Sir John A. Macdonald - First and Most Important Prime Minister
* On August 29, 2020 a group of thugs in Montreal, Quebec holding a defund the police rally decided this was an opportunity to co-opt the rally to attack a statue of Canada’s most important Prime Minister.
* From Truth Comes Reconciliation SECOND EDITION by Mark Dewolf, Rodney A. Clifton and Frances Widdowson analyzes Murray Sinclair’s (UN)Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) glaring faults and lies.
* On August 29, 2020 a group of thugs in Montreal, Quebec holding a defund the police rally decided this was an opportunity to co-opt the rally to attack a statue of Canada’s most important Prime Minister.
* From Truth Comes Reconciliation SECOND EDITION by Mark Dewolf, Rodney A. Clifton and Frances Widdowson analyzes Murray Sinclair’s (UN)Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) glaring faults and lies.
No Macdonald - No Canada
Canada’s First Prime Minister 1867
SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
“Canada is the oldest federation not born in war and not scarred by a civil war.”
Jeffrey Simpson OC
The sustained attacks on monuments to Sir John A. Macdonald and the attacks on his good name in schools and at Queen's University in 2020 prompted many of us to simply say: Enough!" Professor Dutil goes on to note that while Macdonald's record is hardly without blemish, "his policy failures must be weighed against his phenomenal policy successes. This effort, I hope, will become a turning point in how Canadian society examines Macdonald, and its past generally.
Professor Patrice Dutil
To describe John A. Macdonald as “a racist” is pure, and smug, “presentism,” or the judging of the past by the standards of the present, thereby proclaiming our moral superiority to all Canadians who lived earlier. It is grossly inaccurate. On most matters concerning race and ethnicity, Macdonald was far ahead of his times and he would remain ahead for decades to come in many respects.
Richard Gwyn
MACDONALD BUILT CANADA
Lord Durham 1830
Lord Durham was sent after 1830 to British North America. He found French and English, warring in the bosom of a single state. But only 30 years later Macdonald had put together the Country of Canada.
New York Times 1867
The New York Times in 1867 stated that “When the experiment of the Dominion (Canada) fails and fail it must the process of peaceful absorption will give Canada a proper place in the North American republic.” Macdonald said No.
Macdonald protected the French
Macdonald spent his early political years fighting for the French in British North America. His strongest enemy was newspaper giant George Brown who believed Representation by Population (Rep by Pop) should be enacted into law. Macdonald knew that the French population of lower Canada as a minority would be destroyed in elections by Brown and his English Upper Canada majority.
Macdonald, alongside his French contemporaries like George-Étienne Cartier, set themselves the task of creating Canada, overcoming sectarian and linguistic strife and years of mistrust and political deadlock.
“Back when “race” meant English or French, Catholic or Protestant, Macdonald showed that he was a friend of all: he built his considerable political career on his ability to forge a coalition of those social segments and George Brown eventually followed his dream.”
RIchard Gwyn
The Medicine Line (Healing Line)
Between 45,000-60,000 Indigenous south of the 49th parallel were killed in battles with European Americans. Indigenous and United Empire Loyalists streamed across the border into British North America after the US Revolution. The Indigenous referred to this border as the Medicine Line.
In practice Europeans in Canada dealt with the Indians more through diplomacy than conquest. The degree to which Great Britain showed restraint and civility towards the Indians of Canada in its’ colonial dealings with them was an unprecedented departure from the historical norm of violence and dispossession. As Canada’s first Prime Minister, Macdonald was extremely proud of the peaceful co-operation and co-habitation with Indigenous people. John A. was determined to maintain peace while overseeing the settlement of Canada’s West even when the peaceful settlers were attacked.
Peter Best added this perspective. “I argue well below that distinctive, pre-contact Indian culture was pretty well lost by the late 1800’s, and that things like the residential schools were a response to the loss of that culture, not a cause of it.”
Tom Flanagan, First Nations? Second Thoughts
The US republic form of government? - Macdonald and his Canadians HATED IT.
