Kelly McParland - Of all the disgusting, demeaning, dirty, rotten, low-down tricks the Tories have pulled since they first manipulated Canadians into electing them in 2006, who would have thought they would stoop to anything so revolting as this: Promoting pride in Canada’s history and heritage?
It’s almost like we shouldn’t be ashamed of where we come from, and the things we’ve achieved. If ever there was “American-style” government going on in Ottawa, this must certainly be it. Canadians, as everyone knows, are supposed to be bashful about the past, shy about national accomplishments, embarrassed at any display of national pride.
Well, Bob Rae, for one, isn’t about to be railroaded into any phony display of pride.

“Canadians are worried about the economy. The United States economy is flatter than a pancake right now. The eurozone is in real trouble and these guys are talking about flags and symbols,” Mr. Rae said outside the House of Commons. “You just wonder what is it that drives them to do these things.”

Yeah. What could possibly drive anyone to offer legal protection to a Canadian who wanted to fly the national flag? A private members bill introduced by a Tory backbencher would punish anyone forcing a flag to be taken down with a fine or up to two years in prison. Bloody outrageous! Mr. Rae is right: How can a government with almost 40 members in its cabinet possibly think it could do two things at once, like manage the economy and handle a private members bill? Are they trying to drive the civil service into a nervous collapse? Two things at once? My God, the whole Heritage Ministry is going to be billing for overtime.
Charlie Angus is also on to their little game too, oh you bet he is:
NDP MP Charlie Angus said the private member’s bill, introduced by rookie backbencher John Carmichael, is akin to “tabloid-style politics” at a time of a looming economic crisis.
“I never knew, until John told me 30 seconds ago, that we had a flag crisis of people being intimidated and not being allowed to use the flag,” Angus said on CTV’s Power Play.
As if the flag outrage wasn’t enough, those devious, unprincipled, contemptible Tories are putting together a fund to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Sure, it may have been a defining moment in Canadian history, but everyone knows the Conservatives don’t care anything about history. It’s all just a political ploy, an attempt to sucker Canadians into thinking they may have something in the past worth boasting about.
Luckily, the Globe isn’t about to be fooled:

These patriotic initiatives are not coincidental. The Harper government set out in the last election campaign to recast the nation’s identity in a small-c conservative mould, emphasizing Canadian symbols the Tory government has embraced, including the Arctic, the military and especially the monarchy.

See? They just want to sneak into your bedroom in the middle of the night and stencil a big blue ‘C’ on your forehead, so every morning when you wake up, the first thing you’ll see in the mirror is a reminder of Tory domination. Remember, just a few weeks ago these people announced they were re-attaching the “Royal” designation to the navy and air force, and ordered missions and embassies to display a portrait of the Queen.
The Queen! As if Britain ever had anything to do with Canada. I mean, can you imagine? Next thing you know she’ll be on the currency, for cripe sakes.
Well, I for one am glad that the Loyal Opposition (wait a minute … loyal? Loyal to who? Is this another Tory trick?) isn’t about to be taken for a ride. Canada, as we are all well aware, was created by Mackenzie King, a well-known Norwegian, who sailed here with the help of Jacques Cartier on board the Ypres, which was named after a Spanish holiday resort. Or something like that. Look, if Canadian history was important, they’d teach it in schools, right? So don’t come to me with talk of national pride. That’s just Tory talk.