This day was called Dominion Day when I arrived from The Netherlands on August 11, 1959. It probably became Canada Day under Pearson, who brought in the Maple Leaf flag as Canada’s new national flag. It replaced the old Ensign, which in turn had replaced the Union Jack.

Pearson also brought in the new National Anthem of “O Canada“, which has seen a few changes over the years. The latest being the switch from ‘in all thy sons command’ to ‘in all of us command’ which happened this spring!

However the official legal status of Dominion was never even mentioned.

Canada adapts with well considered repose, most of the time! The flag debate as it was called in 1966 was an emotional exception. It had to get done before the World Exhibition of 1967 in Montreal. However the official legal status of Dominion was never even mentioned.

The problem here is that Canada’s head of state is still the Queen of England or the UK. Canada is not a republic, but few people would call it a kingdom, so Dominion it remains. A nice Canadian political compromise. Just leave it alone, because most people never give it a thought or are even aware of it! Sleeping dogs policy you might say.
Queen Elisabeth II calls Canada the great Dominion, so we better leave it at that. Things may change once Prince William becomes head of state for the UK and its common wealth, such as that is.

We may have to become inventive about this and define a new form of statehood with its unique head of state title.

I don’t think Canadians would opt for having a president as state head. We may have to become inventive about this and define a new form of statehood with its unique head of state title.

I would like to conclude this little Canada Day contemplation with a well known Canadian political wisdom paraphrased: “A new state form and title if necessary, but not necessarily all that new.” Credit does to Canada’s late Prime Minister Lyon Mackenzie King of the WW2 years.
<8:30am~