Fearful Acrimony

"It's as if someone had emptied the contents of a garbage truck in my garden,” wrote political scientist Alain Noël after reading Brian Lee Crowley’s controversial essay, Fearful Symmetry: The Fall and Rise of Canada’s Founding Values. If they read the book, most Quebeckers would certainly feel the same way. In fact, considering how sensitive people in my province are to anything critical said about them in English Canada, it is surprising that hostile comments have not been more widespread since the first reviews in French were published. A good thing too; we certainly do not need more bad feelings between the country's two principal language groups.

Before I proceed, allow me two disclosures. One: I have always liked Brian. I have rarely agreed with his ideas, but he has had the courage to go against the grain. I distrust consensus on economic, social or cultural policy. Devil’s advocates are essential to a healthy public debate. Disclosure two: I am an...