Manifest Destiny became the guiding light of Americans after their 1776 Revolution with the British in North America. These new Americans believed they were entitled to all of North America including the colonies above the 49th parallel. Macdonald relied on Canadian hatred of Americans to support his political goals to form Canada. In 1878 when Macdonald introduced the notion of protective tariffs for Canada against American imports he had a willing electorate. Another excellent choice John A.!
Macdonald looked upon the American republic political system as an absolute failure not to copy. John A. wanted to make sure our new Canada would not give broad powers to the provinces like America gave to their states. A Constitutional Monarchy similar to England was a better solution with a strong federal government.
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) expanded John A’s influence “Rather than weakening the policy capabilities of the federal government, the Canadian Charter has enhanced its influence.”
Macdonald led the Conservative Party. John A. would have been appalled by future Conservative PM’s Clark, Mulroney and Harper, who attempted to dilute Macdonald’s strong Federal government which gave limited power to the provinces.
From Sea to Sea or Join America?
Culture and commerce in 1867 ran North/South not East/West. It would take three months just to get to British Columbia from Ottawa and three months to get back. Macdonald needed a solution. American railway magnets suggested Canadians should travel to the US for a train journey to California and then up to British Columbia. Macdonald disagreed and saw this ploy as a means to capture the British colonies into the much stronger USA. Macdonald, the visionary, told his new government we are going to build a railway through Canada’s Cambrian Shield (Ontario) and through the Rocky Mountains for only 20,000 residents in the West Coast. An expensive but necessary method to get from Sea to Sea and create Canada.
In post civil war America Upper and Lower Canada along with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would have been taken over by the much stronger USA following their civil war if it wasn’t for Macdonald. John A. fought with Nova Scotia leader Joseph Howe who believed his province would be better off joining the more powerful United States.
Canada’s only Comic PM
Canadians only called him “John A.” A wit and a sense of humour has never been repeated by any latter day PM.
Macdonald joked with Irishman Thomas D’arcy Mcgee when he joined his government, “There is only room for one drunk in my government and it is I.”
Peter Shawn Taylor penned a wonderful story No Grumpy Old Man.
Macdonald’s sporadic drinking
Macdonald’s first wife Isabella was a joy for only two years of their marriage until her health deteriorated and opium became her only relief. Macdonald always remained a loyal husband as he built Canada. No wonder an infrequent binge was his relief. In the mid 1870’s Macdonald gave up drinking even though his voters preferred a Drunk Macdonald to a Sober George Brown.
Make up your mind Canada!
Upper and Lower Canada before Confederation shuffled between Quebec City and Toronto. England laughed at this compromise so Macdonald asked Queen Victoria to put the permanent capital in the lumber town of Ottawa. Another Macdonald Solution.
Vote for Indigenous Canadians in 1885
Indigenous Canadians were given the right to vote by PM Macdonald in 1885 but the House of Commons demanded that Indigenous voters own land. Macdonald was furious because this limitation restricted their voting. Liberal PM Wilfred Laurier removed these voting rights for Indigenous Canadians in 1896. It was not until 1960 that PM John Diefenbaker returned voting rights for Indigenous Canadians to fulfill John A’s dream he had started decades earlier.
The Underground Railway
The underground railway flowing from many US locations carried slaves to their freedom in this new Canada where John A. Macdonald was planning Confederation. These slaves were welcomed as free people to this new Country with the right to vote as slavery had been abolished by England.
North West Mounted Police
John A. recognized that The Hudson Bay territory (Ruperts Land) was to be turned over to the new Canada in Western Canada. It was John A.’s intelligent idea to form the North West Mountain Police that eventually turned into The Royal Canadian Mounted Police to bring order to the lawless west.
John A. Not A Racist
“Macdonald understood Indians better than any Prime Minister would for the next century, let alone predecessor. In his dealings with them he made mistakes, but they were a product of political and administrative miscalculations, never of prejudice.”
Richard Gwyn in his book Nation Maker
Charlottetown Conference 1864
The fathers of Confederation started their journey toward Confederation on July 1 1867. Sir John A. Macdonald was responsible for all the words and phrases that went into the Charlottetown Conference. Macdonald proudly emulated the British form of government as superior to the US republic.
