{"id":12656,"date":"2026-01-08T00:22:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T05:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bygeorgejournal.ca\/?p=12656"},"modified":"2026-01-11T11:30:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T16:30:53","slug":"in-defence-of-sir-john-a-macdonald-and-his-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bygeorgejournal.ca\/?p=12656","title":{"rendered":"In defence of Sir John A. Macdonald and his legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reposting…. The Macdonald-Laurier Institute issued an important statement this day. Here is the media release and links to the pertinent articles.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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OTTAWA, ON (January 12, 2021):\u00a0<\/strong>Those who see Canada\u2019s history as little more than a shameful series of mistakes and failures have grown increasingly vocal in calling for the shunning of figures like our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Macdonald, however, is owed not our contempt and derision, but our thoughtful measured thanks.<\/p>\n

This is the message of more than 150 historians, policy experts, educators, business leaders, public figures, and thought leaders who have signed a joint statement in defence of Macdonald. This statement, a joint project of the Friends of Sir John A. Macdonald and the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, ran today in the National Post as a full-page advertisement to coincide with Macdonald\u2019s birthday.\u00a0The statement can be read in full here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Macdonald\u2019s legacy is one of remarkable accomplishments. He, alongside his contemporaries like George-\u00c9tienne Cartier, set themselves the task of creating Canada, overcoming sectarian and linguistic strife and years of mistrust and political deadlock. He led the original Confederation effort, persuaded three other provinces to join, hugely expanded Canada\u2019s territory, dissuaded American expansionism, brought economic stability, promoted unity between Canada\u2019s language and religions factions, and much more.<\/p>\n

The statement\u2019s signatories also note that Macdonald, like all national leaders, had significant failures. These include his policy establishing the residential school system \u2013 a decision with a dark legacy that hangs over the country to this day.<\/p>\n

Macdonald\u2019s undoubted errors must be weighed, however, against \u201can impressive record of constitution and nation building, his reconciliation of contending cultures, languages and religions, his progressivism and his documented concern for and friendship with the Indigenous peoples of Canada,\u201d suggest the authors.<\/p>\n

According to Professor Patrice Dutil, one of the organizers of this initiative, “the sustained attacks on monuments to Sir John A. Macdonald and the attacks on his good name in schools and at Queen’s University in 2020 prompted many of us to simply say: Enough!” Professor Dutil goes on to note that while Macdonald’s record is hardly without blemish, “his policy failures must be weighed against his phenomenal policy successes. This effort, I hope, will become a turning point in how Canadian society examines Macdonald, and its past generally.”<\/p>\n

As MLI Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley puts it:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is easy to criticize the past and the decisions made there. But it is a conceit of each and every generation that it alone is free from poor judgments, intellectual shortcomings and historical myopia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMacdonald was\u00a0neither angel nor devil<\/a>, but a fallible human being who accomplished great things. Looking solely at our past errors is not the right standard by which to measure Canada or Sir John A. and their great achievements,\u201d argues Crowley, who was one of the signatories of today\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

The signatories urge governments, historians, teachers, media and other engaged Canadians to ensure everyone has access to a balanced view of our common past and the people who made us.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at our history with a dispassionate eye will give us a much clearer vision of the future,\u201d they write. \u201cLet\u2019s start with Sir John A. Macdonald.\u201d<\/p>\n

IN DEFENCE OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD\u2019S LEGACY:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Born on January 11th, 1815, he came here from his native Scotland in 1820. When he died 71 years later, Macdonald had become one of our greatest immigrant success stories, and the most respected and honoured Canadian of his era, having been Prime Minister for 19 of our first 24 years.<\/p>\n

Sir John:<\/p>\n