"Le Canada est une nation."

From a manifesto that appeared in the weekend Globe and Mail, signed by the historian Michael Bliss, Liberal Senators Serge Joyal and Jerry Grafstein, political scientists David Smith and Max Nemni, linguistics professor Monique Nemni, and former Supreme Court judge Claire L'Heureux-Dubé...

In 1900, at the International World Fair in Paris, Canada issued a bronze medal engraved with the motto: Le Canada est une Nation. It was with great pride, on the eve of a new century, that a country established only 33 years earlier was coming of age in the concert of nations. This new nationality had a unique origin and a genuine essence. Our founders had a vision, best stated by George-Étienne Cartier in 1865 during the debates preceding Confederation: "Objections were made to our project because the words 'new nationality' are contained in it. If we unite, we will form a political nation, independent of the original nation and of the religion of the individuals. . . . As for the objection that we cannot form a great nation because Lower Canada is mainly French and Catholic, Upper Canada is mainly English and Protestant, and that the Maritime provinces are mixed, I see it as the greatest futility. . . . We come from different origins, not to make war, but to work together for our individual and communal well-being." At the time, that vision -- to bring together members of diverse "races" who had fought each other for centuries on the battlefields of Europe -- was daring and unprecedented. Wilfrid Laurier broadened it 25 years later when the country was expanding through immigration: "We form here, or wish to form, a nation composed of the most heterogeneous elements, Protestants and Catholics, English and French, German, Irish, Scottish, each, let us not forget, with its own traditions and prejudices. In each one of these opposing elements, however, there is a common point of patriotism, and the only veritable politics is that which dominates this common patriotism, and brings these elements toward a unified goal and common aspirations..." Our forefathers believed that people of different languages, religions and cultures could allow the common good to transcend whatever keeps them apart -- that a shared humanity could be a robust guarantee of individual freedom and prosperity, and the majority need not dominate the minority. The Constitution would be inspired by a more generous and humanistic vision, maintain citizens' rights to distinctiveness and challenge the majority to restrain itself... Yet, throughout the federal Liberal Party's leadership campaign, isolationist ideas have re-emerged, ideas that would divide us into an indefinite number of smaller nations and undermine the vision that made this country great. Resurrecting the idea of Canada as a collection of nations, be they civic, sociological, political or legal, is a self-destructive aberration -- a trap from which no society can emerge other than balkanized. In January, after more than two full years of hearings and study, the 35 member states of the Council of Europe, on that continent where the concept of nation came to life, concluded that the notion of nation is impossible to define in constitutional terms. Why would we in Canada continue to press for such a tortuous initiative? What benefit can be expected from such a display of smoke and mirrors that accentuates our differences to the point of pulling us apart? Would it not be better during this campaign to speak to values, principles and policies that would bring us together and promote greater accommodation, respect and enhancement of our potential? As was noted by former separatist leader Bernard Landry, Quebec already has more power than many nation states. How much more can we stretch the ties that bind us? To recast our political foundations in a way that leads to constant devolution risks turning Canada into a failed state. It would inevitably encourage cultural isolation and render pointless any professed commitment to Canadian ideals... Quebeckers can do better than to cultivate their anxiety and idolize their distinctiveness. Throughout history, they have demonstrated not only that they can invent and build Canada, but that they can do so in solidarity with Canadians and aboriginal people from all regions. The contemporary challenges of the environment, poverty and globalization clearly would be addressed more efficiently and effectively if we worked together... Those who aspire to the leadership of the Liberal Party should not undermine their commitment to the founding principles of this country and the role Quebeckers have played in forging this great nation. Are we too embarrassed to be proud, and to recognize what a unique society we have created?

AFTERTHOUGHT: "Le Canada est une nation." In 1900, it was a medallion. And in 2006? Hmmm....