This guy calls himself a young fogey I don't know about the 'fogey' part, but Rafal Heydel-Mankoo has a deep understanding of the Canadian constitution, and from what I've seen in the blogosphere, an all too rare one for a guy living in either London, Ontario or London, U.K.
I've said it here a few times: the Canadian Crown is a Canadian institution, not a British one. Our Queen is Queen of Canada by an Act of the Canadian Parliament and her role as Head of State is entrenched in the Canada Act 1982. That means Canada would remain a monarchy even if the United Kingdom became a republic.
It's basic civics, but suprisingly hard for many journalists, air-headed blow-dried tv presenters, and pundits to grasp.
Thanks Rafal Heydel-Mankoo for helping educate the Europeans, Americans, Canadians, and the rest of the Commonwealth about these basic constitutional facts.
Showing posts with label Bad Reporting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bad Reporting. Show all posts
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Saturday, 16 May 2009
CBC Tars and Feathers Loyalists
A few minutes ago, Brent Bambury, host of CBC Radio's Go, made the dumbest statement I've heard in a long time. In a dubious attempt at humour, he smeared the United Empire Loyalists by claiming they arrived in Canada with all their goods and slaves in tow. Has he never heard of Black Loyalists?
Does he realize that most United Empire Loyalists were actually tradesmen and farmers, many of whom lost everything they owned? Does he realise Loyalists were branded as traitors, tarred and feathered, jailed, and hounded before they fled? Some never escaped the hangman.
Very few Loyalists were wealthy. And in 1793, Lord Simcoe, Governor of Upper Canada passed the Act Against Slavery,, making the colony the first place in the British Empire to pass legislation designed to end slavery. The act has been critiqued as too timid, but in 1793, Simcoe's measure was an heroic attempt at social reform that went against the advice of wealthy business types.
If Mr. Bambury was an American radio shock jock or pseudo-news comedy host, I'd wouldn't be surprised by his error. But I expect much much more from my taxpayer funded Public Broadcaster. Agree? Disagree?
Does he realize that most United Empire Loyalists were actually tradesmen and farmers, many of whom lost everything they owned? Does he realise Loyalists were branded as traitors, tarred and feathered, jailed, and hounded before they fled? Some never escaped the hangman.
Very few Loyalists were wealthy. And in 1793, Lord Simcoe, Governor of Upper Canada passed the Act Against Slavery,, making the colony the first place in the British Empire to pass legislation designed to end slavery. The act has been critiqued as too timid, but in 1793, Simcoe's measure was an heroic attempt at social reform that went against the advice of wealthy business types.
If Mr. Bambury was an American radio shock jock or pseudo-news comedy host, I'd wouldn't be surprised by his error. But I expect much much more from my taxpayer funded Public Broadcaster. Agree? Disagree?
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