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Our View: Navy returns to royal roots

As the home of Canada’s Pacific Fleet, we’re happy that we can officially call the Royal Canadian Navy just that. On Tuesday, the federal government announced it had given up on a decades-old decision and would restore the traditional names of the three distinct elements within the Canadian Forces.

As the home of Canada’s Pacific Fleet, we’re happy that we can officially call the Royal Canadian Navy just that.

On Tuesday, the federal government announced it had given up on a decades-old decision and would restore the traditional names of the three distinct elements within the Canadian Forces.

The public never did get entirely comfortable with what seemed like artificial terms for our army, navy and air force.

The Maritime Command, Land Force Command and Air Command always seemed too officious and in need of explanation.

And while we can’t simply throw the last 43 years of our military’s history out the window, those who serve in our armed forces are also keenly aware of the traditions that have been in place long before unification in 1968.

There were many unofficial theories given for the original decision to strip the term “royal” from the navy and air force and to move to a single uniform for all military branches.

Whether the thinking was to save money or to step away from the shadow of our British heritage, the move never really worked and many dedicated individuals fought the long fight to have the “royal” restored.

In 2011, we’ve long gotten over any insecurity about being seen as a colony of the old Empire.

The reality is our country’s roots as a constitutional monarchy go back almost 500 years, to when the King of France first claimed possession of what is now Canada.

The concept of the Crown is so interwoven in the fabric of this country that only a full-scale revolution could hope to undo the monarchy’s place in our laws and culture.

We are a royal nation and it’s good to know that once again, our region is home to the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force.