclamation of 1763 by the Governor: eight Anglophones and Despite its flaws, that Parliament has served promised such an assembly. That promise seven francophones who would ensure that Canadians reasonably well. A partisan was not kept, and the Canadiens were only commerce, law, and international trade could Senate is a fundamental part of a hard-won granted an appointed governing council in thrive. Clearly, the governance was designed

18 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute to support the government, regardless of The Senate rarely lived up to its promise, named by the current prime minister who what the legislative assembly wished. The but its nadir was surely in the Harper years. sit as “non-affiliated” Senators. Among them executive council, a small body that acted In hindsight, it was clear that Stephen are a former president of the Asia Pacific as a cabinet of advisors to the governor, was Harper had decided he’d had enough of Foundation of Canada, an art historian entirely Anglophone with the exception of governing when he stopped naming people long active in the governance of provincial Antoine-Louis Juchereau Duchesnay, who to the Senate in 2013. Until that time, most and national museums, a former Secretary joined it years later. of his choices were uninspired. His objective to cabinet of Ontario, the president of the The Council was hardly representative was to force the provinces to come to the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, former deputy and needed counterbalance. The legisla- table to negotiate on the Senate by denying ministers, police chiefs, some obscure CEOs, tive assembly consisted of 51 represen- them representation in the upper house. He a few law professors, a few doctors. In brief, tatives who would be elected in their had no choice: the Constitution requires highly accomplished people of unquestion- ridings by a show of hands or by winning that all provinces as well as the Canadian able abilities who have all been undeniably through petition. It represented a victory Parliament approve of any structural change successful in their careers. Only a select few for Canadiens who had lobbied hard for the to the upper chamber. of the 27 have ever been elected to anything. privilege to have a say in the affairs of the state and they constituted the majority of the assembly. The act gave Canada represen- The Senate, often seen as an object of scorn, tative government; a franchise that was open to practically every adult, women included; has probably attracted more attention and a first election campaign which took than the others. place in the early summer of 1792. The system was not sustainable because the government was unaccountable. Still, The gambit failed. The provinces Who or what do these fine individu- the idea of a two-house parliament, where ignored him and the policy of demolition als represent, except technical expertise and one was designed to balance the other, was by abandonment continued. As senators successful professional (mostly salaried) retained. It was patently unfair and justifi- retired over the following years, the newly lives? Under what banner could they be ably became the object of uprisings in Lower elected Liberals found themselves with the united to either uphold or upset the will Canada and Upper Canada in the 1830s, opportunity to make 22 appointments as of the elected members of the House of but its structure survived remarkably well. soon as they formed the government. It did Commons? How could they effectively The Senate – the successor to the legisla- not matter much. In opposition, Trudeau caucus in order to make their positions tive council after the disastrous United had officially removed the senators from politically coherent? The answer is that we Province years – was created by the fathers the Liberal caucus. The rationale for that do not know, and Canadians don’t know of Confederation to give different sectors of decision was never clear. Many thought it who rules the Senate. Senators are now society a say in Parliament. As in the United was a simple matter of general shame, others utterly unaccountable and since they have States, it meant giving a place to represent simply perceived it as a fear that spending no label, their teams cannot be punished provinces, and within those provinces, scandals would splash on the Liberals. Few for their acts by a vote in the next election. social and political minorities. perceived it as a matter of principle. The situation is all the more troubling in Ideas for reforming the Senate, to Trudeau’s depoliticisation plans became that there is evidence that the so-called change the appointment models for more apparent when his government “independents” are actually caucusing. Supreme Court justices and for the House announced that nominations to the Senate How can the Senate be accountable in such of Commons have made their way in and would be subject to a supposedly partisan- a situation? out of Canada’s history. The Senate, often neutral application process. The prime The government’s manipulation was seen as an object of scorn, has probably minister’s office kept the right to make certainly not one to advance democra- attracted more attention than the others. the nomination, but new senators would cy, accountability or transparency. By Many want it to be more effective, more be based on a competition of “merit,” not removing party labels, most Senators are equal in terms of representation. Some want democratic needs and or provincial quotas. all apparently free agents. The only Senator its members to be elected. Others would As a result, it is not clear who or what the wearing a label is the government leader in simply like to see it dissolved. Senate represents. There are now 27 people the house, former mandarin Peter Harder,

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 19 who was partisan enough to lead the we know, there never was a “competition.” have won most of the time, or at least have Liberal party’s transition to government. The point is that the same outcome sufficient seats to force themselves into a They can decide to act, or not to act. Either could have been obtained by the traditional, governing coalition. Finally, the Trudeau they will vote with the government when more discretionary, and more honourable “reforms” attracted attention. pressed to do so or will decide to block the methods. The Trudeau habit of vaunting The government did not help itself. The will of the democratically-elected House competitions and empanelling “objective” first mistake was in insisting on carrying out of Commons. Not surprisingly, lobbyists juries produces no better product than in the preposterous promise of determining the have suddenly rushed to the Senate. The the past in the case of the Supreme Court next election under a system different than attraction of being able to sway a vote here and a much worse product in the case of the the one used since 1792 after the idea had and there without fear of retribution is Senate. What it has done is remove political been dismissed four times provincially — it simply irresistible. geography and politics from the equation. was also effectively dismissed for a fifth time This was not a good reform for an It is a showy procedure of no substance, but in October 2016 in PEI. The second was Upper House. The idea of nominating with serious implications. The government in awarding the portfolio to the youngest the equivalent of the Order of Canada has gotten away with it on two issues, but possible minister whose shaky awareness of to the Senate, and giving winners a very not on the third: electoral reform. the subtleties of Canadian democracy only generous salary to boot, until they retire, rivaled that of the Prime Minister’s. The was never on the table. It was an answer third was creating an unwieldy parliamen- to a non-problem. The Senate has always Nominations to tary committee and giving it the impossible been an issue of representation, not one of job of delivering a consensus on a highly expertise. The Senate has been reduced to a the Senate should complicated topic in the shortest imaginable technocracy. At least for now. go to people who time. Consensus was not possible: two The same process was used for the parties wanted a system of proportional Supreme Court. Faced with a vacancy have experience in representation; two parties did not seem – another example of the Harper representing others. to care either way. One party promised to government’s inattentive final two years – make peace but only on the condition of a Trudeau announced a now familiar scheme. referendum. The government party caved, Henceforth, the government would hold unable to make up its own mind. an open competition for the position. The During the 2015 election the Liberal The end result was a recommenda- assumption was that surely any suitable, party was very clear: The first-past-the-post tion for proportional representation and a highly qualified lawyer would want to seek method would be discarded, and legislation referendum on the issue: precisely the two a position on the Supreme Court and run establishing a new method of voting would options the prime minister did not want. the risk of having that candidacy publicly be submitted to parliament by mid-2017. Not surprisingly, Trudeau turned on his turned down. There was speculation that Trudeau heels, swallowed hard, and decided that The government appointed Kim harboured the hope that a ranked voting his government would not pursue electoral Campbell, a former minister of justice method would be easily sanctioned, which reform. The minister was dismissed, and the and prime minister, to sift through the would include a voter’s level of preference mandate to refresh democracy was handed nominations. She did this in secret, just like for nominees. A Tory voter, for instance, over to one who was even younger and less before. The first position to be filled was would put a number 1 next to the Tory experienced. an “Atlantic Canada” seat, but such petty nominee, with a number 2 (and so on) going The prime minister has been rebuffed geographic concerns were not deemed to to any other nominee. The notion was that on his electoral reform plan. Now his be important — at least not openly. In the every ballot would “count” as less-popular actions on the Senate and the Supreme end, a very good nominee was found from candidates were eliminated, until the choices Court must be rejected as well for the same Newfoundland and Labrador but the Liberal amounted to giving a winner enough votes to democratic reasons. government insisted that regional represen- win more than a 50 percent majority. Gone The Senate should be a house of tation would be secondary, if not tertiary, would be the days when a party nominee politicians. Expertise has its place, and the to other criteria such as merit, gender, could win with a small plurality of the vote. argument here is not that the Senate be ethnic representativeness, etc. It was never Based on past elections, most experts agreed revealed who else was in contention. For all that under this scheme the Liberals would Continued on page 34

