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July 3rd, 2014

Conservatives’ selective memory of Canadian history

144 years ago – July 3rd, 1870 – R.B. Bennett, Canada’s 11th Prime Minister, is born.

Many will be surprised to learn that Bennett –a Conservative Prime Minister – created the country’s public broadcaster in 1932. It may be hard to believe today, after enduring 8 years of Stephen Harper’s government, but there was a time when Conservatives were focused on building, not destroying national institutions like the CBC.

Ironically, the same Conservative government that claims they want to honour our country’s history and heritage let this anniversary go quietly by.

Rather than throwing away $500,000 just to paste a new name and logo on the Canadian Museum of Civilization History, or spending $70 million to rewrite the history of the War of 1812 in the Conservatives own image, our Minister of Heritage should be celebrating all of our country’s greatest achievements including R.B. Bennett’s creation of our public broadcaster 82 years ago.

Canadians deserve better.