[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Oexmelin]

You have picked a bad example.  The concept of the Honour of the Crown which has been developed in a long line of Supreme Court of Canada cases is premised on promises the Crown made to First Nations in order to obtain their cooperation and friendship.

Yes, and framing it as if that was the big push that made the relations between Canada and First Nations a harmonious whole would somehow gloss over residential schools.

[Jacob]

I think one of the most salient issue is linked to the time-honored avoidance of calling it a "conquest", and making it the "beginning of a beautiful friendship".

If any politician in Canada took that tone for relations with First Nations - that, say, the creation of the Six Nations reserve was the moment when Canada made the choice of friendship, people would rightly object - and they would even have scrupules in framing it that way in the first place. 

Thank you.

To my ears it's a subtle distinction (which I suppose just illustrates the point about Anglophone Canada being out of touch with the Quebecois perspective).

Again to my ears I feel like emphasizing the conquest part more could easily end up being heard as "we beat you, so just get used to it, losers" which I don't think would be well received either.

[Oexmelin]

Of course, it would have to be done with tact. But it's part of a process of "acknowledgment".

[Grey Fox]

A question for the Quebecois and other Francophones:

If you were tasked with writing a speech with the following brief for Carney:

• Acknowledge the location where the speech is taking place
• Recognize the history between the French and British
• Argue that things have improved and Canada is pretty okay
• Acknowledge that there are other constituents in Canada than Brits and French
• Not piss off the Quebecois
• Segue to "so here's what we're going next" in terms of political direction

... how would you go about it?

I thought Carney's speech did a pretty good job, but obviously it failed on the "Not piss of the Quebecois" part. I'd find it very instructive to understand how to do it right, if that's possible.

I would not have the Prime Minister of Canada ever do a speech on the Plaines or any other place where a battle happened between French/Francophones and British/ Anglophones.

On erasing the Scots contribution. Back then Francophones were Canadiens and the Anglos call themselves English. I never seen it described otherwise. Oex, have you?

[crazy canuck]

You have picked a bad example.  The concept of the Honour of the Crown which has been developed in a long line of Supreme Court of Canada cases is premised on promises the Crown made to First Nations in order to obtain their cooperation and friendship.

Yes, and framing it as if that was the big push that made the relations between Canada and First Nations a harmonious whole would somehow gloss over residential schools.

I think you missed my point entirely

Or rather, perhaps you could address my point?

[Jacob]

I would not have the Prime Minister of Canada ever do a speech on the Plaines or any other place where a battle happened between French/Francophones and British/ Anglophones.

Okay, that's a nice clear cut line that's easy to understand. Thanks

On erasing the Scots contribution. Back then Francophones were Canadiens and the Anglos call themselves English. I never seen it described otherwise. Oex, have you?

I think it's less about Canada and more about how modern day Scots often like to cast themselves as a oppressed colonial victims of British oppression (like Ireland or Quebec, for example) when the Scots were fairly vigorous participants in the British imperial enterprise not only in terms of leadership, but also in terms of the rank and file participation and of economic benefits.