Vote for Women
John A. was the first leader, in the world, to try to extend the vote to women. In April 1885, before there was any suffragette movement in Canada, Prime Minister Macdonald rose in the House of Commons to propose legislation to extend the vote to women. No one at this time would ever consider giving the vote to women.
Truth and Warning
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is part of presentism thought. The PM ‘s office was called the Langevin Block. Justin Trudeau took the name off the building. When Cartier died Hector Langevin was Macdonald’s right hand man in Quebec. He fought for Canada in Quebec when many Quebecers didn’t want Quebec to join Canada. Langevin was minister of public works when it was the third most important Cabinet position. We were a Country that needed roads, ports and schools. The purists scoured the history books and found two paragraphs where Langevin said racist things. If Justin Trudeau keeps this up it is open sesame on others leaders. Get rid of Cartier off bridges and roads. Next get rid of Sir Wilfred Laurier because he didn’t stop residential schools. There is no end to destroying our history using Presentism as their guide.”
Jeffrey Simpson OC
Lord Durham was sent after 1830 to British North America. He found French and English, warring in the bosom of a single state. But only 30 years later Macdonald had put together the Country of Canada.
New York Times 1867
The New York Times in 1867 stated that “When the experiment of the Dominion (Canada) fails and fail it must the process of peaceful absorption will give Canada a proper place in the North American republic.” Macdonald said No.
Macdonald protected the French
Macdonald spent his early political years fighting for the French in British North America. His strongest enemy was newspaper giant George Brown who believed Representation by Population (Rep by Pop) should be enacted into law. Macdonald knew that the French population of lower Canada as a minority would be destroyed in elections by Brown and his English Upper Canada majority.
Macdonald, alongside his French contemporaries like George-Étienne Cartier, set themselves the task of creating Canada, overcoming sectarian and linguistic strife and years of mistrust and political deadlock.
“Back when “race” meant English or French, Catholic or Protestant, Macdonald showed that he was a friend of all: he built his considerable political career on his ability to forge a coalition of those social segments and George Brown eventually followed his dream.”
RIchard Gwyn
The Medicine Line (Healing Line)
Between 45,000-60,000 Indigenous south of the 49th parallel were killed in battles with European Americans. Indigenous and United Empire Loyalists streamed across the border into British North America after the US Revolution. The Indigenous referred to this border as the Medicine Line.
In practice Europeans in Canada dealt with the Indians more through diplomacy than conquest. The degree to which Great Britain showed restraint and civility towards the Indians of Canada in its’ colonial dealings with them was an unprecedented departure from the historical norm of violence and dispossession. As Canada’s first Prime Minister, Macdonald was extremely proud of the peaceful co-operation and co-habitation with Indigenous people. John A. was determined to maintain peace while overseeing the settlement of Canada’s West even when the peaceful settlers were attacked.
Peter Best added this perspective. “I argue well below that distinctive, pre-contact Indian culture was pretty well lost by the late 1800’s, and that things like the residential schools were a response to the loss of that culture, not a cause of it.”
Tom Flanagan, First Nations? Second Thoughts
The US republic form of government? - Macdonald and his Canadians HATED IT.
Manifest Destiny became the guiding light of Americans after their 1776 Revolution with the British in North America. These new Americans believed they were entitled to all of North America including the colonies above the 49th parallel. Macdonald relied on Canadian hatred of Americans to support his political goals to form Canada. In 1878 when Macdonald introduced the notion of protective tariffs for Canada against American imports he had a willing electorate. Another excellent choice John A.!
Macdonald looked upon the American republic political system as an absolute failure not to copy. John A. wanted to make sure our new Canada would not give broad powers to the provinces like America gave to their states. A Constitutional Monarchy similar to England was a better solution with a strong federal government.
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) expanded John A’s influence “Rather than weakening the policy capabilities of the federal government, the Canadian Charter has enhanced its influence.”
Macdonald led the Conservative Party. John A. would have been appalled by future Conservative PM’s Clark, Mulroney and Harper, who attempted to dilute Macdonald’s strong Federal government which gave limited power to the provinces.
From Sea to Sea or Join America?
