Dear Senators:

In 2007, in anticipation of this year’s Navy Centennial, I co-sponsored with 'Restore The Honour' an online petition in support of restoring the Royal honour granted by the Sovereign to Canada’s Navy and Air Force.

It is an inspiration to note the signatures of many highly distinguished Canadians, including decorated servicemen and women among the more than five thousand who have supported the initiative.

We believe that, in light of the very welcome, successful and de facto return to the traditional identities of the Navy, Army and Air Force within the CF, this is long overdue and more than just.

I confess that, given the Forces recent recovery of much that was lost after a very long and dark period, why there could be any justification for Parliament not restoring the identities that were so nobly won and deeply deserved. Why would our government singly deprive the Navy and Air Force of that which was given them but unnecessarily taken away? The generations that went before us in the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force served and sacrificed for all our tomorrows just as the women and men at sea and in the air do today. They are all ‘Royal Canadians’ in the service of their Sovereign and Country. Indeed, the prevalence today within Canadian culture and society, in the military and other institutions, of Royal honours and patronage is enormous and exists within every constituency. The Royal honour enriches their identity, distinguishes them from the ordinary and invites our respect. Canada’s Navy and Air Force earned that recognition a long time ago
when it was deeply forged in battle.

It would be difficult to imagine the insult to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment or The Royal Canadian Mounted Police amongst myriad other ‘Royals’ so deeply a part of the Canadian identity, if they had their honour removed for administrative purposes.

The restoration of the Royal prefix does not require any more structural change within the CF than it did when it placed ‘Navy’ and ‘Air Force’ in their banners instead of the uninspiring ‘Maritime Command’ and ‘Air Command’. Given what has been said on this matter by some in Parliament, could it be that there may be, for them, a contempt for the Royal honour itself or, even worse, for the Sovereign? Have we lost our traditional bearings so much that even the iconic symbols of our country are regarded with indifference or disdain? I would hope and trust that Canada’s heritage, and especially our precious military inheritance, does not depend upon such a poor appreciation for Canadian tradition or protocol.

One does not celebrate one’s heritage by abolishing it and Parliament is entrusted with the responsibility of preserving it. I sincerely hope that in your deliberations you will resolve to give your own ‘Royal salute’ to our Navy and Air Force and move to restore the title.