The movement to bring home to Canada the British North America Act may be one of the greatest displays of national pride in the history of Canada.

It is certainly one of the most ambitious and patriotic effort undertaken by ordinary Canadians.

In the century and a half since our country was founded in 1867, many of our democratically elected political representatives have worked to further Canada's independence and the rights of Canadians, including developing our constitution and repatriating it. But now the people themselves are speaking up, seeking a final act to concretely represent our progress.

We want our original founding constitution here in our own country where we can view it with pride - to appreciate our own progressive history, to show our children where our country came from, and to pass on this living symbol of national pride to future generations.

By getting behind this project, Canadians from coast to coast have an opportunity for a magnificent show of unity.

I can think of nothing in our history to compare with such a movement. Very much to the point, it shows how far we have come. Whether we have individually come from families with long roots in Canada or whether we are relatively new to Canada, we love this country for what it offers us today and we appreciate the long struggle to get us here.

That's what the Bring Back the Act movement means to me.

I can think of no greater gift to give ourselves and future Canadians than to pay homage to our forefathers who set the vision of what we have become.

Having the BNA Act at home in Canada by 2017, our country's 150th birthday, will mark a significant moment in our nation's history, a moment to capture the imagination of all Canadians, regardless of race, culture or gender.

I will be proud to be able to say that I was part of this and that along the way I have discovered a part of our heritage instrumental to the democracy we enjoy today.

I encourage all Canadians to be part of this remarkable event of history in the making.

July 1st, 2010

Fellow Canadians,

Thank you for showing an interest in our drive to bring Canada's founding constitution - The British North America Act - home to the country that it created.

It is our wish that by 2014 Canada has custody of this precious document in time for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences that led to Confederation. The Act would be showcased across the country before arriving at its new home in Ottawa in time to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday in 2017.

I hope you agree with what we're doing in trying to bring the BNA Act home to Canada. If you do, please sign the petition and post a comment. If you don't, please post a comment and let us know why.

I was inspired to try to bring the BNA Act home by my admiration for Canada and by our many diverse communities that I have the privilege of interacting with on a daily basis.

Canada is our home and a source of opportunity, pride and joy. We are a diverse people. Some of us have been here in this country for only a short time as first-generation immigrants, and some of us have become established here as longtime residents. Some of us are the children or grandchildren of immigrants and some of us can trace our Canadian heritage back to before the founding of this country. We speak many different languages. We have many different customs, religions, political views, occupations and interests. And this all helps define us as individuals.

But what defines us today as Canadians is much more. Being Canadian is about what we have in common: the desires and goals for ourselves, our children, our communities and future generations. Our shared Canadian values. These values are born out of our belonging to a profoundly humane nation. We want to protect those values and the great democracy that allowed us to call Canada our home.

Our shared experiences and collective enthusiasm for the preservation and advancement of Canada has given rise to this project.

I hope Bring Back the Act inspires all Canadians to think and believe that we are a huge asset to Canada and that we can give back to Canada. We strive to preserve what past and current generations have created in advancing Canada. In order for us to achieve these goals, we must do away with cultural silos and ethnic labels, and we must engage and unite in a meaningful way.

As a first step, we must preserve the vision of our founding fathers that still guides us today. We want the Constitution of Canada, the BNA Act, to be respected and guarded much like the Declaration of Independence or the Magna Carta. We want the constitution of Canada to come to life for our children and future generations.

We look forward to a new and united definition of what it means to be Canadian by 2017. With your help, we will become an example to the world.

Lori