20 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute confederation series Great Canadian Debates: Canadian history is nothing to be ashamed of? On March 28, 2017, Jack Granatstein and Noah Richler argued the resolution “Canadian history is nothing to be ashamed of” at a debate hosted by MLI in Ottawa. Granatstein argued in favour, while Richler argued against. Their respective arguments were later published in the Globe and Mail. We should celebrate We can’t ignore all of Canada’s past our history’s dark side Jack Granatstein Noah Richler

istory matters. Canadian history matters. And certain- t is consistent to love one’s country but also to find shame in Hly it matters to the industry that has sprung up in this Iits history. Moreover, the reconciling of pride and shame is a sesquicentennial year of Confederation to those who have set matter of necessity. out to dump on founders such as John A. Macdonald, Hector If, at its best, our history has led to “the fair country” and a Langevin, and a host of others. Such men were racists, men who consideration of the other that has vaulted forward Canadians’ wanted to rid the land of Aboriginal peoples and bring in only excellence in the field of human rights, so does it have a dark side. Aryan immigrants. Or so we are told, as some historians and For alongside a history of negotiation and compromise that others shamelessly apply the ideas and attitudes of the present arose because the territory we call “Canada” was always too large to the past. and obdurate to conventionally conquer and manage, are acts of But the past is a foreign country. Men and women were erasure and abuse inextricable from this country’s foundation. different then, and they held beliefs and biases that are not ours I will not bore you. It is an achievement for Canadians (if today. Women knew their place was in the kitchen, and men not their senators) to be unaware of shameful chapters in our ruled. Children were kept in line at home and in school with history, so among the several to choose from – the turning away corporal punishment. It was a given that the First Nations were of the Komagata Maru and then the MS St. Louis and these ships’ a dying race, savages whose only hope was to adjust to life as human cargoes of South Asian and Jewish refugees are a couple of farmers on reserves or to living in white society. It was a fixed others – I’ll mention three. belief that whites were superior to blacks and Asians, and that Shame is what the experience of Africadians, and the slaves the British, Scandinavians, and Germans were by definition and black United Empire Loyalists who preceded them, must superior to Italians and other southern Europeans. Of course, engender. Shame is what the grand derangement or deportation, Christianity was the only true religion, all others by definition in 1755, of Acadians that was a first act of ethnic cleansing, should almost unholy. Jesus Christ was certainly a superior being to bring on. Shame is what the persistently criminal abuse, maltreat- Mohammed, or so my history teacher in Grade 11 told us with ment and insufficient resourcing of First Nations has to prompt. complete certainty. Jack Granatstein, who has written of his resentment of “the We no longer share such beliefs (or, if we do, we do so in grievers among us, the present-day crusaders against public policy hushed whispers), but when we talk about Canada in the past, or discrimination” using our history “to teach a lesson about racism we must understand the context of those times. We believe our and sexism,” will urge you to consider the context and tell you attitudes to be superior to those of our forefathers, but we cannot that the prejudice against First Nations bequeathed by John A. understand them unless we walk in their shoes. That is the first Macdonald and his brethren (that’s the right word, women did not lesson that historians are supposed to learn but, for far too many come into it – another source of shame) was typical of the times. students of the past, it is a lesson they are quick to forget. But this does not excuse it, not least because it is not true.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 21 Granatstein (cont’d) Richler (cont’d) Imagine how some of our present attitudes might look in Canada’s neglect, and worse, of First Nations – their starvation the 22nd century. Parents no longer spank their children and the upon the plains, their subjugation to the Indian Act, and then strap has disappeared from the schoolroom. Has that improved the criminal underfunding of residential schools designed to erase discipline? We’ll see what historians of childhood say in 2117. Indigenous identity and cultures – came three centuries after the The best we can hope is that they will try to understand the human nature of Amerindians was argued by Bartolomé de las beliefs and attitudes of Canadians in 2017. Casas in the Valladolid debate of 1550-51. The source of our shame Yes, there have been grave errors with prejudice, racism, took root, here, at a time when the sort of enlightened views it is exploitation, and bias occurring all too often. Is there any nation utterly reasonable to expect of historical exemplars already existed. in which that was not so? Where is such a paradise? Canadians It can be found, for instance, in debates that took place in the can say with a clear conscience that they British Columbian legislature when, in 1870, have never fought a war of aggression, that colony was considering joining Confedera- never sought territorial gain, never tion. (Henry Holbrook and E.G. Alston were engaged in genocide or created among legislators asking that members of First concentration camps (the foolish We believe our Nations to be accepted as equals.) comments of Chief Justice Beverley attitudes to be And if we find nothing in our history to McLachlin notwithstanding). We were be shameful of, then what point is there in it? and are not all saints, but there are superior to those of Are we only to puff up with pride at battles relatively few blots on our escutcheon. our forefathers, but we ourselves did not fight? If we’re not to feel We have no reason to be ashamed of shame, what right do we have to be proud? our history. we cannot understand The historian Niall Ferguson, ever an acolyte But we won’t learn much about this them unless we walk of Empire, tells us to ask if there was “a better, as we mark Canada’s 150th birthday. plausible alternative” when assessing history’s Our Minister of Canadian Heritage in their shoes. misdemeanours. In all the instances I mention, is forward-looking, telling us that the there were. The ransacking of Acadian homes, – Jack Granatstein government plans to celebrate diversity, separation of families and then their dispersal reconciliation and the environment, all was a quasi-scientific exercise perpetrated with worthy subjects. Yet she and her department apparently know a view to the elimination of a culture – in reality, it enforced it – nothing of heritage (what we wish had happened), let alone and was unnecessary. The racism black United Empire Loyalists history (what did happen). There is nothing wrong with a celebra- experienced was so egregious that when John Clarkson arrived in tion that looks forward, of course, but it would be much better if Nova Scotia in 1791 looking for recruits to save Sierra Leone, the this anniversary were firmly based on knowledge of our history. West African colony for freed slaves, the British abolitionist was But that seems to be too much to ask of a nation whose quickly oversubscribed and cut his tour short. Mr. Clarkson was, in Prime Minister believes that we have a “pan-cultural heritage.” his very being, the symbol of “a better, plausible alternative.” There is, he has said, “no core identity, no mainstream in Canada As for Canada’s relationship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis ... the first post-national state.” – well, we are only now in sight of that better, plausible alternative, This, I suggest, is utter nonsense. Canada’s success, Canada’s and there is no doubting shame is the vehicle that has put us here. glory, has come about because we remain firmly part of Western The Ancient Greek word for shame is “aidos.” It describes not Civilization, because we have brought in peoples from all over the just guilt but the humility and awe the conscientious person feels in globe and made them part of us. We would be better Canadians the face of that which is belittling. Shame, a profoundly uncomfort- if we taught our history to our newcomers and our native-born able feeling, is also an edifying one that it’s morally incumbent but, at the very least, we all absorb the tenets of freedom and upon us to acknowledge. Shame is a positive force because coming democracy in the air we breathe. That matters, and Canadians to terms with it engenders change and the better. who fought and died for those core attributes of our civilization The society that does not engage with the shame in its past left us a legacy of which we can and should be proud. cannot be progressive.

Canadian historian J.L. Granatstein writes extensively on political, military, and Noah Richler is the author most recently of The Candidate, nominated for the diplomatic history. 2016 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize.

