The Past Speaks

On Monday, 19 September CBC-TV will be broadcasting a docudrama about Confederation. I’m really sorry that I won’t be able to see the broadcast, but I’m looking forward to seeing it on DVD at Christmas time, when I shall be near a Region 1 DVD player. In 2009, I answered some historical questions for the producers, some of which related to the scene in the trailer (below).

Here is the press release for the TV show.

John A: Birth of a Country is all about the passionate struggle between Macdonald, leader of the Conservative Party, and the fiercely determined Brown, leader of the opposition, which would become the Liberal Party. Both of the men spurred on by hugely different visions for the fututre of Canada… and a deep hatred for each other.
Set in the mid 1800s – ’56-’64 to be precise – the English of Upper Canada (now Ontario) and the French of Lower Canada (now Quebec) battle it out to see who will change the shape of Canada’s future, with the United States keeping a close eye on the situation, ready to pounce.
The fascinating struggle between these two centres on many of the key questions that still asked in Canada today: What does the military mean to us? How do we define sovereignty? What responsibility do we have to each other?
“I like the fact that Canada is an independent nation,” said producer and six time Gemini winner Bernie Zukerman, “and it gives me great pleasure to tell the stories of Canada and celebrate the remarkable men who made this country possible.”

Personally, I think that it is wonderful that a documentary about Confederation is being broadcast. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate the Canadian public about the origins of their system of government! I would imagine it would encourage people to read the second volume of Richard Gwyn’s new biography of Macdonald.

P.S. The producers have posted a behind-the-scenes video diary about the actual production on YouTube. Here are the clips.