1980 Saint John 3rd Academic Awards Ceremony
Graduation Address
Delivered by: Ford, Sir John
Content
"Notes for Speech by the British High Commissioner, Sir John Ford, KCMG MC" (4 November 1980). (UA Case 69, Box 2)
It gives me great pleasure to attend your Fall Convocation today and to present a prize for excellent work in the study of English Political History. As I shall be retiring from the Diplomatic Service next June, this will be a unique prize, and it is perhaps appropriate that it should be given at this important time in Canada’s history.
The age in which we live undoubtedly an era of science and technology. That makes the study of history even more important, if we are not to lose sight to the context in which we operate.
In Britain, history, tradition and precedent are held in particularly high esteem. All three have their share in the creation of that peculiar mystique which envelops the British Crown. All three help to make the Crown what it is—the fount of power and the foundation on which Britain’s unwritten constitution rests.
In the United States too, history, tradition and precedent have proved essential factors in the development of a rather different type of written constitution which has most marvelously stood the test of time.
It would be inappropriate for me as British High Commissioner to comment at this time on Canada’s constitutional developments. Yet, it is appropriate today to remind ourselves that were it not for history, Britain would not be directly involved.
It is important that there should be no misunderstanding why Britain is involved. We did not want to be involved. In 1931, the British Parliament approved the Statute of Westminster. This Statute recognized the full sovereignty and legislative autonomy of all the then Dominions. It gave them the power to pass laws, even if such laws overrode pre-existing imperial laws; and it ensured that no law of the Parliament of the United Kingdom could in future extend to a dominion unless requested and consented to by that Dominion. Unfortunately, because of the lack of agreement in Canada at that time on an amending formula for the Canadian constitution, the Canadian delegates at the 1930 Imperial Conference asked that the legislative powers conferred upon the Parliament of Canada should be restricted. They did so to avoid the possibility that the provisions of the British North America Act could be unilaterally repealed or altered by the Canadian Parliament or by the Provincial Legislatures as ordinary statutes under their enhanced legislative powers conferred upon them by the Statute of Westminster. That is why Britain is still involved and the British North America Act still has to be patriated.
Recently, I saw a film "Empty Harbours, Empty Dreams" produced by the Atlantic and Maritime Provinces in consultation with the CBC. It was a wistful review of how the hopes and ambitions of the first days of Confederation had in the view of the authors proved hollow and frustrated here our East.
Perhaps your past century has proved disappointing to you. It is for you to judge. Yet, we in Britain are mindful of its glories and achievements.
We remember with gratitude the thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen from your four provinces who flocked to our aid in the cause of freedom and democracy and nobly sacrificed themselves in two world wars. We remember how our seamen drew strength and sustenance from your ports and how our airmen trained on your facilities.
And so it is with particular pleasure that we now look on the new prospects ahead of you. The rebirth of your fishing industry and the discovery of oil and gas offshore promise you an exciting future.
We Britons, who are also fortunate in our offshore oil and gas, hope to help you develop your new riches through joint ventures, investment and the use of our experience and technologies developed in the North Sea. Your potash terminal, your containerization port and the Pointe Lepreau power generating station are but the foretaste of exciting developments ahead.
Indeed, there is no need for you to doubt the future. The future beckons you. How lucky you are to be here and of an age to answer the challenge.
It gives me great pleasure to attend your Fall Convocation today and to present a prize for excellent work in the study of English Political History. As I shall be retiring from the Diplomatic Service next June, this will be a unique prize, and it is perhaps appropriate that it should be given at this important time in Canada’s history.
The age in which we live undoubtedly an era of science and technology. That makes the study of history even more important, if we are not to lose sight to the context in which we operate.
In Britain, history, tradition and precedent are held in particularly high esteem. All three have their share in the creation of that peculiar mystique which envelops the British Crown. All three help to make the Crown what it is—the fount of power and the foundation on which Britain’s unwritten constitution rests.
In the United States too, history, tradition and precedent have proved essential factors in the development of a rather different type of written constitution which has most marvelously stood the test of time.
It would be inappropriate for me as British High Commissioner to comment at this time on Canada’s constitutional developments. Yet, it is appropriate today to remind ourselves that were it not for history, Britain would not be directly involved.
It is important that there should be no misunderstanding why Britain is involved. We did not want to be involved. In 1931, the British Parliament approved the Statute of Westminster. This Statute recognized the full sovereignty and legislative autonomy of all the then Dominions. It gave them the power to pass laws, even if such laws overrode pre-existing imperial laws; and it ensured that no law of the Parliament of the United Kingdom could in future extend to a dominion unless requested and consented to by that Dominion. Unfortunately, because of the lack of agreement in Canada at that time on an amending formula for the Canadian constitution, the Canadian delegates at the 1930 Imperial Conference asked that the legislative powers conferred upon the Parliament of Canada should be restricted. They did so to avoid the possibility that the provisions of the British North America Act could be unilaterally repealed or altered by the Canadian Parliament or by the Provincial Legislatures as ordinary statutes under their enhanced legislative powers conferred upon them by the Statute of Westminster. That is why Britain is still involved and the British North America Act still has to be patriated.
Recently, I saw a film "Empty Harbours, Empty Dreams" produced by the Atlantic and Maritime Provinces in consultation with the CBC. It was a wistful review of how the hopes and ambitions of the first days of Confederation had in the view of the authors proved hollow and frustrated here our East.
Perhaps your past century has proved disappointing to you. It is for you to judge. Yet, we in Britain are mindful of its glories and achievements.
We remember with gratitude the thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen from your four provinces who flocked to our aid in the cause of freedom and democracy and nobly sacrificed themselves in two world wars. We remember how our seamen drew strength and sustenance from your ports and how our airmen trained on your facilities.
And so it is with particular pleasure that we now look on the new prospects ahead of you. The rebirth of your fishing industry and the discovery of oil and gas offshore promise you an exciting future.
We Britons, who are also fortunate in our offshore oil and gas, hope to help you develop your new riches through joint ventures, investment and the use of our experience and technologies developed in the North Sea. Your potash terminal, your containerization port and the Pointe Lepreau power generating station are but the foretaste of exciting developments ahead.
Indeed, there is no need for you to doubt the future. The future beckons you. How lucky you are to be here and of an age to answer the challenge.
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