22 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute russia What does Putin want? And how can we stop him? NATO countries, including Canada, need to increase their defence spending in order to demonstrate resolve in the face of the new Russian assertiveness.

Richard Cohen 1933-1939 during which Nazi Germany War, I worked closely with senior military reconstituted its armed forces for war and and civilian officials of nearly all the countries ladimir Putin is on a roll. overwhelmed continental Europe and a of the former Soviet bloc. Every one of them V He’s annexed Crimea, created a large part of the Soviet Union. felt that they had achieved something hugely Russian mini-state in Eastern Ukraine, and positive from the advent of the new world reasserted Russia’s role as a regional and order. They yearned to be accepted into the world power by his intervention in Syria fold of western democratic nations; all, that and growing influence in the wider Middle is, except the Russians. Almost every Russian East. He’s frightened his neighbours and parliamentarian, diplomat, military officer sent a chill through Europe and across the and academic I met, openly or more discreet- Atlantic. And, most recently, he’s thrown ly, resented the “victorious” West. They felt the American electoral process into tricked and betrayed. As a relatively junior confusion as well as possibly those of some KGB officer stationed in East Germany, of its major allies. All this on the back of Vladimir Putin witnessed firsthand the an economy one sixth the size of the US disintegration of the Soviet Empire and and with a declining population. there’s no doubt that he harboured that same Putin’s adventures have been achieved by bitterness and resentment. the carefully targeted use of military power Putin’s bottom line is also highly combined with a strong element of cyber personal; he believes that he can reshape the

and (dis)information warfare. Russian armed iStock world. To do so he must remain in power forces have been modernized and improved as long as possible. As a relatively youthful What does Putin want? and sent into battle at a breathtaking pace. and vigorous man he looks forward to at New tanks, aircraft and ships, state of the art Putin’s long term aim is clear. He has least another decade as president, long anti-aircraft systems, new cruise and ballistic never accepted the post-Cold War order enough perhaps to see Russia restored to missiles, advanced submarines and world and certainly not that it marks the “end its former “glory.” class electronic and cyber warfare capabilities of history.” His goal is to overturn the have all been fielded in an incredibly short dominance of US power and to replace Strategist or Tactician? time. Russian long-range aircraft, ships and it with a multipolar system, if possible It’s not yet clear whether Putin is a master submarines patrol aggressively near NATO with Russia as a first amongst equals. strategist or merely a skillful tactician. He coasts. There are now reports that Russia To achieve this he is working to destabi- may well be both. Does he have a detailed is even planning to build a huge nuclear- lize NATO and the EU, which are seen plan to achieve his goals or is he an agile powered aircraft carrier. as major threats and obstacles to Russian opportunist prepared to exploit Western Most importantly, Putin has restruc- influence in Europe and further afield. weakness when and where he finds it? tured the Russian armed forces and restored Putin’s mission is the restoration of The Obama administration gave Putin a sense of purpose and pride to a force that Russian greatness and influence in the the opportunities he was looking for. for years was written off as demoralized and world, evaporated with the collapse of the When Obama ignored his own “red line” incapable of effective operations. Russian Soviet Union – an event he’s described in Syria, Putin sensed an open door. He defence spending is now reckoned to rank as the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the could make bold and aggressive moves in 3rd in the world behind the US and China. 20th century. Crimea, Eastern Ukraine, and Syria with It’s eerily reminiscent of the period from In the years following the end of the Cold little risk of serious consequences. His

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 23 “victories” have earned him the respect indulge in even riskier foreign adventures had any intention of achieving the agreed of despots around the world, from Syria which could push him into situations that NATO goal of 2 percent of GDP defence and Iran to North Korea and Venezuela. he would otherwise rather avoid. This may spending. A recent Senate of Canada Would-be autocrats in Turkey, Hungary, be our biggest danger. Defence Committee report put our and other places are scrambling to befriend A potential flashpoint is the Baltic current number at 0.88 percent, above him. Even the new US president expressed States with their sizeable Russian only Luxembourg in the NATO league admiration of his leadership…although minorities. NATO’s “reassurance” mission table! As Andrew Coyne stated recently, this may be changing! in these countries is designed to deter “Canada’s history of welching on our What is clear is that Putin is a man of Putin. But at the end of the day, if he feels NATO commitments [cannot] be anything action, prepared to take risks in pursuit of compelled to act, he probably will. Will but a source of national shame.” his goals. He is not afraid to jump into the NATO “tripwire” forces, including a vacuum where he finds it. One such a Canadian contingent, really dissuade vacuum, of immediate concern to Canada, him? And if not, could we and other is the Arctic. There, Russia is quickly NATO troops become hostages, or worse, He has never establishing a powerful military, scientif- to hybrid warfare by Russia – perhaps ic, and economic presence while other followed by a massive military push across accepted the northern countries look on in fascinated the Baltic frontiers? What would NATO’s post-Cold War order but apparently helpless bewilderment. Article 5 collective defence guarantee mean if Russian troops – or perhaps “little and certainly not How can he afford it? green men” – are walking down the streets that it marks the Of course, a huge military buildup and of Talinn, for example? ambitious foreign adventures come at a big Tripwires are only effective if there is “end of history.” financial cost. How can Russia afford it? something serious to trip! At the moment, The country has dwindling but still sizeable NATO has little military punch in Central reserves of foreign currency and gold built Europe to react to a serious Russian But a real hike in military spending up during the oil boom of 2009-2014. As incursion. Although the US certainly outguns will only happen if ordinary Canadians are these run down, Putin could also “borrow” Russia on a global basis, American and allied persuaded that the safety of their country funds from his oligarchs who are totally de- military power on the ground in Europe are and their own personal well-being are at pendent on him for their continued pros- not up to a large scale military clash in the risk unless we’re prepared to make the perity, and perhaps more importantly, for Baltics, especially when Putin threatens to necessary sacrifices. Concerned citizens their personal safety and well-being. play the “nuclear card.” Would the US and groups, parliamentary committees, the But Putin may well believe he has a NATO be prepared to call his bluff? media and other opinion makers can help limited window in which to achieve his aims. but it’s the government that must lead a The Russian people are long suffering and at “If you Desire Peace, Prepare for War” campaign to mobilize public support. So the moment seem prepared to support him A much safer alternative to a dangerous far there seems little hope of that. on the back of his foreign policy “successes.” military showdown is to pre-empt Russia Donald Trump will push and cajole us. He’s restored the pride of Russians in their with a demonstration of real Western re- But in the end it may be Vladimir Putin country but he’s not improved their standard solve. At the end of the day, we can only who finally shocks Canadians into taking of living. And the extreme wealth of Putin persuade Putin that we are serious about de- the security and defence of our allies and and his cronies (including most recently fending ourselves and our allies if we imple- of our own country seriously. And if and revealed, Prime Minister Medvedev’s ment our own military buildup. Until now when that happens, it may be too late! accumulated billions) has not escaped NATO nations have been very slow to in- notice. How long Putin’s popularity will last crease defence spending and to significantly Richard Cohen is president of RSC Strategic is anyone’s guess but he must realize that at strengthen their military capabilities, even Connections and served in the Canadian and British some stage people will be demanding more in the face of the new Russian assertiveness. Armies. He was Professor of European Security Studies at home in spite of the well-orchestrated Canada is one of the worst laggards at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security adulation of the Russian media. in terms of defence spending. Neither Studies and from 2007-2011, Senior Defence Advisor to To keep public support, Putin may Stephen Harper nor Justin Trudeau ever the Minister of National Defence.

24 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute russia The Caucasus as a laboratory for Russian hybrid warfare The Russian approach to hybrid warfare, which was applied successfully in Ukraine, was first tested in its 2008 conflict with Georgia.

