The 1867 Project: Why Canada Should Be Cherished—Not Cancelled

by Mark Milke

From assaults on historical figures such as John A. Macdonald to cancel culture and charges that Canada is a genocidal nation-state, the country that every generation and every immigrant built is now facing routine and corrosive attacks.

How did this happen?

In this new book, twenty critical thinkers provide we are awash in relentless grievance narratives and utopians who expect Canada’s history to be perfect. The rise of critical theory, identity politics, and ideological politics in the education system also play a part. The authors challenge the naysayers and their caustic criticisms, but also offer a positive path forward. They show how truth-telling, informed history, and renewing a Canada where citizens reject divisions based on colour and gender, and instead unite around laudable, time-tested ideas will create a freer, flourishing Canada for all.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Canada

344 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2023

About the author

Mark Milke Ph. D. is the founder and president of the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy. Mark is a public policy analyst and author with six books, over 70 studies, and over 1,000 columns published in the last 25 years. His policy work has been published by think tanks in Canada and internationally, including the Fraser Institute, the Montreal Economic Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, and Brussels-based Centre for European Studies. He is editor of the Aristotle Foundation’s first book, The 1867 Project: Why Canada Should Be Cherished–Not Cancelled. His sixth book, The Victim Cult: How the culture of blame hurts everyone and wrecks civilizations is an Amazon bestseller. You can find Mark’s columns in media across Canada including in the National Post, Globe and Mail, Maclean’s and also in the United States in National Review.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Canada prepares for some turbulent times south of the border, it would be remiss not to talk about some of the political fallout within our own borders as well. An election has been set for April 2025 and I wanted to do a little Election Prep for Canada, as I have done for US presidential elections in years past. We have a prime minister who has resigned due to some really poor polling numbers and a salivating Leader of the Opposition wanting to topple the tower right away for his own benefit. This entire experience could be extra fun, as there are whispers from high in Washington that the upcoming election could be the last  for Canada as a sovereign country before we become the 51st state. Let’s see where this reading journey takes us!

Mark Milke edits this fiery and thought-provoking book seeking to explore and debate the idea of Cancel Culture in Canada. While it is sure to churn a number of strong feelings for readers, Milke's contributors lay down their points and provide numerous examples in Canada where fragility might have gone too far. In a collection of short essays, the book seeks to make a strong point for not peeling back much of the progress Canada has made since Confederation. I concede many of the views, but feel some are a tad over the top and seek to flog the population with justified ignorance.

Mark Milke opens the book with an introductory essay, pointing out that there are many within Canada who seek to cancel the history that fills our school books. He calls out Marixts and the left as being guilty of trying to call out issues and flagrantly erase much of the progress that has taken place over the last number of years. Using the ignorant term 'woke'. Milke tries to buddy up with his Republican-esque folk south of the border, his vilification of a specific group seeks to isolate and verbally inculcate specific people, rather than highlighting that there is a movement. This appears to defeat his entire argument of the book by classifying those who make a stink and point them out in order to create more problems than solutions.

After that diatribe and the need for a verbal shower, the book turns to the meat and potatoes of the matter. Milke's contributors seek to explain how there have been an increase in trying to nullify alternate views in op-eds found in newspapers or those who protest controversial points of view. I do not agree with the diluting of views that differ from mine, especially those who prefer to offer vapid views eager only to shock. Without allowing this, we do the exact thing the ignorant are doing, trying to scrub out alternate views. While certain things press against the fine line of acceptable commentary, Canada must not fall down the rabbit hole and refuse alternate views. With these perspectives--which flood into Canada daily from the United States and the Oval Office--Canadians who do not share them can feel proud that many have fought to permit alternate perspectives without jailing, harming, or killing them. 

