Opinion: The 'Order of Canada' Awards: Politics vs. National Recognition

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Canada Day, July 1st, of this year was celebrated with great fanfare in communities large and small across Canada. Families gathered on the front lawns of parliament buildings, parades marched down Main Street, much revelry and beer was had by many in pubs and bars from coast to coast. The band played on ... all seemed fine until the sound of a misplaced cymbal crash.

Dr. Henry Morgentaler, it was announced, was to be inducted into the Order of Canada. The highest civic recognition in the land, for "a lifetime of outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large," could not have been given to a more controversial Canadian. You may remember that Morgentaler has been at the forefront of choice in women's health for some time. While many have hailed him as a 'hero / martyr / crusader', others consider him to be a 'murderer / abortionist / baby-killer'. The divisions continue to run very deeply on the issue of abortion rights in Canada.

All this is true, but that's not the purpose of this article. I have no right to argue on either side of the abortion issue for two reasons: I am not a parent and, more importantly, I am not female. I have my opinions, but they do not, can not, should not have any great weight in that discussion.

This article is about the Order of Canada (OC) itself: why it exists, how the inductees are decided, past issues.

The OC was instituted in 1967, Canada's centennial, to honour Canadians that were judged to have made significant contributions to their community, country, or the world at large. The honour is bestowed by the reigning Monarch, HRM Elizabeth II, through her direct representative in Canada, The Governor General. The recipients are not, although widely believed to be, determined by Parliament, the Prime Minister, or through a referendum. Rather, it is by a committee of no more than 11 persons from a variety of interests: Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council, Royal Society of Canada, etc. All Canadians are eligible for nomination.

Past honourees have included Paul Anka (musician - 2005), David Suzuki (environmental scientist - 1977 & 2006), and several members of the Irving family (New Brunswick). While considered an honour by most, there have been Canadians that rejected the OC. Most notably, Mordecai Richler, who refused it twice during his lifetime; his wife accepted the posthumous honour on his behalf in 2001. Politicians, activists for various causes, literary and musical geniuses, doctors and chiefs have all been included in this august order.

Since 1967, only two recipients have had their membership revoked. Both occurred as a result of criminal convictions: Alan Eagleson (1998), who was convicted of fraud, racketeering and other crimes; David Ahenakew (2005), who was convicted (later overturned) of hate crimes.

It is certain that the decisions of the nominating councils, past and present, were made after serious discussion and debate. They are not empowered to judge political influence, public acclaim v. outcry, or general popularity. They are charged to look at the merits of each case based on the nominees contribution as a whole to society. That is the sum of their litmus test.

Given these criteria, Dr. Morgentaler is no more or less deserving of the OC than any other honouree. He has spent decades fighting for a woman's right to choose whether to stay pregnant. He's been jailed more than once, had his life threatened on several occasions, survived at least one clinic bombing, and has been publicly ridiculed on a regular basis. Were it not for the fact that his legal procedures result in the ending of one life (as some believe), many times in order to save another, he would be lauded as a hero as strongly as he is now defamed. The battle of legality (in Canada) has been decided. The 'moral' issue of the respective rights of a foetus v. a mother are not part of the decision-making process.

Should Dr. Morgentaler ever be convicted of murder, then his OC will be revoked as it has in the past. Until then, he should be recognized for what he has done.