Canada's Odyssey: A Country Based on Incomplete Conquests by Peter H. Russell (review)

Writing an odyssey is a colossal feat, which Peter Russell has indeed accomplished in Canada's Odyssey. His most recent exploration into Canadian political history reflects Russell's decades of experience with Canadian constitutionalism in a time when the multinational and multicultural nature of the Canadian project is propelling a necessary revision of Canadian 'myths of origin' which frame the continuing journey of what has been called by John Ibbitson a 'failed nation'. Indeed, Russell's previous book, Constitutional Odyssey: Can Canadians Become a Sovereign People? also suggests this preoccupation with the unfinished nature of Canadian federation, which is a familiar theme in politics as well as popular parlance. Russell's exploration into the nature of the Canadian federation takes a position that would have seemed radical only a few decades ago. In this most recent contribution he makes the argument that Canada is founded on three pillars – Aboriginal Canada, English Canada, and French Canada. This is not the first argument for the greater recognition of the influence of First Nations to the Canadian project, but it is a remarkably detailed and lucid genealogy of Canada from the three great societies involved in the founding of Canada.

The book is organised into six parts, roughly defining different historical periods in Canadian history. In particular, Part 1 and Part 2, exploring pre-Confederation Canada, is a monumental contribution to the founding myths of Canada. Through detailed accounts of pre-Confederation Canada, Russell contributes to filling in some of the ellipses of our political history. Russell also highlights the early debates about the creation of a country that is comprised of many nationalities that has indeed followed us throughout Canadian history. In this manner, Canada's Odyssey presents a narrative of Canadian history that is consistent in its political preoccupations, even if it is not a picture of an entirely cohesive nation.

While a detailed review of this comprehensive effort to re-examine Canadian political and constitutional history would be rather difficult to achieve in a brief synopsis, from a more wide-ranging perspective one cannot escape the conclusion that Canada is indeed unfinished. Russell, however, makes an excellent case that it may be as a result of this unending negotiation that Canada is so steady:

A country built on such diverse foundations might seem rather shaky. But compared with what is going on in the rest of the world these days, Canada looks pretty solid. Political scientists who measure these things tell us that Canada is among 21 of 164 countries to receive a score of zero on the State Fragility Index. If there is validity in that finding, it is a tribute to the civic culture Canadians have come to share. This is the glue that holds the country together.

(p. 451)

The book is aptly named as it indeed tells an epic story – the story of a Canada that is not yet finished. This may, however, according to Russell, be Canada's greatest strength.