Other essays explore more current limitations of racial or cultural programs and seek to whitewash past decisions by supersaturating with the opposite. Without exploring or understanding past shortcomings as they relate to treatment of cultural or religious groups and seeking to show a mental betterment, people prefer to paint over this and expunge names or events from history books or public settings. I can see what some of the authors mean when they rally against these common views. We cannot learn from things simply by erasing them. Pretending things did not happen does not permit an educational moment. Rather, it seeks to tell children and our fellow Canadians that we want to make Canada look great without the blemishes. That we can learn from past errors--rather than making them, as American leadership does with vigour--helps enrich society. Perhaps the focus needs to be on exploring the past and using critical thinking instead of being critical and trying to stuff things back in the closet.

While there are many Canadians who have been targeted and had their images, statues, or names removed from things across Canada, I wanted to focus on one in particular. John A. Macdonald was Canada's first prime minister and helped develop many of the foundational views on which Canada could mature. Authors of a few essays in the collection address the attacks against Macdonald and attempts to remove his presence wherever possible. This is perhaps some of the most short-sighted views possible, focusing on some aspects of early Canadian history and the way early government bills did not effectively serve the indigenous population. While the authors debunk some of the rumoured aspects, they also push the view that the past is an example of something that must be seen and rectified through understanding. If Macdonald and his government passed bills that were troubling, modern Canadians need to understand what was done in the time and put that in perspective, rather than try to see it through the lens of modern time. This is, perhaps, the greatest shortcoming when it comes to making a decision to remove mentions. They focus on the triggering the name brings, which is too uncomfortable to accept. I would argue that this discomfort is essential to understanding how to progress and make changes for the future. Instead, choosing to ostrich the situation makes it go away and scrubs the learning moment from this country's rich history. Was the sentiment or speech made intending to instill hate at the time, or is it only now viewed as such through the 21st century lens?

While I do not expect to develop favour or support from many for my views in this review, I could not sit idly by and pretend. I understand that I sit with many with whom I would not usually agree when it comes to these sentiments, I feel as though there are more than outwardly admit their stance. I seek not to ignore the pain or triggering that comes from talking about these topics or individuals, but cannot sit by and say "let's remove the memories, as that will make it better". Instead, I want to learn from the views and build a way forward. I cannot be sure if Mark Milke sought to explore things from this perspective or simply flog those who make 'woke' or 'snowflake' views, and I could not really care. This book and its many topics stirred up many views and thoughts within me, allowing me to think hard on how I felt about them. The essays, which make up the various chapters in the book, helped me reassess my own sentiments and think a little more, rather than rolling my eyes as I read headlines in the news. I must thank Milke and his contributors for opening my mind, rather than closing it as some who hold views seeking to counter modern counterculture sentiments. Either way, it is sure to be a bumpy ride, so hold on!

From assaults on historical figures such as John A. Macdonald to cancel culture and charges that Canada is a genocidal nation-state, the country that every generation and every immigrant built is now facing routine and corrosive attacks. Mark Milke offers a collection of essays that seek to address this and the issues that are eroding Canada from the inside out. While I can see some of his views, others are simply too dismissive and set aside things that have surely been happening. While we must learn from out mistakes, society also needs to explore inclusivity and presenting a welcoming nature. That said, Milke opened my mind to thinking outside the box and realising how some prefer to dismiss flexibility in favour of inculcating. I enjoy a good collection of fiery essays and am happy to see how to better Canada in various ways!

Kudos, Mr. Milke, for allowing your collaborators to shine.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: 
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Indigo bear]

Pre-read note:

I want to just keep track of this as a prominent example of people being openly and blatantly colonial. This book is currently the #1 Best Seller in History of Cananda in the 20th Century on Amazon. If you read this, I highly recommend balancing this with Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-up Call by Arthur Manuel, to see the ongoing extremely problematic and colonial actions that the government does (31July2024).

[Sue LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great essays on some controversial topics. Gives some historical context to some recent controversies. Refreshing to hear some dissenting views as it’s difficult to have a discussion in Canada now. If you don’t agree with some of the loud ‘woke’ viewpoints it can be social suicide.

