"The big story of Canada has been one of continuity." : an interview with Raymond Blake

JB I'll start with the conclusion of your most recent book, Canada's Prime Ministers and the Shaping of a National Identity: "Since the Second World War, as each prime minister built onto the story of Canada, continuity largely prevailed.May it ever be so."It's a great conclusion, because you see this continuity throughout the book.I mean, I look back and I think, "What exactly was the difference between St. Laurent and Diefenbaker?"It's a superb, snappy conclusion, without being a gimmick.RB We are frequently told, even in the 2025 election: "This is an historic election.If you choose the wrong way, it means the country will be torn apart or whatever."And yet, when we look at those individuals since the mid-1940s, it really didn't make any difference who was there.There are a few minor differences here and there between the main parties, but the story of Canada has been one of continuity, and we've had prime ministers of different parties -Liberal and Conservative -and they've really approached the nation in pretty much the same way.JB Right down to employing the same vocabulary."Tolerance" comes through right up until Chrtien, Harper.That's not a critique against either of them, it's just that the word seems to have fallen out of fashion.RB Absolutely, and in line with those words we had continuity, perhaps because the various prime ministers have been able to put aside their personal views, whether on religion, or whether on economics or some other issues, and to do what they thought was best for the nation.And we sometimes forget that fact.We can see how prime ministers put aside their own ideologies and preferences by looking at Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who is frequently seen as a great reformer.He was, but many of his personal views did not find their way into government policy -quite the opposite really.If you