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Typically for the brand-conscious Conservative government, Ms. Glover’s remarks were firmly in line its broad effort to rebrand Canada. In rewriting everything from the citizenship test to the mandate of the Canadian Museum of Civilization (soon to be the Canadian Museum of History), this has usually involved toning down traditionally Liberal values — that Canada is a multicultural land of peacekeepers and humanitarians, open to any and all newcomers — and emphasizing the value and duties of citizenship, such as civic literacy and actual residence.

When Ms. Glover spoke of our shared values of being “united, strong and free,” for example, she did not say anything about being “open, diverse, and caring.”

She also indicated that military history will likely play a key role, at least as long as the Conservatives are in power, by reflecting on the veterans in her own family, and saying the sesquicentennial ought to reflect Canada’s wartime victories.

“We made a promise, lest we forget,” she said. “I think it is an appropriate time to keep that promise.”

As ever in the age of the Internet, the public questionnaire includes a warning to trolls that “inappropriate language or responses that don’t relate to the Canada 150 topic will not be considered.”

Questions include which of Canada’s accomplishments make you most proud, which Canadian is most inspiring, should the anniversary have a theme, and what kind of legacy could it leave.

National Post

jbrean@nationalpost.com