PSPP still refuses the oath
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is stil childishly refusing the oath as other MNAs are sworn in this week.
Which makes me want to ask: why an oath at all?
This is one of those things, like singing national anthems before sports matches, that we just go on doing, although if we stop and ask why, they make no sense at all. When the Canadiens play the Bruins it isn’t a national standoff, so why the anthem? Anthems maybe have their purpose in international events like the Olympics, where national teams compete, but what on earth is the point of singing O Canada when the Habs meet the Leafs?
Likewise, politicians know what they’re elected to do – at least we hope so – and a form of words, promising loyalty and honesty, won’t make a damn bit of difference in how they go about their work.
Update: We’ve discussed some of the topics broached here before.
Kevin 08:59 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
We’re asking them to swear an oath to do right by the citizenry of our nation, as represented by the symbolism of the Throne of Canada.
Maybe our schools and newspapers should spend some time educating the public about that, although we’d have to start by educating the fine columnists at Quebecor.
Ephraim 09:53 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
I really want to make this oath into a double-edged sword, now that he wants to open it up to discussion. Put some consequences that are clear for violating the trust the public and make it clear that they serve their constituents. Too many vote for their personal self interests. Remember Marois and the land, for example.
Thomas 10:00 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
I concur with Kevin, we do live in constitutional monarchy after all. You can question the monarchy if you like, but as long as it continues to be the case the oath makes as much sense as anything else does. Like the Governor General, Lieutenant Governors, Royal Ascent, Court of King’s Bench (provincial courts in other provinces), the King’s Privy Council for Canada, His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, etc.
Where the anthems are concerned, professional sports (including the NHL) are controlled by Americans and Americans love singing their anthem, so we do as we’re told and follow along.
Josh 11:14 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
The anthem debate pops up periodically on sports Twitter. The consensus seems to be, regardless of where one falls on the issue, that as long as the military (both in the US and to a lesser extent in Canada) uses pro sports as a kind of blackboard for advertising (through fly-overs and military appreciation nights) and consequently pours money into pro sports, the anthems will remain.
The NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, owned by billionaire Shark Tank cast member Mark Cuban, tried to dispense with pregame anthems before the start of last season. They were slapped down by both the league and the Texas legislature.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/sep/10/texas-law-pro-sports-teams-national-anthem-mark-cuban-dallas-mavericks
Kate 14:00 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
I didn’t think of the military link at all. That helps explain why it’s done. Thanks, Josh.
MarcG 14:57 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
Relevant Propagandhi tune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xva-cdBi8E
Ian 17:47 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
In the ROC people still sing O Canada at the beginning of every school day. I was rather surprised to learn my children never sang it in school here even once, even in an EMSB school. Most people I know who grew up here only know the anthem from watching hockey. I always figured it was one of those things like how Canada Day isn’t really celebrated here but is a full-on fireworks & hoopla thing everywhere else.
dhomas 18:15 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
My kids’ EMSB school used to sing the national anthem at the beginning of the school day every day up until last year. A new principal put an end to the practice.
Kate 19:15 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
I don’t think I ever sang O Canada in school. I was a Brownie for a short time and that’s where I probably sang it most often, also the usual recital of the Brownie Promise, which mentioned the Queen – the only time I’ve taken an oath to the sovereign.
I read somewhere that the anthem‑singing really got going during World War II when people would sing an anthem even before the start of a movie, although I can’t recall whether that was in Canada or in England, where it would’ve been God Save the King.
A long time ago some friends dragged me to a Gilbert & Sullivan performance, somewhere in NDG. Much to my surprise, everyone got up to sing God Save the Queen before the start. I don’t think that would happen now, and I don’t even know whether anyone performs those old shows any more, even at McGill.
EmilyG 19:18 on 2022-10-18 Permalink
They still do perform the Gilbert and Sullivan shows at McGill, but it’s a different group, the Lakeshore Light Opera, who does Gilbert and Sullivan with O Canada at the start. I don’t know why.
They played O Canada every morning on the intercom when I was in high school. One year, we had an extreme Canadian patroit teacher who forced us to sing along with it every morning.
Daisy 08:26 on 2022-10-19 Permalink
I don’t know where you’re getting that information from, Ian. I attended elementary and secondary school in the 1980s and 1990s in two different provinces in the ROC (at opposite ends of the country) and most certainly did not sing O Canada at the beginning of every school day. Maybe it is done at some schools but that is not common practice across the board.
Ian 10:51 on 2022-10-19 Permalink
Caveat, I am over 50 years old, things might have changed – but I went to school at 2 school boards in BC, 3 in Ontario, and one in PEI. O Canada, every morning. In junior high (Ontario) we even had to learn to play it in band so we could start off assemblies with it.
DeWolf 17:44 on 2022-10-19 Permalink
For what it’s worth, I went to school in Alberta and we only sang O Canada at school assemblies in elementary school (the bilingual version because it was a bilingual school). I don’t recall ever singing it in high school.
CE 20:37 on 2022-10-19 Permalink
I went to school in an Anglo part of New Brunswick. We had to sing O Canada every morning in elementary school. The only time we’d ever hear God Save the Queen was before Remembrance Day ceremonies. None of us knew the words and we were generally confused as to why is was being sung.