Culture and commerce in 1867 ran North/South not East/West. It would take three months just to get to British Columbia from Ottawa and three months to get back. Macdonald needed a solution. American railway magnets suggested Canadians should travel to the US for a train journey to California and then up to British Columbia. Macdonald disagreed and saw this ploy as a means to capture the British colonies into the much stronger USA. Macdonald, the visionary, told his new government we are going to build a railway through Canada’s Cambrian Shield (Ontario) and through the Rocky Mountains for only 20,000 residents in the West Coast. An expensive but necessary method to get from Sea to Sea and create Canada.
In post civil war America Upper and Lower Canada along with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would have been taken over by the much stronger USA following their civil war if it wasn’t for Macdonald. John A. fought with Nova Scotia leader Joseph Howe who believed his province would be better off joining the more powerful United States.
Canada’s only Comic PM
Canadians only called him “John A.” A wit and a sense of humour has never been repeated by any latter day PM.
Macdonald joked with Irishman Thomas D’arcy Mcgee when he joined his government, “There is only room for one drunk in my government and it is I.”
Peter Shawn Taylor penned a wonderful story No Grumpy Old Man.
Macdonald’s sporadic drinking
Macdonald’s first wife Isabella was a joy for only two years of their marriage until her health deteriorated and opium became her only relief. Macdonald always remained a loyal husband as he built Canada. No wonder an infrequent binge was his relief. In the mid 1870’s Macdonald gave up drinking even though his voters preferred a Drunk Macdonald to a Sober George Brown.
Make up your mind Canada!
Upper and Lower Canada before Confederation shuffled between Quebec City and Toronto. England laughed at this compromise so Macdonald asked Queen Victoria to put the permanent capital in the lumber town of Ottawa. Another Macdonald Solution.
Vote for Indigenous Canadians in 1885
Indigenous Canadians were given the right to vote by PM Macdonald in 1885 but the House of Commons demanded that Indigenous voters own land. Macdonald was furious because this limitation restricted their voting. Liberal PM Wilfred Laurier removed these voting rights for Indigenous Canadians in 1896. It was not until 1960 that PM John Diefenbaker returned voting rights for Indigenous Canadians to fulfill John A’s dream he had started decades earlier.
The Underground Railway
The underground railway flowing from many US locations carried slaves to their freedom in this new Canada where John A. Macdonald was planning Confederation. These slaves were welcomed as free people to this new Country with the right to vote as slavery had been abolished by England.
North West Mounted Police
John A. recognized that The Hudson Bay territory (Ruperts Land) was to be turned over to the new Canada in Western Canada. It was John A.’s intelligent idea to form the North West Mountain Police that eventually turned into The Royal Canadian Mounted Police to bring order to the lawless west.
John A. Not A Racist
“Macdonald understood Indians better than any Prime Minister would for the next century, let alone predecessor. In his dealings with them he made mistakes, but they were a product of political and administrative miscalculations, never of prejudice.”
Richard Gwyn in his book Nation Maker
Charlottetown Conference 1864
The fathers of Confederation started their journey toward Confederation on July 1 1867. Sir John A. Macdonald was responsible for all the words and phrases that went into the Charlottetown Conference. Macdonald proudly emulated the British form of government as superior to the US republic.
Vote for Women
John A. was the first leader, in the world, to try to extend the vote to women. In April 1885, before there was any suffragette movement in Canada, Prime Minister Macdonald rose in the House of Commons to propose legislation to extend the vote to women. No one at this time would ever consider giving the vote to women.
Truth and Warning
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is part of presentism thought. The PM ‘s office was called the Langevin Block. Justin Trudeau took the name off the building. When Cartier died Hector Langevin was Macdonald’s right hand man in Quebec. He fought for Canada in Quebec when many Quebecers didn’t want Quebec to join Canada. Langevin was minister of public works when it was the third most important Cabinet position. We were a Country that needed roads, ports and schools. The purists scoured the history books and found two paragraphs where Langevin said racist things. If Justin Trudeau keeps this up it is open sesame on others leaders. Get rid of Cartier off bridges and roads. Next get rid of Sir Wilfred Laurier because he didn’t stop residential schools. There is no end to destroying our history using Presentism as their guide.”
Jeffrey Simpson OC