Chretien's Order of Merit quandary
I see that our wonderful Queen has decided to honour former Prime Minister Jean Chretien with membership in the Order of Merit. A society so secret that I’d never heard of it before.
Given Mr. Chretien’s position against Conrad Black’s nomination to the British House of Lords, also a Regal designation, I assume that Mr. Chretien will take his own advice and respectfully decline the Queen’s gracious invitation.
It’s not like he has any choice in the matter. As Mr. Chretien said in his defence of the lawsuit Black v. Chretien, he was merely following “the claimed long-standing Canadian opposition to titular honours”.
To accept a titular honour now would not only appear hyprocritical, it would also give Mr. Black the chance to sue him again for perjury or abuse of process on the original Court action.
MRM
Unfortunately, it would be to your benefit to understand what you are discussing before offering opinions.
Chretien is not being offered a “titular honour” any more than the Order of Canada is such. In addition, he is being offered an honour that is granted by the Queen in her position as Queen of Canada.
Conrad Black received a “titular honour” as a British Lord. To receive that honour, he was required to be a British — not Canadian — citizen. The position of the government at the time was that Canadian citizens were not free to accept such titles from the British — or any other — government. Conrad Black chose to renounce his Canadian citizenship in order to accept this title.
There is no hypocrisy or contradiction of any kind involved.
Brilliant! I didn’t think of that.
Bruce
I saw in the article that the Order of Merit exists on the Canadian list of Honours. Since 99% of the holders are non Canadians I think that’s a bit of a red herring. The Queen is the Queen, whether she’s awarding Lordships, VCs or awards under Canada’s own Honours system.
The word “titular”, by definition, suggests the role exists “in title or name only”.
I just don’t see how someone can be in favour of titular honours the Queen gives out under one “system” but not under another.
I believe that Sir Wilfrid Laurier received his GCMB after 1935. Six Canadians receive the Royal Victorian Medal each year, for example. Former PM Trudeau received The Order of the Companion of Honour from the Queen (it ranks junior to the OM).
During his tenure as PM, two Canadians received Knighthoods. Although Mr. Chretien protested this Knighthoods after the fact, he didn’t block them. Mr. Chretien blocked just one; for the man who now lives in a jail cell.
MRM
I was wondering when this might come up 😉