Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney welcomes British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Mirabel Airport near Montreal Sunday afternoon, July 13, 1986. Thatcher was on her way back to Britain from Expo 86 in Vancouver. Paul Chiasson / The Canadian PressPaul Chaisson/The Canadian Press
The contention made in briefing notes prepared for Margaret Thatcher prior to her visit to Canada in 1983 to the effect that Canadians are "inordinately sensitive" is incorrect, inaccurate, hurtful, unfair, uncalled-for, disrespectful, unnecessary, rude, insolent, slanderous and – as any person with even a modicum of common sense can easily see – completely unwarranted. The only possible responses are the complete cessation of all trade with Great Britain and one of those things from Parliament, what are they called again... a censure motion! A motion sensor is also probably called for and should be installed immediately.
Canadians are not inordinately sensitive. Americans are way, waaaay more sensitive than we are. So are Italians. Our sensitivity level is, in fact, just right, as far as we are concerned. A lot of other nations have pointed out that, of all the nations they know, Canada is the last one they would ever call oversensitive. One nation was saying just the other day that they don't even bring the subject up any more when Canada is around, because there is no point since it's not true.
Why are we even talking about this? It's stupid. Canadians are not inordinately sensitive. The whole thing is making us laugh. Where people come up with this stuff is beyond us. We are not even going to think about it. It is just so ridiculous. However, and be that as it may, Great Britain should apologize. It would be nice if the Queen could do it, if she isn't too busy.