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Or sign-in if you have an account.Statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in front of Toronto's Queens Park on July 10, 2025. Photo by Peter J. Thompson /National PostFreedom is one of the greatest hallmarks of western civilization, but unless it is imperilled it is too often taken for granted. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorOn this coming Canada Day, it is a good idea to reflect on the fact that it is not for nothing that our national anthem proclaims this is “The True North strong and free.” The magnificence of this country has been its ability to incorporate into its national lifeblood almost a thousand years of English history and tradition concerning freedom, while still being able to maintain a certain Canadian uniqueness. Canada is so much more than a land of kindness, peacekeeping and health care. It is a kingdom of explorers, entrepreneurs and soldiers that when at its best can sit atop the whole world, enabled by the very freedom baked into this great land.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againIn the 1776 Declaration of Independence, the Americans affirmed they were throwing off the “political bands” of the English to secure their unalienable rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Such boldness was not in the Canadian nature. The Canadian revolution involved slow and gradual constitutional reform, while respecting our shared heritage with Britain. The upshot was the Constitution Act of 1982. But Canada’s Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and Britain’s Magna Carta of 1215, while all important for proclaiming freedom, were also specific in invoking God. “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law,” begins our Constitution. “Know that before God,” says Magna Carta. The Declaration of Independence insists people’s rights were “endowed by their Creator.” These three momentous documents were recognizing that freedom is not something bestowed by man but granted by the Divine. We talk of freedom being a right when it is, in fact, sacred. We have exercised that right for so long it is second nature to us, forgetting sometimes that it was at places like Vimy and Dieppe that it was enshrined in blood. So, we should never take it for granted, for danger lies from those in authority and those within society who abhor what we are. Governments, by their nature, like to be in control. Freedom, for those in charge, can be an irritant. No better example of this is the invocation of the Emergencies Act by the Trudeau government. The Ottawa Freedom Convoy was a maddening annoyance that impacted people’s lives, but it was far from a national emergency, as a federal court and appeal court found. Freedom of expression is a fundamental freedom “because in a free, pluralistic and democratic society we prize a diversity of ideas and opinions for their inherent value both to the community and to the individual,” wrote the appeal court. Other freedoms guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms include freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of the press and freedom of peaceful assembly, as well as the right to life, and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure and unwarranted arrest. However, respecting personal freedom in Canada long predates the 1982 Constitution. Indeed, the 1867 British North America Act’s most important line is not Section 91’s “peace, order, and good government,” but the preamble’s declaration that the Dominion of Canada is to be endowed “with a Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom.” Though this has been obscured in recent decades, the greatest protector of rights, as in Britain, has been Parliament, not the courts.Individual liberty has always been where the default line of government power has landed, even if that line has not always been respected. Even authoritarian-minded politicians are forced to contend with the fact that Canadians expect basic respect for their rights and freedoms. Canada’s core values — responsible government, the rule of law and individual rights — have been handed down to us through history.Unfortunately, progressives happily trash our history, tear down statues, rename streets and squares, and declare that we are a genocidal, colonial racist entity. Don McIsaac, mayor of Orillia, Ont., estimated that 75 per cent of the town were happy to see a statue of legendary explorer, and one of the true founders of Canada, Samuel de Champlain re-installed at a park. But after one woman vandalized it, the statue was dismantled and removed out of sight. Recent wobbliness aside, those who built this country, from de Champlain to Sir John A. Macdonald, have rightly been venerated by generations for their greatness. It was their ingenuity, ambition and seemingly bottomless energy that made Canada what it is and what it could be.When activists and governments talk of remaking society in the spirit of decolonialism, it is a threat to tear down not just the negatives from our past, but all that makes Canada great.We have come far and fought hard; achieved much greatness and been blessed with bountiful resources; we are defined by a history populated by great men and women and live under a flag that symbolizes we are a free, democratic nation with a proud tradition. When next you sing, “We stand on guard for thee,” reflect for a moment on the things that need guarding. Happy Canada Day!National Post Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.