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The Statute of Westminster (1931): Canada's "Declaration of Independence"

© Joseph Sramek

It is very fitting, yet also odd, that our neighbo(u)r to the north has its own independence day in the same week as our July 4th. I cannot think of two nations that have shared such a similar heritage but yet are, metaphorically speaking, as different as night and day, than Canada and the United States. Both were once part of the British Empire, and both nations achieved their independence from it, but through entirely different methods. One gained its independence through an 18th century revolution based mainly on economic grievances, with battles galore; the other through a lengthy, pragmatic, legal, progress which culminated in the Statute of Westminster. (I'm trying to resist my yawns. :-) ) In the long run, both achieved the same results, but the separate processes created two different nations with two entirely different national identities.

The difference between the American (USA's) mantra of "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" and the Canadian idea of good governance and law and order is striking. A couple of years ago, when America was considering President Clinton's national health care system, I read an article in a major publication which raised the cultural difference between Americans and Canadians. The article was a critique of national health care, and in particular, the Canadian single-payer system. The author argued that a similar plan in America would cause many Americans, not accustomed to waiting on line, to fume and vent, whereas Canadians mainly tended to take it in stride. I honestly don't know how accurate this was, but while we're on the subject on the differences between Canada and the United States, one of the most significant is the political systems of the two.

Technically today, Queen Elizabeth II is Canada's head of state -- and technically Canada is still part of the British Empire/Commonwealth of Nations. Yet if QE II suddenly dies tomorrow, Canada can technically decide that Prince William, her grandson, will be Canada's next King instead of his father, Prince Charles, next in line for the British throne. It also can at any time, leave the British Commonwealth of Nations. And to those of you who don't think all of this is possible, may I point you to the recent political debate afoot in Australia over whether to turn it from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.

Before 1931, however, none of this could have happened. Before 1931, despite the Dominion Acts of 1867, which granted Canada limited autonomy, the British could, if it wanted to, still run Canadian affairs. For one, the Dominion Acts only applied to domestic affairs; the British Empire still controlled Canada's foreign affairs. Thus, on August 3, 1914, at 10:30 p.m., King George V met in Privy Council in Buckingham Palace and declared war on Germany. With this simple declaration, all of the British Empire, including Canada, automatically entered the First World War. (1) Without any consultation, Canadians found themselves bound to support the "Mother Country."

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