Canadian Nationalism

Recently, I came across an old campaign poster by the “exalted” old leader John A. MacDonald.

I always viewed MacDonald as one of these characters who was in the right place at the right time, someone who loved Empire and would do anything to hold onto the British Connection that was so central to Canadian nationalism.

While I’m not sure it was the intention of MacDonald, I always got a kick out of this poster, as it was one of those rare times that the leader acknowledged that it was workers and farmers that legitimized his government.

Perhaps a more realistic image would have MacDonald’s foot on their backs in order to climb up to the railway barons. With the Gomery Inquiry set to release its preliminary report, perhaps this would be a better explanation of Canadian Nationalism than simply waving the British Flag.