[Rachel Schoenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 1867 Project is a very interesting book that pushes back against the claims in recent years that Canada is a genocidal nation founded on white supremacy. Taking its title from the year that Canada became a country, it is composed of twenty chapters, each written by a different author from diverse backgrounds. I especially liked the part that dove into the history to offer a more nuanced perspective on some of Canada’s cancelled historical figures, pushing back on the overly simplistic “white man bad” assertions.
The chapter on our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, was particularly illuminating, highlighting his actions that benefited indigenous people, such as his distribution of the smallpox vaccine and establishment of the North-West Mounted Police to stop the American whiskey trade, as these things were decimating indigenous populations across the country. And although he had a role in the creation of the residential school program, the schools were optional during his time. Additionally, I quite liked the chapter about women in early Anglophone Canada and their accomplishments. Plus, chapter fifteen, about how an indigenous woman was denied her rights by a court ruling, did an excellent job shedding some light on an often-overlooked topic.
One point of criticism I have is not about the book itself, but the views of one of the contributors, Bruce Pardy, who is now a prominent leader in the Alberta independence movement. It strikes me as concerning that a book which strives to “make the case for Canada” is partially authored by someone who wants to separate from this remarkable country. This book is meant as an apologetic for Canadian patriotism after all, something it does quite well despite the views of one contributor, though to be fair, I do not know if he was a separatist at the time of the book's publication three years ago.
Overall, The 1867 Project is an incredibly informative work that I recommend to those interested in Canada’s past, present, and future. It opened my eyes to things I had never heard of before, aspects of my country’s history that were suppressed by the education system due to them contradicting the prevailing narrative. As George Orwell famously wrote, “Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.” This is why learning the real history, complex and messy as it was, is essential to a thriving society. I hope that more Canadians will read this book and at least consider its points, as it certainly gave me a lot to think about!
For those curious, here is the table of contents:
Part I: Addressing the “J’accuse” crowd
1. The four doctrines of the Apocalypse: Critical Theory and our compromised institutions—Bruce Pardy
2. Cancel culture harms journalists, journalism, and citizenship—Gordon Clark
3. How a professor was cancelled by academic Stalinists on campus—Bruce Gilley
4. The fight against Critical Race Theory at an Ontario school board—David Millard Haskell
5. I know what identity politics does to a nation: I’m from Lebanon—Rima Azar
6. Is Canada systemically racist?—Matthew Lau
Part II: It’s complex: Canada’s cancelled history
7. Carving out a country: From Magna Carta to Confederation—John Robson
8. Sir John A. Macdonald saved more indigenous lives than any other prime minister—Greg Piasetzki
9. How a “Maker of Canada” was framed: The unjust treatment of Egerton Ryerson—Lynn McDonald
10. A crime against Sir Matthew Begbie’s humanity—Peter Shawn Taylor
11. Halifax cancels its founding father: The case of Edward Cornwallis—Leo J. Deveau
12. Struggle and success: A balanced account of women in early Canada—Janice Fiamengo
13. The British colonial achievement and its deniers—C. P. Champion
Part III: Renewing Canada
14. A new challenge for Canadians of any colour: Remixed racism—Jamil Jivani
15. How the Yukon Court of Appeal denied Charter rights to an Aboriginal Canadian—Peter Best
16. Indigenous peoples have a chance, if they grasp it—Joseph Quesnel
17. How teaching the full history of world slavery frees us from selective guilt—Marjorie Gann
18. The problem with Canada’s “woke” self-loathing: A view from abroad—Gourav Jaswal
19. Ideas, immigrants, and the future of Canada—Ven Venkatachalam and Mark Milke
20. Renewing the peaceable kingdom: Why ideas and not identities should matter—Mark Milke

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

here's an interesting quote

By and large, American settlers entered indigenous lands ahead of any formal government presence and without negotiation with the original inhabitants. What treaties were signed between native tribes and the government were often abrogated as soon as it was in the best interest of white settlers to do so.

