We see it every year. Usually around Canada Day, or sometimes around the new year, the Historica-Dominion Institute—and I guess now the Macdonald-Laurier Institute will do them as well—do surveys and polls, particularly with young Canadians. A third of them know who John A. Macdonald was, but nobody can name who Canada's second prime minister was. It's frustrating, embarrassing, and unnecessary.
We live in a wealthy country. I come from a family of teachers—my sister, my mom, my brother-in-law. We have some brilliant teachers in this country and great schools. There's a great appetite, I think, among Canadians to know more about Canada's history. When Richard Gwyn puts out books on John A. Macdonald, they win awards and they sell out. Pierre Trudeau's biographies and his memoirs were national bestsellers. Canadians want to know about our history, not only the political history but all of Canada's history. When Champlain's Dream came out, there was a second run, and when it came out in paperback with a new section in it, Canadians gobbled it up. They ate it up and they loved it.
Not only is there a market for it, there's an appetite for it. More importantly, Canadians want to learn more about our history. We've done public opinion research internally within the department about priorities of Canadians. People want their kids to better understand Canada's history and their past, because there are some incredible stories there.
I know there are those who have chastised our government's investment into the War of 1812. Again people can question priorities, and that's fine, but when tens of thousands of people come out, and not to out him, but when Evan Solomon drives down to see the re-enactment of the death of Isaac Brock and the battle there, it's heartening. We see it all the time. He sent me an email showing this picture of thousands and thousands of people who have come out to take part in these re-enactments of Canada's history. There's an appetite there, but we want to give it some structure, structure through the history museum, and structure through investments into events and celebrations about Canada's history. This is something for which I think there's a great appetite.