A recent Angus Reid poll found only half of Canadians feel a deep connection to their country. This reflects a sharp decline in the past decade, and a stark contrast to the 85 per cent of Americans who, according to Statista, consider themselves very patriotic.
There are many reasons why Canadians might be ambivalent: Does the duality of our English/French history, or strong provincial jurisdictional powers make it difficult to hang on to a national narrative?
Is it the recent surge in immigration, or the fashionable rewriting of Canadian history? Is Canada too big and too damn expensive to get to know? Have we lost the traditions and common experiences that once pulled us together — two World Wars, the Korean War, the Afghanistan war, the 1972 Canada-USSR Series?
Whatever the reason, it’s time Canadians rebuilt the foundation of our national common values, character and identity for which we were once envied. President-elect Donald Trump’s trolling of Canada as the “51st state” has done us the favour of making that crystal clear.
After the financial crisis of 2008, then-finance minister Jim Flaherty invited me to a weekend retreat, where participants each shared a blue-sky policy idea. I floated the concept of mandatory national service: Young Canadians could serve for 12 months in the military, Parks Canada, building northern infrastructure or urban projects, or any national priority we chose.
The idea didn’t gain much traction in the moment, but the moment has changed. Given our lacklustre connection to our country almost two decades later, it is time to reconsider an idea that works in many corners of the globe.
Over 80 countries have some form of national service; they foster a stronger sense of community, a commitment to civic duty, a positive experience transitioning to young adulthood, social cohesion and stronger national identity and, post-COVID, a return to in-person activities with peers.
All the Nordic countries except Iceland once again have mandatory national service; a year ago, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced he would reactivate Sweden’s civilian service.
“Citizenship is not a travel document,” he told a gathering of the security and defence community.
Growing European interest in some form of national service may stem from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started with the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Other factors may include China’s growing influence in the region, as well as unprecedented immigration.
French President Emmanuel Macron reinstated General National Service in 2021 for all 15- to 17-year-olds, to encourage young French citizens to take part in the life of the nation and promote social cohesion. Before their U.K. election loss, the U.K. Conservatives had announced they would bring back national service if re-elected. Then-Home Secretary James Cleverly said it would create “a society where people mix with people outside their communities, mix with people of different backgrounds, different religions, different income levels.”
Many of the defence and social cohesion issues faced by Europe are relevant to Canada today. The Angus Reid poll results speak for themselves. It’s been 30 years since Canada narrowly survived the 1995 Quebec referendum, and it still has not found a way to improve our common culture and identity. Many federal initiatives have done the opposite. The ’80s experiment of multiculturalism has accelerated and we are drifting increasingly to a highly fragmented, culturally siloed society.
We have witnessed the eruption of old-world disputes on Canadian streets. We tolerate blatant antisemitism, the waving of terrorist flags and mass public prayers blocking our thoroughfares. All the while complaining that this “is not our Canada.”
Mandatory national service could rebuild a common thread of culture across our vast country. Young Canadians from different ethnicities and regions would find a common Canadian purpose. They would get to know their compatriots and be pushed beyond their comfort zones.
Friendships would be forged, stories would be told, legends would be born. And an emotional commitment to Canada would be repaired.
National Post
Susan McArthur is a former venture capital investor, investment banker and current corporate director. She served as chair of Ontario’s Portable Benefits Advisory Panel and a partial term as Chair of the Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee as she left mid-term to run as a Conservative candidate in the 2021 election. Susan lives in Toronto.