HALIFAX – The return of the “royal” moniker Tuesday to the air and maritime divisions of the Canadian Forces drew pride from veterans recalling past glory but concerns from historians who say it could stir anger in Quebec.
The Maritime and Air Commands are again respectively the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced Tuesday in a dockside ceremony attended by veterans who’ve spent decades lobbying for the name change.
The use of “royal” has traditionally been restricted to individual regiments.
“It’s a way of reconnecting today’s men and women in uniform with the proud history and traditions that they carry with them,” MacKay said.
The Land Force Command is now the Canadian Army.
Navy veteran Gaylord Kingston, 76, praised the Conservative government for implementing the change.
“For veterans it’s a return to honour,” he said. “This is a return to the past and yet brand new to us.”
But navy historian David Zimmerman said he’s worried the return of monarchist symbols may heighten English-French divisions in the country.
“In the province of Quebec, not many people like to think of the royal connection and there’s a lot of French Canadians in the navy as well,” he said in an interview.
Within hours of the announcement, francophone commentary was circulating on social media websites, much of it making fun of the name change.
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“Now we have royally defective and rusty submarines,” tweeted Sebastien Robert, who says he is a member of a sovereigntist party in Quebec.
Pierre Anctil, a professor of history at the University of Ottawa, said Tuesday’s announcement marks a surprising shift of Canadian symbols.
“It’s a new policy of defining Canadian nationalism,” he said from his home in Montreal.
“Francophones will find it difficult to swallow. Reference to the Queen and the British empire isn’t likely to please francophones.”
Zimmerman, a professor of history at the University of Victoria, suggested political motives are behind the announcement.
“It makes people who are royalists, who are conservatives, who are traditionalists, feel better.”
MacKay defended the royal connection, saying denying it is akin to ignoring Canada’s history.
“It’s a recognition of historic ties to England that simply exist. It’s a historic fact,” he said in an interview after the announcement.
He said there will be some changes to uniforms, such as the addition of the letter “R” to the shoulder patches. He said letterhead and other symbols will be phased in.
Jay Paxton, MacKay’s spokesman, said the army, navy and air force will decide on their own whether to restore the historic flags.
A couple of veterans’ groups voiced their support for the name change.
“It is quite an emotional issue for our members,” Patricia Varga, the dominion president of the Royal Canadian Legion, said in a statement.
“From a personal perspective, I have served in the Royal Canadian Navy as did my father, so this issue is very close to my heart.
“Our only concern is that costs associated with this move will not detract from operational and quality of life budgets, which I have been assured will not be the case.”
Jack Harris, the NDP’s defence critic, said his party objects to the use of the word “royal” because it may divide Canadians.
“We believe it is unnecessary and divisive. Not everybody agrees with that. It pleases some, but it isn’t something that brings people together,” he said in an interview.
“We’re a modern, independent nation that’s not part of the British empire.”
When asked repeatedly to explain how much the name change would cost, MacKay responded: “You can put a price on it if you like. To me it’s priceless.”
A Defence official said the name change is immediate, but the department may take some time to change its website and documents to conform.
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