What is Canada?

About the Book

Is Canada a leader in the progress towards world peace? Is Canada the first state to transcend a national identity? Is Canada innovating, and leading in the development of an environmentally sustainable society? Is Canada truly on the path to a 'Just Society'? Or is Canada actively impoverishing the third world? Is Canada's lack of national identity just a sign of its weakness amongst the ranks of nations? Is Canada hastening the pace of a looming ecological collapse? Is the 'Just Society' a fictitious goal, a political euphemism, an empty promise... is Canada just a wolf in sheep's clothing?

Written at 19, comes Gareth Chantler's contribution to contemporary Canadian thought. With rigorous research, he navigates through contemporary Canadian issues from the unique and seldom heard perspective of a youth. He explains how youth, having a vested interest in the world's future as opposed to the present, posses a different set of priorities than the majority: "The sustainability of the environment", he states "will become the most important issue Canadian and world society faces." A youth perspective also allows for a critique of some things assumed by the majority of Canadians. Chantler exposes the fallacy of the need for a common Canadian national identity, the correctable faults of the current federal electoral system, and the unnecessary vestige that is the Canadian monarchy. With a nuanced view of foreign policy, Canada-US relations, current ideology and the tone of Canadian public debate, he presents an invigorating barrage of compelling arguments, answering the question: What is Canada?

About the Author

Gareth Chantler was born in North York, and grew up in Oakville, Ontario. In Fall 2005 he began studies at Queen's University (BSCH, Mathematics). This is his first book.