Michael Lambert of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty in In the face of these two threats, Russian the event of conflict, which can include leaders moved quickly to develop a response. ussia’s return to the international scene immediate response from allies, including When it comes to NATO, it showed a strong Ris a recent phenomenon, evidenced several nuclear powers such as the United interest in exploiting the legal Article 5 by its annexation of the Crimea in 2014, States, Great Britain, and France. Facing loophole that required identifying a perpetra- emergence of the conflict in the Donbass such a threat, Russia would then assuredly tor. It did so by accentuating the develop- in 2015, and intervention in Syria shortly renounce any possible military intervention. ment of cyber-war and raising the possibility thereafter. Prior to this period, the influence To the leaders in Moscow, however, of civil war in NATO members, for example, of Moscow with its “near abroad” seemed there was a flaw in the underlying reasoning by using regional claims of some minorities completely different, even endangered behind NATO. For one, Article 5 cannot like the Russian speakers in Estonia. with the successive enlargements of NATO be invoked unless an “aggressor” is legally Moscow also sought to push back and of the European Union in post-Soviet identified, which means that a civil war in on the Eastern partnership by playing on space in 2004 and 2007, and on the other a member country of NATO would not its legal character. Integration of a new hand, the launch in 2009 of the Eastern qualify for an Article 5 intervention. Even Member in the EU is based on the territo- partnership – an economic initiative that with its limited military power, the Kremlin rial control of the government in question, impinges directly on the Kremlin’s “sphere began to see opportunities in the weakness- which must make their claim on the whole of influence” in this area. es and internal divisions within NATO of its territory. Put simply, the European If Russian influence in its near abroad member states, which in turn opened up Union cannot share borders with “states seems alive and well today, it is largely the possibility for a less costly, more subtle that do not exist.” As a result, countries that thanks to its new strategy that combines approach to counter the Alliance. may wish to apply to join the EU cannot military and diplomatic approaches, which The second threat is embodied by the have questions on their territorial integri- can be used to cleverly circumvent the EU’s Eastern partnership initiative. Launched ty. This helps to explain why, of the six application of Article 5 of the Washington in 2009, this program allows the EU to Member States of the Eastern partnership, Treaty. However, much less is known about finance projects that favour the promotion only Belarus has no territorial dispute. the origins of this form of “hybrid warfare.” of European values in countries that are not “Divide and rule,” which quickly became In fact, it actually dates back to the conflict yet members, such as Ukraine and Georgia. the leitmotif of the Kremlin’s new military between Russia and Georgia in 2008, where This non-military influence turns out to be and diplomatic strategy, needed to be tested the Kremlin was able to experiment with problematic for Moscow because it weakens in real conditions. To do so, a territory or elements of hybrid warfare and learned Russia in its historic near abroad, which has experiment needed to be selected for this basic lessons later applied in Ukraine. traditionally served as a buffer between it and approach. Knowing that all new members Strategically, the 2008 Georgia conflict the Western world. If funding to Eastern of the EU are also in NATO, it was useful took place at a time of declining Russian Europe posed a problem, the prospect of a to employ this strategy on a country that influence and military power within Eastern third major expansion to the East – that is was part of the Eastern partnership. Belarus Europe, including the Caucasus, which to say Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia – was was a friendly country, and the same could was cut off geographically from the rest of seen as unacceptable. According to Moscow, be said for Ukraine at this time, Moldova Europe by the Black Sea. At this time, the that would mean the loss of control of the was at the edge of a financial abyss, while Kremlin faced two main threats – NATO Black Sea, the presence of a European outpost Armenia and Azerbaijan were mired in the and the EU. The first is military, in that in the Caucasus, and the possibly access to conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh. In contrast, member states of NATO gain the benefit Azerbaijan’s hydrocarbons for the EU. Georgia was pro-Western, relatively modern,

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 25 supported militarily by the United States The events in the the Russian strategy is therefore focused but not a member of NATO, and wishing primarily to arm separatists and to lead a to present its candidacy to join the European Caucasus and in more stationary, less costly conflict – in terms Union in the coming years. Abkhazia in 2008 of manpower and material. It’s also difficult Unlike what happened in Crimea in for Russia to deploy sizable number of troops 2014 and the Donbass in 2015, there was mark a rupture for a long period, given that that would risk no need for the Kremlin to create a separat- in the hybrid war pressure from the international community. ist territory. Georgia already has two since This lesson on the costs of a large-scale 1992: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It is design of response rather than local action can be more a question of strengthening these the Kremlin. found in Ukraine in 2014-2015, where the separatist trends, and pushing Georgia’s Russian army intensified its presence only government to make a strategic mistake by after the referendum in Crimea, and where attacking these de facto states. the fear of all states with territorial disputes. separatists fuel the fighting in Donbass – a To strengthen separatist trends, the The events in the Caucasus and in Abkhazia region to which the Russian military has Russian government would use Abkhaz and in 2008 mark a rupture in the hybrid not been legally or officially committed Russian in Abkhazia media, as well as that war design of the Kremlin, combining to this day. Instead of getting directly of Sukhumi University. At this time, there approaches that presaged what happened involved, Russia used a limited number was the highlighting of cultural traditions in Ukraine six years later with Crimea’s of unofficial forces, such as the so-called of Abkhazia in school curricula, including annexation, and the instrumentalization of “little green men,” and relied on local dances before the ceremony of graduation media in the southeast of the country. mafias to provide weapons to the separat- at the University, as well as the screening of From a military dimension, Russia faces ists, in order to make sure the country will films on the “ancestors” of the Abkhaz, whose both a limited budget and a strong demand not be identified as a foreign aggressor. origins seem to diverge from the rest of the for military modernization. It is therefore The Caucasus was, in many ways, a Georgians. Sputnik-Abkhazia Russian media more advantageous to support separatists in laboratory for experimenting with strategies began to publish an increasing number the Donbass who are willing to fight in lieu of hybrid warfare, well before the events that of articles that presented the territory in a of Russian soldiers. This utilitarian view is took place in Ukraine. To this day, Georgia positive light, with the emphasis on friendship once again inherited from the war between remains a diplomatic testing ground for with the new Russia that brought protection the Russia and Georgia in 2008. At that the Kremlin – given the presence of the by deploying troops in 1992, which remain time, the Kremlin pushed Georgians to only two de facto states of its near abroad there as “peacekeepers” to this day. attack Abkhazia. In so doing, the Kremlin recognized by Moscow, Abkhazia and South 2008-2009 refined this idea of media was then able to justify its large-scale military Ossetia, and with Armenia now a member manipulation in the separatist territories by intervention, its own casualties, and the illegal of the Eurasian Economic Union. There Moscow. Today, more than 30 journalists intrusion of Georgia on behalf of a territory is no doubt this new Union could serve from Sputnik can be found in the premises of under its protection. This constitutes, under to increase the integration of Abkhazia a new business centre in the heart of Sukhumi Russian law, legitimate ground for interfer- and South Ossetia with Russia, without – a large number compared to the relatively ence and so war to occupy all the territory necessarily connecting them within the low priority accorded to the Abkhaz in the of Georgia in 2008. From that experience, Federation as was the case of Crimea. Russian media, even at the regional level. The we can easily imagine what would happen The Caucasus remains a laboratory open presence of an unusual number of journalists if Moldova tried to take back Transnistria or for Russian strategists and diplomats, in terms could easily be explained by the possibility the Ukraine vis-à-vis Crimea. Therefore, the of war, diplomacy, and hybrid warfare. of using them in the event of recurrence of possible presence of Russian “peacekeepers” conflict with the Georgia to encourage the in the Donbass would mark a new stage and Michael E. Lambert received a PhD in History of strengthening of regional identity. a danger to Ukraine. Europe and International Relations from Sorbonne Russia’s divide-and-rule strategy However, the Kremlin also took several University, France. He is Founder and Director of the culminated in its diplomatic recognition of other lessons from its experience in Georgia, Caucasus Initiative, a new independent and unaligned Abkhazia in 2008, echoing that of Kosovo including the consequent financial cost owing European Policy Center with the mission to analyze by the West a few months apart. The to the deployment of fighter jets and ground contemporary issues related to de facto states and the recognition of a separatist territory remains vehicles to the Caucasus. Given this situation, Black Sea area.

