By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Canada’s five living former Prime Ministers have called upon Canadians to express their national pride and “show the flag as never before” as US President Donald Trump continues his rambling belligerence against the country.
In a joint statement, former prime ministers Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper urge Canadians to fly the maple leaf with pride on Saturday, Feb. 15 on the 60th anniversary of the switch to the red and white maple leaf flag from the Canadian Red Ensign on Feb. 15, 1965.
Noting the surge in Canadian pride and patriotism since Trump began threatening its oldest ally with economic and territorial actions the five former PMs urge Canadians, “Let’s show the world that we are proud of our history and proud of our country.”
The five applauded the country’s coming together “to express their love for our country and their determination to defend Canada’s values and independence”.
“As former prime ministers of Canada, we applaud this national spirit,” the statement says. “The five of us come from different parties. We’ve had our share of battles in the past. But 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.”
The open letter to Canadians penned by the five living former Prime Ministers.
In a separate open letter published in La Presse and The Globe and Mail, former PM Jean Crétien, who celebrated his 91st birthday on Feb. 8, responded to the threats against Canada by Trump saying: “To Donald Trump, from one old guy to another: Give your head a shake!
“What could make you think that Canadians would ever give up the best country in the world — and make no mistake, that is what we are — to join the United States?”
He also highlighted that Canadians are committed to their independence and highlighted the defining values of Canada including “of compassion, of understanding, of tolerance and of looking for ways for people of different backgrounds and beliefs to live together in harmony.” He added, “It’s perhaps not the ‘American way’ or the ‘Trump way.’”
Chrétien concluded his letter by saying, “Every time that Mr. Trump opens his mouth, he creates new allies for all of us. So let’s get organized! To fight back against a big, powerful bully, you need strength in numbers.”
