One-year-ago today Canada’s past Prime Ministers (that did not include Justin Trudeau at the time) united as one to call on Canadians to defy Donald Trump by flying our flag proudly on Flag Day (February 15). The past PMs, members of the nation’s most exclusive club, were Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Joe Clark, Stephen Harper and Paul Martin.
“Let’s show the world that we are proud of our history and proud of our country,” the group of proud Canadians said in a joint statement. “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.”
Canadians answered the call and our flag started to appear on our homes, in workplaces, on vehicles and in countless other places.
As Trump’s threats to Canada continue today, I hope we’ll raise our flag high on February 15 this year!
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.