Are the Canadians British?

The questions could perhaps be "Are the Canadians more British than the British?". The Canadians seem to combine the solicitousness of the British with the friendliness of the Americans. Grappling with maps is par for the course as a tourist but I was asked six times over a four day stay whether I needed directions. Where there are intersections on the main roads (without any of the offensive countdown metres) cars will slow down to let you cross. They are genuinely nice.

The Queen is head of state and appears on all the coinage including the Looney - the nick name for the $1 coin, not because of the behavioural traits of our dear royal family but because the 'tail' depicts a native bird called the looney. (By extension of logic not of taxonomy the $2 is called the tooney). There isn't any great appetite to declare her surplus to requirements according to Beth and Sadeesh. It surprised me that the French Canadians have been so accepting of this status quo. They clearly have formidable political power. The 1986 law on Services in French requires that all ministries and agencies of government have to offer services in french in at least one office in any 'designated' bilingual area. Around 30% over all declare themselves to be Francophone but an area at a city level will designated bilingual if there are more than 5000 french-speaking people or if 10% of the relevant population are french-speaking. Doesn't seem a lot to me.

As subjects rather than citizens then, the rules so beloved of the Brits is also brandished with gusto. All public notices (keep off grass, don't stop here, don't park here etc) are displayed with their code number just so we know they're legit.

Canadians seem to be hesitant about effusive displays of national pride. The flag in every drive way approach which was so visible in New England almost completely disappeared - although to be fair I haven't seen many flags in the Suburban areas of Chicago from where this is written either.

Such subdued patriotic notions would be a source of despondency to William Lyon MacKenzie one of the leaders of the 1837 rebellion of Upper Canada. I went to visit his house, now a museum, which was bought for him by the grateful city after his service as the first mayor following a number of years of imprisonment as punishment for the unsuccessful rebellion. As a prelude to the Rebellion, he published a draft constitution exhorting "Canadians arise". Sir Francis Bond Head, the Lieutenant Governor at the time responded by placing a reward of 1000 GBP on his head calling "Good and Faithful Subjects" to ensure that "The Authority of our Gracious Queen (is never again) insulted by treacherous and ungrateful men" who have been "seduced to join in this unnatural Rebellion" and that she may "know Her Friends from Her Enemies".

Hear, Hear!