Idea of an Ideal Government

Humanist (Atheist and Agnostic) Perspective
by Doug Thomas
Retired Teacher, Canadian Historical Fiction Novelist
President, Society of Ontario Freethinkers

Abstract of Theme Speech

1. Why do we need government?

Groups of more than 25 or so people seem to need a governmental style structure of some kind to achieve any goals and to be viable as units. An entity as large and diverse as Canada needs a complex and multi-layered government. Achieving an ideal government in such a nation is a difficult task
especially when its citizens seem determined to have a multi-cultural society.

2. History of Current Canadian Government

Many Christians, including those who forced the inclusion of the preamble to our Charter of Rights and Freedoms like to present a rose-coloured revisionist version of Canadian history. They maintain that our country was founded on the principles that Christianity brought to this country. I hope not. From the moment they arrived in New France, European settlers, both Roman Catholic and Protestant chose to ignore the Aboriginal society that, though flawed, had created societies at least as stable and perhaps less violent than the Christian societies from which the European settlers had come.

Nevertheless, for over 200 years, well into the 19th century, those Europeans tried to erase Aboriginal culture and religion with incessant missionary zeal. When this failed, all the churches decided to kidnap aboriginal children and put them in residential schools. Surely, these are not the principles upon which we should build Canada.

These Europeans were not much more tolerant among themselves. The British crown recognized only the Church of England in Upper Canada until the mid 1800s – a justice of the peace married Laura Ingersoll and James Secord because they were Methodist, a religion barely tolerated but not recognized by the British Crown. Surely, this is not a principle on which to base our ideal Canadian government.

Exactly 200 years ago today, British, Aboriginal and Canadian allies defeated American invaders at Queenston in the first major land battle fought on British North American soil. This victory was the first step toward the outcome of the war that decisively ensured that BNA would remain British and
its government would evolve in lock-step with British Government including a monarchy welded at the hip to the Church of England.

In direct contrast although the Americans transplanted 18th century British government structure to Washington in 1792, they eliminated theism from their model. The hereditary House of Lords became the appointed Senate, the elected House of Commons became the elected House of Representatives, the god-appointed monarchy became the elected president and they specifically excluded religion from government.

3. What, then, are some of characteristics of an ideal government for Canada.

One that would establish our dream of being great example of multicultural harmony for the world. Surely, such a government would treat all its citizens regardless of race, colour, personal philosophy or sexual orientation as equals.

Surely, such a government would make sure that all its citizens would have access to the counselling appropriate to their faith or personal philosophy.
Surely, such a government would reach out and defend the rights of all citizens of the world to individual philosophies, free speech and the basic freedoms that Canadians enjoy. Surely, such a government would ensure that all its citizens could celebrate Canada proudly in national anthem, on its coins and with all the other symbols of multicultural nationhood.

4. The current structure of Canadian government.

The current government of Canada falls short of these ideal. We often criticize historic examples of top-down governments. Most of them included the imposition of the ethics and philosophy of the head of state. While it is certainly more benign than most, our monarchy still has that characteristic.
The Canadian monarchy still includes the title of “Head of the Church of England.” This leads to a kind of top down tolerance. Christianity is still the default set of ethics while other religions are included in token ways from time to time. Remembrance day ceremonies, for example, are Christian dominated with one or other religion playing a minor role.

Religions, providing they are theistic, get favoured treatment under the charity sections of the income tax act. For example, they can maintain building funds, participate fully in international bodies, both privileges denied to Secular Humanist organizations even if they do have charitable
status.

Religious clergy enjoy income tax deductions for residence costs; Humanist Officiants do not. When Secular Connexion Séculaire applied for charitable status a conscientious and fair Charities Directorate employee replied with a six-page explanation of why our three goals: act as a communications nexus for Canadian Humanists, lobby for changes to discriminatory legislation, and represent Canadian Humanists internationally, would exclude us from the charitable status that a similar religious organization could have. No ideal government can exist with these biases.

5. The ideal structure

Any ideal government would allow and encourage all members of a multi-cultural society like Canada's the ability to bring ethics that conform to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the decision making processes of government. This would include universal right to lobby government in a non-partisan way for changes to specific pieces of legislation. An ideal government structure would not include inherent favouritism of any ethical system just
because its head of state is welded at the hip to one church.

We are tantalizingly close to this structure. Our government functions very well without input or interference from the monarchy. Our real head of state, the Governor General, operates with complete autonomy within the Canadian context.

All we need do is summon the national will to tell Prince Charles that when he becomes Charles III, he and his family will always be welcome in Canada, but as foreign heads of state. This would sever the remaining invisible tendrils connecting Canada to a monarch that is so connected to religion. Prince Charles, you see, has said that he will renounce the title, “Head of the Church of England,”

but he has also said that he would then be the “Defender of Faith,” – hardly much more ideal title especially from the Secular Humanist perspective.
At the same time we should make the position of Governor General an elected one with due safeguards to isolate it from party politics. This would remove the official theism from our head of state, but would not affect our position within the Commonwealth of Nations.

6. Symbolic Ideals

An ideal government should represent itself to its people with symbols that are inclusive. How ideal can a government be if 25% of its citizens can not sing the national anthem without being hypocrites? O Canada is both theistic and, in English, sexist. We atheist Canadians want to sing about our cherished land. We want it to command true patriot love in all of us. We will keep our land glorious and free. Our national anthem should reflect that with these words:

O Canada our home and cherished land,
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise
The True North Strong and Free.
From far and wide O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
We'll keep our land glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Il est très important que notre pays supports les choix démocratique, que sa valeur est plein de
raison, et que nous protégérons tous ensemble nos foyers et nos droits. Notre hymne national
devrait refléter ce fait que par ces mots:
O Canada, terre de nos aieux,
Ton front est cient des fleurons glorieux
Car ton bras sait porter lépée
Et tu supports les choix
Ton histoire est une épopée des plus brilliants exploits.
Et ta valeur plein de raison
Protégérons nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégérons nos foyers et nos droits.

7. Respect – not tolerance

An ideal government treats all its citizens with respect, not tolerance. An ideal government structure ensures that everyone can take part in government without a topdown impression that one religion or philosophy is the ultimate or most accepted one. Such an ideal government is devoid of religious symbols. We Canadians have managed to install non-religious affirmations for every public office and to remove the religious symbols from our flag. Let us move forward to remove the theistically attached monarchy and to celebrate the new, respectful Canada with a new, respectful national song. To approach the reality of an ideal government, we must end tolerance and begin respect.