From the 'is that really the best idea you could come up with?' department: there's a movement to change Canada's motto from 'sea to sea' (A Mari usque ad Mare) to 'sea to sea to sea' in an attempt to assert Canada's dominion over our northern waters."The motto change is very appropriate right now," said Dennis Bevington, New Democratic MP for the Western Arctic, who has tabled a private member's bill on the subject.
"Northern sovereignty will become more of an issue as the ice recedes, so we need to recognize our northern seas, and to do so formally in the motto is a good first step," said Mr. Bevington.
The campaign for a triple-sea slogan has been buoyed by growing support. The idea has won approval from the three northern territorial leaders, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer and several aboriginal groups. Mr. Bevington said he is writing to Prime Minister Stephen Harper urging him to take action.
Instead of changing slogans, which will have enormous costs, Canada should just tell the world (read: US) to back off and leave our northern waters alone. You don't solve international squabbles by changing a motto.
How damn Canadian of us to even think that such a change might make a difference. I can just imagine future discussions over the sovereignity dispute: 'But look! It says in our motto that the northern seas are ours!'
Yeah, that'll be effective, eh?
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