In the conclusion to his magisterial new book, “Sir. John A. Macdonald and the Apocalyptic Year 1885,” historian Patrice Dutil laments the posthumous fate of Canada’s founding prime minister John A. Macdonald. “It’s hard to imagine,” Dutil says, “a reputation being trashed so hatefully, so suddenly and so thoroughly.”

And yet, this is exactly what has happened. Across the country, cities have removed Macdonald’s statues, and mobs regularly deface those that remain. Whether it is the names of pubs or law schools — those in authority have decided to dishonour John A. Macdonald — to remove him from a place of public prominence.