Democratic societies are often messy, and free nations make many mistakes. But the freedom to make those mistakes, learn from them, and adapt over time would not exist had Canadian Veterans and our allies not prevailed in past conflicts.
This Remembrance Day, many of us took time to think about those who fought in defence of Canada and our allies. As of late, however, I’ve noticed a growing narrative spreading that argues those who served Canada in conflicts like the First and Second World Wars didn’t fight for the kind of Canada that exists today. The implication is that Canada and other Western nations have gone so far off course that there is now a large values mismatch between the worldviews of those who fought for Canada in the past and the Canada of the present – and ostensibly the future.
In some cases, this argument is made as part of an attempt to ‘smuggle in’ narratives friendly to authoritarian and fascist thinking. Some who have chosen to give in to hatred or impatience with democracy use such a narrative to argue that today’s diverse and relatively inclusive Canada would be opposed by those who fought for Canada in the past and that the authoritarian states we fought in previous conflicts were actually correct – or at least more aligned with the values of past generations of Canadian Veterans. Some even argue that had Canadian Veterans known how Canada was going to change, they wouldn’t have fought at all.
This narrative is generally built on a few core ideas: First, that Canada is much different demographically than it was in the past and that Veterans did not fight for the demographics that exist today.
Second, that more open and progressive social values go against the more conservative values held by Canadians in the past, and that they would therefore reject Canada’s norms and values in the present.
And third, that Canada is now too weak and too divided to generate any sense of common national identity, and therefore, the Canadian nation that Veterans fought for no longer exists.
These narratives are also part of a broader effort by some to delegitimize Canada – and other Western nations – in their current form and to try and undermine the liberal democratic foundations of free nations. And while these narratives are based on some seemingly accurate initial observations, they are – in my view – fundamentally flawed and ultimately deceptive. Here’s why:
Such a narrative takes agency away from those who existed in the past. From the start, debates over race, assimilation, women’s rights, demographics, values, institutions, religion, culture, and region have been a part of the Canadian story. Groups now considered part of the majority were treated as outcast minorities when they initially came to Canada, a process that repeats throughout Canadian history. There was never a static, unchanging version of Canada; rather, Canada has always been changing and evolving. Demographics shifted, historic wrongs were debated, addressed by some, downplayed by others, and rights evolved and expanded. These decisions were ultimately made through voluntary societal evolution, laws passed by those who won free and fair elections, and by judges appointed by Prime Ministers leading governments composed of MPs who were elected in those aforementioned free elections.
And when you look at the decisions that helped shape the Canada of today, many were made by Canadian Veterans. For example, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson served in the First World War. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker served in the CEF in Britain for a short time. Both helped shape Canadian values and institutions.
Regarding Canada’s shifting demographics, Canada has long been one of the most pro immigration countries on Earth, with one of the highest populations of citizens who were born abroad and recent descendants of those born abroad. Openness to others has long been a defining Canadian value that emerged organically from Canada’s history of providing space for people of different cultures and faiths to flourish, along with the flexibility that comes with keeping English-speaking Canada and French-speaking Canada unified and addressing the past mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples.
When immigration has gone too far in the minds of the public – as has happened recently – we’ve seen the government respond to public sentiment and start reducing immigration levels.
That kind of system, where elected representatives are held accountable by the public and respond to public sentiment, is the system that those who served Canada fought for, particularly in the Second World War. Had Germany, Japan, and Italy prevailed, the world would have been dominated by authoritarian states that openly opposed democracy and believed free societies like those of Canada and the Western Allies were weak and unsustainable. In the end, it turned out that free societies were far stronger and far more adaptable than fascist states. We often forget it now, but many fascists in the 1930s and 1940s argued that the more homogenous societies of Germany and Japan would prevail over the diverse – in the context of the time – societies of Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Obviously, that’s not how it turned out. In a very real way, those who fought for Canada were fighting for democracy and for the idea of a society that could be stronger by bringing together people from various backgrounds.
Also consider that most countries become more progressive over time. Over the long run – and this tends to hold up around the world – rights are expanded, and the idea of who is included in ‘us’ expands. The fact that such a process has been observed in Canada throughout our history is no surprise. Thus, it’s to be expected that Canadians of the present would be more ‘progressive’ on average than Canadians of the past. That’s the case for nearly every country on Earth. So, to claim that this progressive shift over time means those who served Canada wouldn’t fight for Canada as it exists today makes little sense.
Regarding the idea that Canada is too weak and divided to build a cohesive national identity, we have seen a surge in patriotism in the wake of tariffs and threats to Canadian sovereignty. The government is increasing military spending, recruitment is up, and ‘buy Canadian’ efforts/ campaigns to reduce purchases of U.S. goods have proven largely successful, demonstrating a willingness on the part of Canadians to stand up for our status as a sovereign nation. Let’s also not forget that Canadians experienced national unity crises and crises over conscription at times when we faced external threats and had different demographics, and overcame those challenges, so to claim that current crises and divisions are impossible to solve is not an accurate reading of our history.
By definition, the Canada of the present exists in the form it does today because of decisions made by the Canadians of the past. They are not separate from it, they are integral to it. We are an open and tolerant country because those who came before us built Canada into such a nation, and many of those who came before us served in the First and Second World Wars. If they could see Canada as it is today, they would see a country that is still among the wealthiest, most advanced, and safest nations on Earth. That doesn’t mean it’s without problems, and that doesn’t mean we haven’t lost our way in some respects, but Canada remains a place where issues are debated, problems are addressed, people from around the world are welcomed into the Canadian family, and the meaning of Canadian Values is shaped and reshaped. They would also recognize that Canada remains a haven of freedom in a world where oppression and brutality are still far too often the norm.
As Canadians, we are lucky to live in a country that, with a few course corrections, can get back on track and become more prosperous than before. Of all the places to be on this planet, Canada remains among the freest and most resource-abundant. We have what many throughout history never had: A chance to build a beautiful future. And we have that chance because of those who fought for our freedom, and who fought against tyrannical and hateful regimes. Rather than giving in to despair, anger, or cynicism, let’s embrace the opportunity we’ve been given and help our country achieve its full potential. That would be the best way to honour those who put their lives on the line and helped build the foundation upon which our country stands.
Spencer Fernando
Photo – YouTube
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