Hundreds of people gather on February 14, 1997 in Vancouver during a celebration of National Flag day which takes place nationally February 15.Reuters
Canada’s five living former prime ministers have united to salute Canadian patriotism, prompted by the recent “threats and insults” of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The prime ministers. whose terms in office span 1979 to 2015, are also asking Canadians to fly the country’s flag with pride on Feb. 15, which is Flag Day and the 60th anniversary of the red-and-white maple leaf flag. Then-prime minister Jean Chrétien declared Feb. 15 as Flag Day in 1996.
”In the face of threats and insults from Donald Trump, Canadians have come together to express their love for our country and their determination to defend Canada’s values and our independence,” the five former leaders wrote in a statement.
“As former prime ministers of Canada, we applaud this national spirit. And we call on our fellow Canadians to show the flag as never before.”
The week Canada remembered what it stands for
Canadian brands say ‘Sorry, not sorry’ in unusual burst of patriotic Super Bowl ads
The statement was signed by Progressive Conservatives Joe Clark and Kim Campbell; Mr. Chrétien and fellow Liberal Paul Martin; and Stephen Harper, who led the Conservative Party created in 2003 by the merger of the PCs and the Canadian Alliance.
Since his inauguration, Mr. Trump has promised tariffs on all imports from Canada, but postponed the measure last week. Still, he moved on Monday to enact 25-per-cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada.
Mr. Trump has also repeatedly questioned Canada’s existence as a country, saying it is not viable without the United States, and that he would like to see Canada become the 51st state. He has referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “governor.”
The five former prime ministers who have signed the statement acknowledged that they come from different parties, and noted, “We’ve had our share of battles in the past.”
“We all agree on one thing: Canada, the true north, strong and free, the best country in the world, is worth celebrating and fighting for,” they wrote, urging Canadians to make this year’s Flag Day one to remember.
In an interview, Mr. Clark said Mr. Chrétien was the principal author of the statement and had rallied the others in recent days to participate.
“I was frankly surprised when Jean Chrétien phoned me with this proposal. As he was going through it, I realized – and I’ve had my differences with him – that this, in a sense, was Chrétien, at his best,” Mr. Clark said.
“And I think that the fact that the rest of us have signed on so unanimously and enthusiastically indicates that it’s the rest of us at our best, and it’s also the country at our best.”
Mr. Clark, who was prime minister for nine months between 1979 and 1980, said the statement is a case of Canadian leaders following the people, namely those who have expressed their pride and patriotism in response to the rhetoric and actions of the U.S.
He said the former leaders will not be making statements like this as a habit. “My own instinct is this is something that should have been done once, and it has been done. Part of its distinction is that it wasn’t planned. It’s not part of a process,” Mr. Clark said.
“One of us thought of it, but it was obviously agreed to by the others. It is a genuine sense of common purpose, not inspired by the leaders, but inspired by the people.”
Mr. Clark said the situation with the U.S. may affect Canada’s next federal election, expected this spring.
“We have to take the narrowness of Donald Trump seriously, of course, but, by and large, I think that our Canadian reaction has been more significant than the American provocation.
“It has caused us to realize our assets and strengths, and the next challenge is what do we do about it.”