Graduation Address

"Canadians Fortunate" Daily Gleaner (22 May 1981). (UA
Case 67, Box 2)

Canadians faced with constitutional wrangles, economic uncertainties and even a sense of helplessness which permeates what they say and do should reverse their negative thinking and realize "how extremely fortunate we are."

Delivering the 152nd Encaenia address at the Aitken Centre Thursday, Arthur N. Bourns said that the 1980s are indeed "clearly emerging as a very trouble period for our nation and the responsibilities that are being passed on to you as new university graduates are enormous."

"It is all too easy to catalogue our problems: high levels of inflation and unemployment; high interest rates, which among other things make it difficult for young people to own homes; escalating energy costs and the possibility of critical energy shortages; Canada’s reduced ability to compete in the international marketplace and growing labor unrest as each sector of our society manoeuvres for a preferred economic position."

On top of that there are clear signs of strain on the federal system of government which "may be more than it can withstand." There is the threat "we may cease to exist as a nation."

"It seems to me that much more harmful to our national fabric is the growing feeling of pessimism… We somehow seem to think it almost immoral to extol our accomplishments or to admit to any good fortune."

Canada has inherited systems of governments and law which, "despite their shortcomings," respect and protect fundamental freedoms and rights of the individual, Mr. Bourns said.

He said this country has health care delivery systems which are the envy of most development countries and an educational system which both in terms of accessibility and quality ranks "with the best in the world."

The country has the proven capacity to become as technologically innovative as any of its industrial competitors, provided necessary investments in research are made. Within the context of research, Canada has the potential for energy sufficiency in "every major energy resource."

"As a people we have become pre-occupied with the conflict between provincial rights and federal powers and by the desire to seek compensation for past regional injustices real or imagined."

"Our national perspective has become narrow and short-term and, accordingly, we elect representatives who promise the most for the moment."

A national tragedy in this country is that investment in research and development "which is nothing more than a rational investment in our future," is now the lowest of any industrialized country in terms of our ability to pay."

Canadians must check the attitudes which emphasize the advancement of self at the expense of others he told the UNB graduates.

"Before it is too late, we must, in our own best interest, substitute conciliation for dissension, cooperation for confrontation.

"Above all, you must believe that the best hope for Canada’s future rests with you, our young people, who have the great good fortune to have studied in a university of distinction, who have learned to think objectively and critically about conflicting ideas and points of view, who know or should know how to distinguish the valid from the invalid, the relevant from the irrelevant, the authentic from the false.

Canadians have not lost their main chance. This century as well as the next can be "ours," but it will require reflection on where we stand and discernment to look down the road "to the future."