According to the United States constitution, all U.S. citizens are guaranteed the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Our Canadian constitution promises us life, liberty and security of person. To that security of person is added “the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.”
But our national government doesn’t want us fiddling around pursuing happiness when we could be creating employment for barristers and solicitors. Since the Americans next door are so busy pursuing happiness, I guess our political leaders decided enough joy would seep across the border that a constitutional guarantee was unnecessary.
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Television commercials tell us the key to happiness can be found in hamburgers from Wendy’s, drinks from Coca-Cola and a red wedge-shaped automobile that can travel 180 kilometres per hour.
Now why would our country’s leaders not guarantee these benefits for all Canadians? Simply because they are all being generously provided for us by the Americans – for a price.
This gives Canadians the luxury of concentrating on being secure. So we spend our national defence money on a military the size of the army of Oz and send it off to peace-keep for other folks. We cut back on funding for legal aid and health care.
Does this provide security of person, as stated in the constitution? Anybody want to take this pressing issue to the Supreme Court?
“My lord justices of the Supreme Court: How can we reap the benefit of second-hand American happiness if we’re feeling insecure?”