26 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute defence policy review The Defence Policy Review: Déjà vu all over again

The Defence Policy Review is not a break from past White Papers. It also contains problematic elements, not least a disconnect in how to deal with the United States.

James Fergusson

n the surface, the Defence Policy OReview (DPR) document (a white paper by another name, but out of fashion because of the concept’s British colonial legacy) has much to be applauded for. A long term plan, increased spending, detailed, costed procurement programs, and a commitment to people. In twenty years, all will be well. But, twenty years is a very long time in politics. If history is a guide, one cannot help but recall the bold, detailed 1987 White Paper, gutted and obsolete in two years as a function of the new geo-strategic environ- ment and national economic problems. Regardless, even if the Canadian economy

remains relatively good over the next twenty, Canadian soldiers in Latvia, June 2017. this is no guarantee that future governments, (MCpl True-dee McCarthy, Canadian Forces Combat Camera/ combatcamera.forces.gc.ca) Liberal or not, will actually follow through on the DPR’s commitment. across every possible threat environment (and it doesn’t truly represent a break from past This, of course, is the easy criticism of the in the absence of any clear threat prioritiza- White Papers. DPR. Indeed, one should not be surprised tion), the threat environment twenty or even Look, for example, at the proposals in by the government’s decision to push defence ten years from now is anyone’s guess, as is the 1971 Defence White Paper, and the investment down the road, well after the the real future requirements of the Canadian investments subsequently made over the next federal election. But then, by the next Armed Forces, future technological develop- following decade or so – two different beasts. election, even if the Liberals are re-elected, ments and the real costs of future equipment. Thus, what the government plans to do as the DPR will be long forgotten. The DPR In effect, the DPR proposes to acquire detailed in the DPR is not likely to be what in many respects is politically brilliant. It capabilities of significance for today, or the it does years from now. And, of course, if the pleases the pro-defence attentive public (the next five years, not for ten or twenty years Liberals win re-election, there will not be a optimism following its release is indicative), down the road. new DPR (white paper), regardless of how and directs attention away from key substan- Naturally, no one can predict the future much the world changes. tive issues facing National Defence and the ten or twenty years out. Thus, the real There are also other disconcerting Canadian Armed Forces to whether the assessment of the value and utility of the elements. Generally, most observers believe government will actually follow through. DPR is what is planned over the next five that a DPR should follow, after a Foreign Moreover, it may be even more problem- years, and the answer is not very much. In Affairs (now Global Affairs) policy review. atic if the government does follow through. this regard, the DPR is very much the same Notwithstanding the thorough discussion old, same old. Despite its lovely rhetoric, Continued on page 34

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 27 china China’s newest aircraft carrier a sign of its naval ambitions

China’s newest Indigenously built aircraft carrier is indicative of China’s growing naval ambitions that need to be taken very seriously.

David McDonough carrier can, at best, only carry roughly carrier aviation. half the aircraft of a Nimitz-class supercar- In contrast, China has been using its he world’s attention has been rightly rier. China is still limited by its reliance on first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, largely T focused on North Korea. Yet, just the old Soviet Kuznetsov-class design. For to train its sailors and air crews to operate as the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike instance, its carriers lack a steam-powered on a flat top. It will likely take many group made its way across the western catapult to launch aircraft; instead using an years to master the skills required for such Pacific, China also made additional waves older, inefficient ski-jump configuration, operations, even if there is the possibility by launching its first Indigenously built in which aircraft expend their own fuel for of leveraging US lessons here. aircraft carrier at a shipyard in Dalian – the take-off. This reduces the operational range Therefore, the Liaoning should not be second to join its fleet. of its naval aviation and limits the size and seen as an immediate game changer – and With this carrier, Beijing joins a small, weight (including payload) of the carrier- neither should its slightly larger sibling, very select group of countries, including the based aircraft. the unnamed Type 001A. Both have US, UK, and France, that have the means to The USSCarl Vinson is only one the capabilities to undertake important construct aircraft carriers domestically. supercarrier of a US fleet of 10. Two new missions, from providing air cover to other It’s important not to overstate the significance of this development. The nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson has a fully Beijing joins a small group of countries loaded displacement of 100,000 tonnes – compared to the 70,000 tonnes for China’s that have the means to construct new Type 001A carrier. The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers domestically. ship is armed with an array of anti-air and anti-ship weapons and countermeasures, to say nothing of a carrier air wing of fighters ships, of the more advanced Gerald R. naval forces to a possible anti-submarine and support aircraft (normally 60-70) that Ford-class, are on their way. Importantly, warfare role. They are “starter carriers,” to can be launched using its catapult launch these ships have an electrical generation use scholar Andrew Erickson’s term, rather and arrested recovery system. capacity that dwarfs their predecessor than training vessels per se. But that is still a Both of China’s carriers do have some – a feature helping to power its electro- far cry from the fully operational and battle- important features, however. The Liaoning magnetic catapult-launch system and which tested supercarriers the US operates. may be a refurbished Soviet Kuznetsov-class opens the way for direct energy weapons However, while not an immediate game ship purchased from Ukraine, but it has and electro-magnetic railguns. changer vis-à-vis the US, these carriers do been extensively outfitted with electron- All this is to say the US capability point to a worrisome trend – the accelerat- ics, radar, and weapons systems. The Type for blue-water power projection remains ing growth in Chinese naval capabilities. 001A carrier, while based on this old Soviet exceedingly strong. Indeed, supercarri- A good case in point is the number of design, also boasts some important design ers operate in formidable carrier strike ships being commissioned by the People’s improvements, including more advanced groups involving guided-missile destroyers, Liberation Army’s Navy (PLAN). In 2016 radar, more space for its crew, and the cruisers, nuclear attack submarines (SSN), alone, it commissioned 18 ships of various capacity for a slightly larger air wing (32 and other support vessels. The US military types, which in total tonnage displaced versus 24 aircraft). has decades of experience operating the at 150,000 tonnes – or what the China Still, even the larger Type 001A complex system of systems required for Daily noted was half the entire British

