This article originally appeared in The Hill Times.
By Jean-Guy Forgeron, June 26, 2026
When Conservative MP Andrew Lawton nominated former hockey coach and broadcaster Don Cherry for the Order of Canada, it started a rare public discussion regarding Canada’s highest national honour.
Much of the ensuing commentary has addressed the merits (or demerits) of Cherry’s possible candidacy. But a few voices have asserted that we shouldn’t be publicly debating anyone’s candidacy at all (in fact, the rules require nominators not to even inform the nominee of their candidacy) or questioning the role of a political party instigating such a nomination. This position echoes the 2015 comments of then-governor general David Johnston when he noted with great pride that our honours system was amongst the world’s least political and most merit-based. Public lobbying for an honour is not the norm.
Our current system is sincerely non-partisan—which is not the same as non-political—and merit-based. Candidates are nominated by their fellow citizens through an open process, and the Governor General makes appointments based on the advice of a non-partisan advisory committee. That committee is chaired by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and includes senior public servants, the heads of several designated national organizations, and a few other members of the order selected by the Governor General.
As an observer, I have never met an Order of Canada member who did not, to my mind, deserve that great recognition. Often recipients’ achievements are multi-sectoral (such as business and philanthropy), indicating a calling to community service. I have observed that Order of Canada members feel a strong duty to continue to work to uphold the Order’s motto: “They desire a better country.”
However, when you look closely at the body of Order of Canada recipients, one is struck by who is missing. The arts, health sciences, and university communities are well represented. Others are not, such as parliamentary and political service, the public service, and, to a lesser extent, the business community.
The strong performing communities should not be a surprise. This is likely due to the clear signal sent by the designated national organizations on the advisory committee—like the Canada Council for the Arts and Universities Canada. One would assume that these communities are comfortable engaging with the Order of Canada’s onerous nomination process. The communities that are not well represented are likely less comfortable and organized to identify and recommend candidates. As a former assistant deputy minister, I know that is the case for the federal public service. Its bottom-up recognition system is effective at identifying many worthy recipients who would otherwise be missed by senior management, but generally misses most of the best possible candidates who have been rewarded by promotion.
The British system presents a different model. It’s a complex hybrid: non-partisan with a political backstop. A senior non-partisan committee is supported by sectoral ones—including parliamentary/political service, civil service, and the economy. Prime ministers have the option to bestow honours on political players and public servants as they leave office. Its outcomes include significantly higher representation for political service (including active politicians), the civil service, the foreign service, and other acts of community and public service more broadly. Senior members of the business community also appear to be well recognized.
Two other elements in the British system are a diversity and outreach committee, and a committee which provides the King with direct policy advice on the honours system. These provide a form of evergreen review, something which is not the case in Canada.
Now, the conversation sparked by Cherry’s nomination might be just the right moment for such a review.
I recommend consideration of a Canadianized version of the U.K. system: keep our great non-partisan and merit-based system intact, but enhance representativeness with measures like non-partisan sectoral review, outreach, and policy committees.
I won’t weigh in directly on whether Cherry deserves an Order of Canada. However, we should review our honours process to ensure our fellow citizens—those who have contributed greatly to their communities and our country—are at least considered, including Don Cherry.
Jean-Guy (J.-G.) Forgeron is a former federal deputy minister and chief of staff at the Privy Council Office. He is a recipient of a King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contribution to federal public administration.
