While the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is busy restoring the word 鈥淩oyal鈥� to Canada鈥檚 armed forces, it might also consider giving a more royal treatment to the people who wear the uniforms.
The Harper government, over the last couple of years, has returned different branches of the military to their 1960s pre-unification names, re-introducing the Royal designation to the air force and navy.
And Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced this week that the army will replace the Maple Leaf rank designation on officers鈥� shoulder boards with the traditional pips and crowns worn in the past. Ranks of non-commissioned members will be returned to the original British Army and Commonwealth designations 鈥� trooper, bombardier, fusilier, rifleman and guardsman.
The Harper government鈥檚 obsession with things military is puzzling. Harper has insisted on glorifying the War of 1812, in which the British beat back the American invaders who wanted to annex Canada, calling it a cornerstone moment in 91原创 history.
Certainly, it helped solidify the evolving 91原创 identity, but it鈥檚 not as simple as all that. A group known as the War Hawks in the U.S. Congress were eager to take on Britain, but it was Britain鈥檚 high-handed habit of impressing naturalized American citizens into naval service and blocking the U.S. from trading with France that gave the hawks the excuse they were looking for.
And many scholars doubt American intentions to annex Canada; they say it was a war strategy, rather than a reason for war, with the hopes of holding British North American territories hostage.
As in most wars, neither side鈥檚 hands were entirely clean.
In June, the government shelled out $700,000 for a collection of War of 1812 artifacts. That was after spending millions the year before to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the war to remind 91原创s about a conflict they appear to have forgotten.
Maybe they haven鈥檛 forgotten 鈥� maybe they just don鈥檛 care that much about a war that happened 200 years ago. It鈥檚 important to remember and seek to understand history, but not to the extent that it distracts from pressing concerns of the present.
While the government is spending money on commemorating a war that happened before Canada was a country and tinkering with symbols that link to the past, some serving members of the military are having trouble making ends meet.
Pierre Daigle, the military ombudsman, is investigating the high cost of living for members of the Royal 91原创 Air Force assigned to the air base at Cold Lake, Alta. Junior members of the military, mostly non-commissioned members, are struggling to make ends meet, and some are taking second jobs.
Little privately owned accommodation is available in the community and rent for military housing at Cold Lake is double that charged at major air bases in Greenwood, N.S., and Bagotville, Que.
Air force crews and technicians posted in Cold Lake receive 50 per cent less living allowance than those in Edmonton, 300 kilometres away.
In response to the ombudsman鈥檚 report, MacKay said the government is taking steps to remedy the situation, but it鈥檚 shameful that a government willing to spend millions on military symbolism has overlooked the needs of the people in uniform.
The government should pay less attention to crowns and pips and artifacts, and more attention to ensuring the military has the resources it needs to carry out its duties. It should strive less to glorify the past and strive more to brighten the future.