28 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute naval fleet. From 2000-2016, the PLAN China’s naval force Last, even as it launches its Type 001A, commissioned 19 destroyers, 29 frigates, 45 China is also currently constructing its third submarines and, since 2013, 30 corvettes, is arguably one of aircraft carrier at a shipyard in Shanghai. most of which are modern in their design the more potent Notably, this is expected to be a much larger, and capabilities. possibly nuclear-powered vessel – with This does not mean the PLAN has grown examples of what more room for aircraft than its predecessors. in absolute terms, as older ships are being Alfred Thayer The Type 002 will actually use a catapult- retired. But it does mean the PLAN’s naval launched and arrested recovery system, force is becoming increasingly modern. A Mahan called a making it both a fundamental departure good example is how its Luyang-III destroyer fortress fleet. from China’s reliance on old Soviet designs and Jiankei-II frigates are armed with vertical and much closer in appearance and function launch systems and phased-array radars that to US aircraft carriers. look remarkably like US Aegis systems – missiles, giving them an important offensive US defence planners should be and which will provide an important area means to deny the maritime domain from concerned by China’s naval ambitions. air defence (AAD) capability. Or the fact potential adversaries – or sea denial. But The USN may enjoy a strong quantitative that the much smaller corvettes are geared AAD and ASW are widely considered (in terms of modern ships) and qualitative towards anti-submarine warfare (ASW) – a critical defensive capabilities necessary for advantage today. But the former is mitigated traditional weakness of the PLAN. the PLAN to protect its forward deployed by the extent to which the USN is a globally China’s naval forces would pose a naval forces, such as carrier strike groups, deployed force compared to the regionally particularly formidable challenge within operating away from shore-based assets – focused PLAN. The latter is being degraded the first island chain, connecting the islands helping to ensure that the more challenging by both asymmetrical measures geared to of Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. goal of sea control is achieved. deny US access to the near seas, as well as Within this chain, China would benefit A possible indicator on the extent more symmetrical efforts to turn the PLAN from a number of shore-based assets that of China’s ambitions can be found in the into a truly blue-water fleet. would make unfettered access to this words of an unnamed Chinese defence China does have some important environment difficult, even for the US analyst, who told the People’s Daily that hurdles still to overcome, not least in its Navy (USN) – including advanced surface- China requires five to six aircraft carriers – naval propulsion systems. Still, the trend to-air missile (SAM) systems, a growing for two carrier strike groups in the western lines here are especially worrisome – and fleet of fourth-generation aircraft (the Pacific and two for the Indian Ocean. not just to the USN, given the limits of largest after the US and Russia), land-attack Irrespective of whether this is official Japan’s power projection capabilities and cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, and a government policy, China is moving to make structural weaknesses curtailing India’s mobile anti-ship ballistic missile that could this vision a reality. With the Luyang-III own naval ambitions. As Erickson notes, potentially hold at-risk targets even beyond and Jiankei-II, China already has the initial if it continues, China will have the second the first island chain. elements of a surface escort for its carriers. largest navy in the world by 2020 and a China’s naval force is arguably one of the Importantly, it is reportedly working on combat fleet that, in terms of hardware, more potent examples of what Alfred Thayer a guided-missile cruiser (Type 055) with “is quantitatively and even perhaps Mahan called a fortress fleet – a force that a displacement of 10,000-12,000 tonnes. qualitatively on a par with that of the uses shore-based assets as a protective cover. Larger than the USN’s Arleigh Burke-class USN by 2030.” Of course, Mahan never envisioned that the destroyer, the Type 055 is expected to have a If that comes to pass, then the arrival reach of these shore-based assets would go so long range and be multi-mission capable with of the Liaoning and the Type 001A far beyond the immediate coastal littoral. anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine carriers would indeed be remembered as Yet, China’s two aircraft carriers indicate capabilities – and likely to serve as the core an inflection point – when US strategic even more ambitious plans for a blue-water of any PLAN carrier strike group. predominance in the western Pacific began naval force – one that isn’t so reliant on China also appears to have plans for an to give way to Chinese predominance. coastal, shore-based systems for protection. expanded fleet of nuclear attack submarines, That puts into perspective the PLAN’s focus with the much quieter Type 095 expected to David McDonough is Deputy Editor at MLI and a on AAD and potentially ASW. PLAN ships be constructed at its new advanced facility Research Fellow at Dalhousie University’s Centre for are already extensively armed with anti-ship at Huludao, Liaoning Province. the Study of Security and Development.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 29 japan-india axis The emerging Japan-India axis as counterweight to China

An emerging axis between two democratic great powers, Japan and India, could serve as the foundation for countering China.

Brian Lee Crowley perceived rivals, not least the United States. to a naval presence in the Indian Ocean, This contrasts with US-led initiatives is largely a response to China’s increasing hina may be eager to show itself as a like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, where leverage in the region. New Delhi’s “Act Cmajor economic force and voice for states would be free to work together East” policy extends this strategic focus to trade openness. This was the face China’s to counter Chinese power. Indeed, Southeast Asia. President Xi Jinping presented at this year’s beyond trade, the TPP represented the Japan is also particularly wary of China’s World Economic Forum in Davos. first tentative step towards a regional rise, especially given its continuing disputes It was also fully on display with China’s community of like-minded countries that with Beijing – from ownership over the recent Belt and Road Forum, where 29 could stand toe-to-toe with China on a disputed Senkaku islands to China’s expansive leaders from across the Indo-Pacific came wide variety of files. Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) together to discuss China’s ambitious One Belt One Road (OBOR) infrastructure initiative that will link Central and Southeast A Japan-India axis is the first step to a Asia to the Middle East and Europe. larger Indo-Pacific grouping of like-minded Yet more uncertain is whether China can be brought to accept and support a states pursuing the rule of law, freedom of liberal world order based on the rule of law the seas and liberal international trade. and peaceful resolution of disputes. There is perhaps no other file that encapsulates everything worrisome about Yet, with Washington’s abandonment over the East China Sea. Japan must also China’s behaviour than its current activities of the TPP, many countries have come to contend with its very vulnerable geographic in the South China Sea, perhaps the question America’s commitment to the position, especially its reliance on sea lines of pre-eminent route of maritime commerce Indo-Pacific. communication, including massive energy in the world today. Even the (in my view) likely resurrec- shipments from the Middle East. China has claimed virtually all the tion of TPP, under another name and with Should the US fail to come back to land features and much of the waters further significant concessions to the US, the table for a renamed and revitalised of this “near sea,” flouting all the rules will not erase the anxiety that America’s TPP, Tokyo and New Delhi appear ready to establish maritime boundaries and weathervane-like shifts of policy have to lead the charge for open trade within economic zones. Of particular concern has created in many minds. the market-oriented economies of the been China’s dredging of waters around With that in mind, we need to look Indo-Pacific. Early hints of such a vision various uninhabitable atolls, reefs and rocks towards the emerging axis between the can be found in Japan’s refusal to accept that to build manmade islands. Three are near region’s two democratic great powers, the TPP is dead, even in the absence of the completion, likely for military use. Japan and India – an axis that can serve United States. Even when China takes the lead in as the foundation for a larger grouping of Both Japan and India have also new initiatives like OBOR or creates new like-minded states. launched their own infrastructure initiatives institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Both countries have an interest in in the region. With Japan’s Partnership for Investment Bank, it does so to expand its counterbalancing China. The multi-faceted Quality Infrastructure initiative and India’s own geo-strategic influence and to counter Sino-Indian rivalry is real. India’s strategic the institutional order and influence of focus on the Middle East, from energy trade Continued on page 35

30 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute northern ontario How to finally ignite Ontario’s Ring of Fire

The potential of the Ring of Fire to bring prosperity to Indigenous communities remains trapped under a simmering conflict.

Heather Hall Ken Coates

remier Kathleen Wynne has jumped Pinto the long-standing debate over the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario. Recently, she called on northern chiefs to seize the province’s offer to spend $1 billion on crucial road development and to not “squander” the opportunity for economic development in an area desperate for work and social improvements. The premier’s blunt intervention is a sign of the pent-up frustration among governments, companies and Indigenous communities about the slow progress and endless negotiations surrounding the region’s vast deposits of chromite, nickel and other minerals. While the premier may feel frustration, in Northern Ontario there is a widespread feeling in many Indigenous communities that the infrastructure needs of resource development. While governments and the support cautious and well-monitored firms get more attention from government resource sector have made major improve- development. than the serious community infrastructure ments in recent decades with regard to But this promising news comes with deficits that have existed for years. Many assessing and mitigating environmental a caveat. The governments of Ontario Indigenous communities in Northern impacts, skepticism remains. and Canada cannot assume that resource Ontario, especially in the Far North, have to National experience with Indigenous development will miraculously bring deal with a variety of deplorable conditions, involvement in the resource economy opportunity and well-being to communities including over-crowded housing, a provides reasons for hope – and for that have been marginalized for generations. lack of clean drinking water, limited or caution. Many Indigenous communities At the same time, the mining sector cannot non-existent road access, and a myriad of have signed mutually beneficial impact carry the financial burden of addressing social, economic and cultural challenges. and benefit agreements with mining long-term socio-economic dislocation. Within communities, Indigenous and other resource companies. Several Governments must, therefore, work people debate the relative merits of develop- Canadian jurisdictions have encouraged with Indigenous communities to develop ment with great intensity and are divided Indigenous participation through a process viable and responsible plans for community over the balance between jobs, business of sharing government revenues from development in Northern Ontario. Once opportunities and community benefits, resource development. Many stakeholders this community renewal is underway – and and the environmental impacts and social have learned to work together effectively

iStock disruptions that accompany mineral through sound and viable solutions that Continued on page 35

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 31 obituary Workers’ wages (Crowley) Continued from page 30 A life in defence of free and independent thinking: Remembering Michael Bliss With the passing of Michael Bliss we have lost one of the greats of Canadian history.

