Government should start the party planning for Canada’s 150th: committee

OTTAWA – The clock is ticking toward Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, and a House of Commons committee wants the government to get serious about the bash.

MPs on the heritage committee say in a new report that planning with the provinces, territories, municipalities and private sector needs to begin as soon as possible.

The committee also recommends the government form an independent body to oversee the organizing of the anniversary of Confederation.

Planning before Canada’s successful centennial celebrations in 1967 was undertaken by a separate commission, and the first steps began eight years in advance.

By contrast, Ottawa only began seriously planning for the 125 anniversary a couple of years beforehand and the results have been described as mediocre.

The committee would like the government to ensure aboriginal, ethnocultural and official language minority groups be made part of the planning.