Canada is in a defining political moment. There have been major shifts in economic, climate, and immigration policy, as well as in Canada’s relationship with the United States. In response, there is an increasingly powerful sentiment to restructure the very idea of “Canadian identity” to adapt to this new reality.
However, if we are to pursue this path, we need to proceed with caution.
We should care about the rhetoric used by our government, and there has been a noticeable change in the language used by politicians and the media to describe our Canadian identity. It is an increasingly patriotic message around national strength, independence, and security, that reflects a desire for greater self-reliance.
Political language does more than describe events. It establishes who is considered part of the national community, what problems are perceived as urgent, and what values are associated with our nation. The same policy can be framed in dramatically different ways depending on which words are chosen.
Take Mark Carney’s recent statement that we will not meet our target emissions for the Paris Agreement as proof of this idea, and we see these sentiments mirrored.
He said that while the energy transition will be a force of stabilization in the long run — something Canada remains committed to —we won’t be meeting our Paris Agreement target and will instead increase our emissions.
By placing this issue in opposition to national security and stability, it creates a false conflict. It is not a simple one-to-one issue and framing it that way removes accountability from the Canadian Government for failing to uphold this agreement.
The new Canada Strong Fund also reflects this shift in Canada’s identity.
While Carney’s government has not explicitly rejected values like diversity, social responsibility, or globalism, it has placed greater emphasis on sovereignty, economic security, and national strength. The fund’s name itself reflects this shift as “Canada Strong” evokes a more explicitly patriotic vision of Canada.
The increase in patriotic sentiment in these policies and the media portrayal should concern us, not because we should allow Canadians to be rolled over on the global stage, but because with patriotism comes associations that are not always intended.
The language being used describes Canada as one nation, one entity made up of people who all think and act the same way. This is exactly the opposite of the Canada I see throughout history and in my own life.
We have 10 provinces and three territories worth of different experiences. Within these subsections, we have a wealth of diversity of language, culture, and thought.
Growing up, I remember the term “cultural mosaic” being used often. I hear it a lot less now, and it makes me sad. As someone who has always been proud of my own heritage, I was proud that Canada stood in opposition to the American idea of the “melting pot.” The Canadian experience has always been a million different things. To erase that diversity is to erase our greatest strength.
I have seen the work that Canada has done to reckon with our past. I have seen work done in education, the workplace, media, and through policy over the course of my life. But I have also seen the mistakes and missteps we have made, and I see there is still so much work left to be done.
As Canada enters what may be a period of significant change, the language used to describe that change will help shape the country’s culture. Understanding that language, and questioning the assumptions embedded within it, is an important part of participating in forming our new Canadian identity.
Kavina Sathiyanarayana is a fourth year Politics, Philosophy, and Economics student and one of The Journal’s Assistant News Editors.
Tags
Canadian identity, diversity, Equity, Political Language
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