This process —what might be considered a “settlement first, negotiation second” approach — inevitably led to conflict and war. In 1890, as part of its regular census of the native population, the U.S. Congress requested a calculation of all lives lost in the more than 40 individual wars between Indigenous tribes and American settlers or government troops since signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. The government’s best estimate for this hundred-year period put the death toll at 45,000 natives and 20,000 white soldiers and settlers. A more recent academic study using advanced statistical methods raises the native death toll to 60,000.

Standing in stark and — from the Canadian perspective — greatly uplifting contrast to these appalling figures is a companion document to the 1890 U.S. Congress report, concerning the Canadian experience. Significantly, it makes no mention of any death toll arising from “Indian Wars” in this country. This was not an oversight. Since the British conquest of New France in 1761, there were no significant wars in what is now Canada prior to the Riel Rebellion of 1885. And this solitary armed conflict was a Métis uprising notable for its lack of large-scale native participation; the First Nation death toll from the entire conflagration was no more than a few dozen.

Such a long period of peaceful relations between Indigenous and white populations in Canada was largely the result of British policy that sought to make and keep treaties with native communities. The British approach is best characterized as “negotiation first, settlement second.” As Canada’s first prime minister, Macdonald was extremely proud of this legacy of peaceful co-operation and co-habitation. He was determined to maintain such a policy while overseeing the settlement of Canada’s West.

[Adam Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tired of seeing particular ideologies in the news, when I saw the title and the summary I knew that I wanted this book. It did not disappoint. The book has twenty essays from a diverse cast of authors in multiple fields with numerous viewpoints and ideologies, but all of them are united in the idea that certain ideological narratives are harming Canada's identity, history, and future.

Some authors tackle how historical records are ignored or altered, such as in the case of Sir John A. MacDonald who saved more Indigenous lives than any other Prime Minister by allocating more funds and vaccines than his contemporaries thought could be afforded. Others look into racial and gender claims, finding a lack of correlation between income, employment, etc. with the narrative of certain groups being oppressed. One author is a cultural outsider, an East Indian whose sons go to school in Canada, who was confounded by how much Canadians were trying to hate themselves. All these well-researched essays were the intellectual refreshment for which I was looking.

[Jim Dowdell · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are searching for the possibility of hope you would not expect to find it in Canada. Ever since we lost the unacknowledged revolution by the “progressives” Canada has been the poster child of the One World Government. Readers with situational awareness know that P. E. Trudeau’s version of Marxist Feminism has completely destroyed the 1960 Bill of Rights and the result is the hell of identity politics destroying our freedom at an ever-increasing rate. Canada once enjoyed Magna Carta common law, but this no longer protects us. This book of essays by a wide range of authors not normally published in Canada gives historical and practical perspective into our present reality. It does not give a counter revolutionary plan of action, but it does give hope that there are some, a very few, in the Elite class that understand the true spiritual war that we seem to be losing. The essays here are a small slice of truth that might return hope into your life.

[Dave Shirlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good arguments against the WOKE decimation in progress in Canada. Two small quibbles: page 163 claims the US Civil War was only to free the slaves and on page 261 is a claim that there is no corruption in Canada. The unaccounted for billions missing during the current Trudeau tenure belies no corruption claim.

This should be required reading in schools.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of thoughtful essays from educated experts in varied fields on topics in their areas of expertise. Essay topics include history, racism, slavery, and indigenous issues. It is refreshing to read something with a more complete historical perspective instead of the more recent trend of cherry-picking a couple details skewed to fit in with a predetermined progressive philosophy.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the articles/chapters are very insightful, if not quite controversial. It was great to read a book or a series of chapters that provided information to balance and in some cases negate the overly radical leftist drivel that we so much of today.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who loves Canada

[Jay Dargatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great account of actual Canadian history and not fabricated stats to justify radical opinions.
Should be required reading for all “history vandals”

[Edward Gerk · Rating 4 out of 5]

If we are ever going to have truth and reconciliation, it will also have to include “truth”. This book is an important first step in that process.