Faced with yet another minority government, Canadians clearly cannot decide who we want as a leader. In Who We Are: A Citizen's Manifesto, Rudyard Griffiths injects a welcomed passion into the future of Canadian politics and what it means to be Canadian. He explains the notion of a national identity at a time when Canadian nationalism and unity are a government priority, following the Harper government's creation of a sub-ministerial cabinet portfolio with the title Canadian Identity.

 

Clearly and thoughtfully, Griffiths addresses global warming, immigration and an aging population, and argues that the "Canada lite" model leads to a dead end: irrelevancy on the world stage and divisive strife at home. He reminds us of who we are, what we've accomplished and why a loyalty beyond the local and personal is essential for Canada's survival.

 

 

Rudyard Griffiths is the co-organizer and moderator of The Munk Debates. He is also the co-founder of the Dominion Institute and the co-director of the Grano Speakers Series. His writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including a bi-monthly column for the National Post. He is the author of Who We Are: A Citizen's Manifesto. He serves on the boards of the Stratford Festival, the Empire Club, and the Canadian Institute for Citizenship. In 2006, he was recognized by the Globe and Mail as one of Canada's "Top 40 under 40." He lives in Toronto.

Rudyard Griffiths' profile page

• Nominated, Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing

"In his new book Who We Are...Rudyard Griffiths challenges Canadians to rediscover the founding principals of Canadian nationhood and revitalize our sense of citizenship."

Financial Post

"In this provocative work, Griffiths argues that at this critical juncture Canadians need to rediscover our country's founding principles -- robust civic values and social solidarity -- so that we can create a movement of passionate citizenship, one which will keep us accountable not just to our neighbourhoods and cities, but to our country."

Argyle Magazine

"Who We Are's diagnosis of the postnational predicament is compelling, refreshing and highly relevant...While Who We Are doesn't present all the answers, it does us an enormous service by opening up the debate. Taking on myths might seem very un-Canadian, but in writing this book, Griffiths distinguishes himself as one of the very best Canadians of his generation."

Globe & Mail

"[Griffiths] book melds logical clarity with truly excellent prose."

Inside Queen's Park

"A must-read for every Canadian concerned about where we are headed as a nation."

Rick Mercer

"Who We Are: A Citizen's Manifesto isn't only about who we are but also about who, in Griffiths' opinion, we ought to be."

National Post

"A genuine cri de coeur...for a new and better Canada written by one of the brightest stars of the rising generation."

J.L. Granatstein

"Who We Are is a bold and sometimes provocative book: while rejecting crude nationalism, Griffiths insists that multicultural Canada in a complicated, often volatile world is best served by a more robust idea of citizenship and a stronger allegiance to its traditions and institutions...it is...the starting point of a conversation that we can only ignore at our peril."

The Walrus

"An eloquent and hard-headed argument for reinventing a shared vision of what it means to be Canadian."

Margaret Wente