Patrick Luciani kind of tortured academic jargon that is common in our post-structuralist world. came to know Michael Bliss after he He lamented that the study of history was Iretired as Professor Emeritus at the becoming too parochial, centred on gender University of Toronto when we worked and power structures rather than political together, with his close friend Jack Granat- ideas that move the trajectory of civiliza- stein, on a debate series called History Wars. tions. Canadian history, once a major I quickly came to like and respect Michael focus and a centre of excellence at the and often thought I had missed out not University of Toronto, has been relegated being one of his students. to a sub-set of “cultural studies” that no Michael Bliss was an atheist. He had longer attracts the best minds. Referring his anti-road-to-Damascus moment while to his autobiography, it seems modern showering one morning as a young man historians no longer want to study the when he realized there was no god; he Fathers of Confederation but rather the never doubted that flash of insight and women who served them coffee. never had second thoughts. An extraordi- Michael’s first books centred on social nary moment given that he once planned history in business, books for which he won to enter the ministry. well-earned praise, but he is known mainly If you knew Michael, this wouldn’t for his work in medical history with his

be surprising. He was a man of strong Michael Bliss famous book The Discovery of Insulin and convictions once he came to them. That’s (Photo courtesy University of Toronto) biographies of William Osler and neurolo- probably what led him into a life of gist Harvey Cushing. These are classic books scholarship and the study of history. What defend Professor Peterson’s right to free that will be read for years to come. With the he treasured most was free and indepen- speech, the university administration has passing years, it’s important to remember dent thinking. pressured him to comply with an arbitrary the impact of his work on the discovery That’s why Michael was deeply affected Ontario Human Rights Commission of insulin that led Michael to travel and by an incident in the early 70s when his code on the use of self-selected pronouns lecture around the world telling the story university failed to defend and protect a dictated by the LGTB community. of this miraculous Canadian discovery. visiting professor from Harvard who, while Michael Bliss would have been appalled, However, a prophet is never accepted in attempting to give a talk, was shouted especially with the professors who went his own town. Michael’s work was appreci- down and physically intimidated by a along with the administration’s threat to ated abroad before attracting attention and group of radical students who disagreed sanction Jordan rather than defend his awards in Canada. with his views. He saw how quickly an right to express his opinions. Michael was a scholar and often said he administration could be cowed into silence Michael brought another quality was most content head down in front of his and retreat. to his work, and that was a talent for Apple computer in a library, fully engaged in We have a similar situation today with writing clear, readable prose, a rare skill his next book. But I came to know Michael the Jordan Peterson affair. Rather than in modern academia. He never wrote the as a public intellectual especially through

32 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute his writings in the Globe and Mail, Toronto along with a majority of Canadians. Michael I knew Michael was ailing over the Star and Saturday Night magazine. I believe Bliss deserves our gratitude for playing a last year before he died, but news of his his greatest impact as a public thinker was crucial role in saving this country from death this May still arrived as a shock. the position he took challenging both the breaking up into petty provincial fiefdoms. Canada is diminished by Michael’s death, Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords. Michael ended his career as University and though he made a conscious decision Like a lot of Canadians, I believed we had to Professor gaining awards and recogni- to step aside from engaging in current support Brian Mulroney’s attempt to change tion along the way, including the Order political fights while urging younger the Constitution to buy political peace with of Canada. Growing up in a prominent thinkers to carry on, I can’t see how any Quebec. Bliss would have none of it and upper-middle class family on the shores of will ever take his place. saw through the charade and attacked the Lake Erie excelling in school and ending political classes for betraying the country. He up as captain of his high school football Patrick Luciani is Senior Fellow of the Global knew the accords were a disaster and wrote team and debating club, Michael had the Cities Program at the University of Toronto and with force and logic against them. I was makings of a classic insider. He wasn’t, and former Executive Director of the Donner Canadian convinced and voted against Charlottetown I believe that’s how he liked it. Foundation.

Constitutional moment (Sirota) Continued from page 16 and French Canadians, Protestants and and indeed made to work together, in a Catholics, truly comparable the conflict over way that not only kept them at peace, but and Germany, that Russia and Poland, slavery that caused the American Civil War? created one of the most successful polities of could only crush by the iron heel of armed But Brown was also in a self-congratulatory the last century and a half. force. We are seeking to do without foreign mood (and readers of Mr. Gillespie’s paper Contrary to what the denigrators like intervention that which deluged in blood the on Brown will understand why he had to say, the mid-1860s (and perhaps the sunny plains of Italy. cause for self-congratulation just then), and longer period from the late 1850s to the We are striving to settle for ever issues no doubt a boastful one, as any politician mid-1870s) were a true “constitution- hardly less momentous than those that have trying to sell others on his dearly held idea. al moment” in Canada. It deserves our rent the neighbouring republic and are now Yet despite his rhetorical excess, Brown respect, and our attention. We need not be exposing it to all the horrors of civil war. was fundamentally right. It is true that the uncritical of those who made this moment Have we not then, Mr. Speaker, great cause differences of religion, to say nothing of possible. But we profit, to this day, from of thankfulness that we have found a better the forces of nationalism, had – and have their practical wisdom and political way for the solution of our troubles than since he spoke – often led to hatred, to talents. We should not forget that. that which has entailed on other countries open conflict, to outright war. The Fathers such deplorable results?” of Confederation found a way, not to sweep Leonid Sirota teaches at the Auckland University Now the last paragraph strikes me them away forever, admittedly, but to create of Technology Law School and publishes the as an exaggeration. Were the differences a constitutional framework within which constitutional law blog Double Aspect. A version between Upper and Lower Canada, British opposing forces could be accommodated, of this article appeared at Double Aspect.

