MLI Managing Director Brian Lee Crowley suggests, in today’s Ottawa Citizen, that we “rename the portion of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill ‘Macdonald-Laurier Way'”.
Bravo to Citizen opinion writers Bob Plamondon and C.P. Champion as well as columnists Randall Denley, Dan Gardner, Andrew Cohen and John Robson for enriching all of us in the national capital region with the spirited articles in recent weeks concerning the idea to re-name parts of Wellington Street in honour of Sir John A. Macdonald.
It has been very refreshing to see such demonstrated concern for our history, both local and national, and for the passion with which so many have now been able to share in as “The Battle of Wellington” continues.
Both personally, and as the managing director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy, I would like to fire another salvo into the debate. Macdonald was Canada’s founder and is deserving of celebration, but which other great prime minister was it who “turned Confederation’s gristle into bone”?
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, by all accounts, was one of the country’s greatest leaders ever. Why not rename the portion of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill “Macdonald-Laurier Way” to celebrate this great heritage?
The street fronting Parliament Hill is the ideal location for these outstanding leaders and prime ministers, who did so much to shape who and what we are as a people to be suitably honoured.
I agree with Plamondon that the Duke of Wellington should retain “ownership” of the other portions of Wellington Street. He earned it.
