CANADA ESTABLISHING COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 November 1949, Page 8

CANADA ESTABLISHING COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE

(By Charles B. Lynch, a Reuter Correspondent in Ottawa). Canada is going through the last formalities of becoming independent, ending 200 years of transition from colony to nation. Never in all that time has there been any real question of Canadians having to fight for their independence —the people established their rights to it, and had increasing freedom granted to them by the British Parliament. In many ways, it has been a model transition, although some people feel that Canadians, never having had to fight for their liberty, are inclined to take it too much for granted. Canada’s system of government was given to her by Britain, practically ready-made. Most of her parliamentary ceremonies and customs stem from Westminster. Her judiciary system is British, minus only the wigs. These transplanted institutions have worked so well that Canada is generally conceded to be one of the bestgoverned nations on earth, and a leader among the middle powers despite her population of only 13,000,000.

These institutions will remain virtually unchanged under the new processes whereby, in typically calm and well-ordered fashion, Canada is severing her final links with the Parliament at. Westminster.

From now on, Canadians will not be able to take their lawsuits for a finai appeal to the judicial committee of the Privy Council in London. The Supreme Court of Canada will be the final court of appeal, and it will operate somewhat like the Supreme Court of the United States. It will have the final say on the interpretation of the British North America Act, which is Canada’s Constitution. Another link with Westminster is to be severed when the Canadian Parliament takes in itself the right to amend its Constitution. At present, the procedure is tnat the Canadian Parliament petitions the British Parliament to make such amendments - although in recent years passage of such amendments has been automatic

at Westminster. When the new moves become law, the sole remaining formal tie between Britain and Canada will be His Majesty the King, whose title here is King of Canada.

Still being considered is the matter of a national flag, and a national anthem. Canadians have been unable to agree on a suitable design for a flag, and the national banner remains the British Red Ensign, with the Coat, of Arms of Canada in the fly. The Province of Quebec has its own flag, a blue background with Fleur de Lys, and no trace of the Union Jack.

All Canadians still stand for “God Save the King,” but most citizens of Quebec stand even straighter for ”O Canada,” an-anthem about which the rest of Canada seems unable to make up its mind. The usual thing is to start a public function with “O Canada,” and finish it with “The King.” The new moves by Canada to underline her independence d<> not mean any weakening of her traditional affection and admiration for Britain, nor do they indicate any desire to further withdraw from the Commonwealth. If anything, public opinion shows that Canada would like Commonwealth ties strengthened. The new moves have given such comfort to Wilfrid Lacroix, Nationalist M.P. for Quebec-Monmorency, that ho is not introducing at this session his traditional resolution urging that Canada become a separate republic outside the British Commonwealth. He said: “I have not changed ni> views, but it seems from the new legislation that we' are going last enough in lhe direction of complete independence.” Another perennial resolution has been introduced, however. It is one by Bona Arsenault. Liberal Member for Bonaventure, who wants a Canadian named to the post, of GovernorGeneral of Canada. The move is not. likely to gain wide support, owing to the difficulty of finding a candidate acceptable to English and Frenchspeaking sections and the fact that the office of lhe Governor-General has always been kept free of any political | entanglements.