Скачать или смотреть Canada: A history of accommodation supports its unity

It is unusual for the House of Commons Speaker to speak his mind publicly.
The Hon. John Fraser did so with great flair, however, on Nov. 25 1991, during the national unity crisis of the day, drawing on history to argue that Canada owes its existence and success to a tradition of cultural accommodation.
I was The Speaker's Director of Communications at the time and have uploaded an excerpt of a recently-rediscovered recording of the speech, delivered at an Ottawa business lunch, described also in a Canadian Press report, below:

Commons Speaker makes plea for unity

OTTAWA (CP) - House of Commons Speaker John Fraser made a passionate plea for national unity yesterday, calling on Canadians to remember all the things that make this country the envy of the world.

Addressing a business luncheon, Fraser said Canadians - anglophones, francophones, natives and others - have accomplished a lot together and shouldn't lose sight of the past as they ponder the future.

"If we want to save this country, and I think most of us do, we've got to start remembering our history," he said.

That means, he added "remembering what we have done together" and remembering "what brought us together."

Fraser, a Tory MP from Vancouver, spoke emotionally about the War of 1812, two world wars and the challenges of building a new country out of a raw continent - all of which, he said, unified Canadians of all races.

As Speaker, Fraser doesn't get many opportunities to speak out on national issues. He was careful yesterday to toe the non-partisan line of his office but his message was unmistakable.

"Polls show that most Canadians want to keep this country together," he said, suggesting the need for national reconciliation.

"Well, it can't be done by just complaining and it can't be done just by finding fault with everyone and everything about this place."

The closest Fraser came to controversy was his remark that some members of Parliament think it's all right to come to Ottawa just to represent the perspective of their riding or region.

Although he didn't name the Bloc Quebecois, which is devoted only to Quebec issues in the Commons, it seemed it was his target.

"It is astonishing that even in the political sphere, and here I have to tread cautiously, there are politicians who seem to think that the only purpose for electing a person is to represent that particular riding and that particular region," he said.

Instead, he said, MPs have a responsibility to consider the entire country, with a special eye on their own areas.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Lucien Bouchard said he admires Fraser and has no problem with him speaking out on the unity issue.

"He loves Canada a great deal and I respect him a lot," Bouchard said later outside the Commons.

Fraser's audience - Ottawa Rotarians and business people - clearly enjoyed his message, responding with a standing ovation at the end of the 30-minute speech.