Provincial trade (Crowley) is a by-product of how ill-suited the On the contrary, it is eloquent evidence Continued from page 17 provinces and territories are to protect and of Ottawa’s unwillingness to face down strengthen the economic union. Provincial the provinces when the national interest The founders gave Ottawa responsibil- and territorial ministers naturally care more requires it. Ottawa exists for a reason; that ity for the national economy because they about the interests of Ontario wineries, reason is not, as one former prime minister expected provincial governments to speak Quebec funeral directors, Nova Scotia fur tartly observed, to be headwaiter to the for provincial interests. That’s precisely what harvesters and PEI architects than about the provinces. happened. Someone needed to speak for national interest. Canada. Instead the silence was deafening. The CFTA is not evidence, as its Brian Lee Crowley is the Managing Director of MLI. The sheer number of CFTA exceptions authors claimed, that “Canada works.” This article first appeared in theGlobe and Mail.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 33 Canada’s institutions (Dutil) of Elders,” as Senator Murray Sinclair has restore politics in our civic life. Western Continued from page 20 wished it. European countries have been able to raise the holdout of the ignorant. But there None of this requires a constitu- participation levels by holding elections must be a place in our governance to tional amendment; I merely call on prime on Sundays or on holidays. Their parties parry the unbalanced representation of ministers of today and tomorrow to make are better funded to carry out educational the House of Commons. Nominations to nominations to the Senate that will advance campaigns. These ideas were not considered the Senate should go to people who have the spirit of democracy. by the parliamentary committee in the experience in representing others, either The House of Commons has served summer of 2016 because the resolve to federally, provincially, municipally, or in Canadians well, even with the often actually improve our democracy was not tribal councils. It should go to represen- results-distorting electoral system used. there. While there is little hope that the tatives of peoples who are systematically Our electoral system has, by virtue of its current government is sufficiently creative underrepresented in the lower house: structure, shaped a political tradition that to seriously address the problems that ail Women, Francophones outside Quebec, encourages a healthy competition, both our politics, the experiments of the last 18 Anglophones inside Quebec, Indigenous federally and provincially. It has delivered months should be sufficient to reinvigorate people, and minorities of all sorts. a healthy alternance of governments and the debate about how to restore democracy Senators should caucus provincially as a civilized system to debate ideas. The to something that would at least approxi- they are supposed to, as well as in party Senate should be used to honour political mate the high hopes and aspirations of formations. In addition, I would argue militants and to counterbalance the those who demanded representation 225 that Senators should be retired from the sometimes distorted results of an election. years ago. workforce, and aged 65 and over, in order The Justices of the Supreme Court should to ensure a steady turnover as they must be selected in a discreet manner, without Patrice Dutil is a professor of Politics and Public end their mandate at age 75, so no Senator grandstanding and proclamations of a new Administration at Ryerson University and President should serve more than a dozen years. “fairness” and a new “transparency” simply of the Champlain Society. His latest book is Prime No one deserves a sinecure in the Senate because they are a sham. Ministerial Power in Canada: Its Origins under any sooner. Let it be indeed a “Council There is much opportunity to help Macdonald, Laurier and Borden (UBC Press, 2017).

Defence Review (Fergusson) willingness of this or any government to but it is divorced from Canadian strategic Continued from page 27 pay for. Can you say disconnect! reality. One may surmise that the speech of the In addition, the DPR, like the 2005 In addition, the DPR commits the Foreign Affairs Minister, Chrystia Freeland Defence Policy Statement of the Martin government to maintain full spectrum the day before the release of the DPR fits government and the 2008 Harper Canada forces. Before then, it was general-purpose this bill. But, in it, she raised significant First Defence Strategy, boldly asserts forces, followed in the 1994 Defence questions about Canada’s ability to rely upon Canada’s ability to lead international White Paper by multi-purpose combat the United States for defence (it seems that operations (engage à la the DPR). Yet, the capable forces. What any of these concepts no one can stop themselves from taking a reality of Canada’s ability to sustain roughly truly means for all the actors is an open shot at Trump). 3,000 personnel in long term operations question. Regardless, full spectrum forces Yet, the DPR, naturally, commits places Canadian leadership on the strategic will be whatever the Forces possess at the the government to rely upon the United margins, and likely engaged in operations end of day. States for the defence of North America of little, if any, direct relevance to Canadian Moreover, Canada has not truly had (Canada). Without America’s contribution defence and security. Even in these full spectrum forces largely since World to the modernization/replacement of the operations, Canada needs to rely, as do all War II. The gradual process of specializa- obsolete North Warning System (NWS), NATO allies, on American capabilities and tion has occurred in an ad hoc manner, along with other core elements of the support. Canada goes nowhere, or should driven primarily by the relationship North American defence relationship, the go nowhere without American support. between the life cycle of a capability and cost of a truly national, unilateral approach Slamming the United States may be good the budget situation. It is wonderful to to the defence of Canada is far beyond the politics in Canada for this government, have the government through the DPR

34 INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute identify fifty plus capital programs over the in the replacement of the CF-18 Hornet, the wave of the future – and perhaps this is next twenty years. But, there is no explicit an RFP should be out the door in months, what is truly meant by the somewhat vague priority set relative to the unpredictable if not weeks or days. commitment to procure armed drones. future, notwithstanding the naval surface By the time the new fighter is acquired, In the end, the DPR is a policy combatant investment to date. Nor should the CF-18s will be roughly fifty years old, document really about the here and now, there be relative to an unpredictable future. and long out of date relative to allied fighter with a timeline set far in the future. It The fighter replacement is itself fleets, unless the government plans to invest has something for everyone, but whether indicative of the problems associated with significant amounts of money on upgrades. everyone gets something remains to be the DPR. Before one applauds the decision Furthermore, given the reality of the fighter seen. In this regard, the DPR will join the to acquire 88 fighters, with an operational market, the only choice will be the F-35. previous white papers in terms of their date of roughly 2032 (regardless of the In other words, the government, which relevance. This should be no surprise – it is Super Hornet question, wisely avoided in painted itself into a corner, is kicking the Canada, you know. the DPR), an increase of 23 fighters from fighter down the road to avoid embarrass- the Harper F-35 decision, the timeline ment. Even more, the reality of technologi- James Fergusson is the Director or the Centre for from today to requests for proposals (RFP), cal change means that the CF-18 (and Defence and Security Studies, and Professor in the contract and acquisition is mind boggling. Super Hornet) will likely be the last manned Department of Political Studies at the University of After nearly twenty years of involvement fighter in Canada. Multi-purpose drones are Manitoba.

Japan-India (Crowley) Northern Ontario (Hall, Coates) government resource revenue sharing Continued from page 30 Continued from page 31 that ensures that a greater percentage of northern wealth stays in the North. Act East policy, billions will be invested in both the government of Canada and the Perhaps most importantly, the Ring infrastructure development linking India’s government of Ontario are committed of Fire will not proceed, in the end, northeast to Southeast Asia. to major changes – the foundation for without substantial, clear and significant India was noticeably absent from greater economic engagement will be much Indigenous engagement. There is ample China’s Belt and Road Forum. Instead, India stronger. evidence from across Canada – from the and Japan will be discussing joint infrastruc- As the broader social, cultural and Yukon to Labrador and even beginning in ture development with African stakeholders infrastructure issues are being addressed, some places in Northern Ontario – that at an African Development Bank meeting there are constructive steps that can be Indigenous communities can collabo- later this month. This might be the first taken to improve the relationship between rate effectively and to great mutual step in both countries’ plan for developing Aboriginal communities, the provincial benefit with resource companies and a Pacific-Indian Ocean Corridor, as a push and federal governments, and the mining governments to produce a viable resource back against China’s OBOR. industry. economy. A Japan-India axis is the first step to a First, Indigenous engagement A greater awareness of what has larger Indo-Pacific grouping of like-minded cannot be forced. Strong-arm efforts by worked elsewhere in Canada, a focus on states pursuing the rule of law, freedom of the government, like Premier Wynne’s recent both short- and long-term benefits to seas and liberal international trade. letter, usually backfire. Companies have Indigenous communities, and the active Such a grouping would not necessarily learned to move in smaller and more cultivation of Indigenous partnerships displace American leadership. But it could deliberate steps. in resource development are required to help entice the United States into being Second, appropriate infrastructure has unlock the economic potential of the more engaged – by showing Washington that to be in place, or in process, to meet the Ring of Fire. countries in the Indo-Pacific are taking greater needs of Indigenous communities, and the responsibility and shouldering the burden of Ontario government needs to take the lead Heather Hall and Ken S. Coates are authors of maintaining the liberal world order. on this file, which it hasn’t to date. the new MLI paper, titled Missed Opportunities, Third, the Province of Ontario should Glimmers of Hope: Aboriginal communities and Brian Lee Crowley is the Managing Director of MLI. adopt the approach of a growing number mineral development in Northern Ontario. This This article first appeared in theHill Times. of provinces and develop a strategy on article originally appeared in the Chronicle Journal.

INSIDE POLICY • The Magazine of The Macdonald-Laurier Institute 35 Official Country Partner Global Partner

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