CKNW Editorial
for March 20, 2000

On Saturday Wendy and I went out to Trinity Western University to hear Preston Manning deliver the 2^nd Annual Mel Smith Lecture …I was much honoured and privileged to deliver the first a year ago … and see the Mel Smith Scholarship awarded, for the second time, to a young lady. As many of you will know, all Mel’s papers, collected after more than 30 years involved in constitutional affairs from one perspective or another – over 20 of those years as adviser to four BC premiers – are deposited in the Mel Smith Collection at TWU.

Trinity Western is a Christian University which asks its students to subscribe to certain behaviour whilst there. To many this would seem pretty out of date but they simply say, you volunteer to come here, here are the rules, please abide by them. This has the BC College of Teachers upset and the case is going to the Supreme Court of Canada but I’m not on about that today. I will leave this part of the topic to say that after two visits I am most impressed by the students I met, their open and critical questions and the obvious fire they have in their belly to go out into the community and make a difference. The questions they directed at Preston Manning would have done justice to any group of young people.

No … I want to speak today about what is a disgraceful situation in this country and this province. To do that I must tell you a bit about Mel Smith, my old and dearest friend ... and my companion in the wars constitutional that have raged in this country for the past 25 years.

Mel is a dedicated and patriotic Canadian. His sin is that he, along with nearly 70% of British Columbians as expressed in the Charlottetown Referendum of 1992, sees this country through a different prism than does the establishment.

Let me deal with the establishment for a moment. It encompasses both the left and the right and represents the ruling classes in politics, business, labour, the arts and so on. It’s distinguishing feature is that when challenged, as in 1992, it huddles together like a herd of musk-ox. It permits dissent but never any dissent that threatens the status quo. Union leaders challenge the system only to the extent that they want more of the pie to go to labour. The arts challenge it only to get a greater division of the spoils. When any challenge comes to the field they play in, that is the status quo, they band together and fight against what they see as barbarian hordes at the gate.

Mel Smith has always challenged the status quo knowing two basic things – it’s bad for his province but of far greater importance, it’s bad for the country. He has always pled the case that British Columbia has been left completely out of the governance of the country he loves and that is not only unfair but ultimately destructive of the nation itself. He has dedicated his life to seeing fundamental change in the system. Just to give one example, it was he who fought so hard against vetoes for constitutional change and can truly be considered the father of the Vancouver formula which is in our Constitution and which doesn’t speak to how change can be prevented but how it carefully can be permitted to happen.

Mel has fought against special rights for provinces which stood him four square against the establishment with Meech Lake and Charlottetown. He fought against special rights for people, including natives which has set him against the Indian Industry and the establishment which supports it.

Melvin Henry Smith has made an enormous contribution to this province and this country – more than any man I have ever met.

He will hate what I’m about to say because he is genuinely a modest man but it has to be said.

What recognition has he been given by his province and his country?

The answer is more than just none – he has been actively shunned.

Has his Alma Mater, the University of British Columbia recognized his efforts and the shine he has brought to their escutcheon? Of course not. To give the likes of Mel Smith an honorary degree might upset the governments that give it money.

Has he been given the Order of British Columbia? No way.

And what about the Order of Canada – not a chance. Not a chance because the top echelon, the Companions, chaired by the latest political hack who happens to be the Governor-General, make the awards.

Mel Smith you may remember, stood against the Companions of the Order of Canada when in 1992 they came out publicly, in huge Newspaper ads, in favour of the Charlottetown Accord. He said that was wrong … an abuse of their position … which it clearly was.

No, let me demonstrate my case by giving you a couple of examples of how Orders of Canada are given in, for example, Journalism. If you are a Jeffery Simpson, a Don Newman, or a Peter Gzowski and always couch your remarks with appropriate humility and combine your criticism with due deference to authority, you get an Order of Canada. If you’re a Stevie Cameron, a Clare Hoy or a Gordon Gibson and go outside the comfortable confines of the Canadian establishment, you have two chances … a dogs chance and no chance at all.

That Mel Smith, this outstanding Canadian and British Columbian has not been so recognized, many years ago, is nothing short of a provincial and national disgrace. Many of those who wear those little buttons on their lapels ought to look at them this morning – they have tarnish all over them.

Those of us who so love and admire Mel Smith for all he has contributed for the betterment of his communities take solace from the words of Cato the Elder who said "I would much rather have men ask why I have no statue than why I have one."

The fact of the matter is if you’re judged by the company you keep, Mel Smith is much greater honoured for being without rather than within.