The difficult discussions we need to have
What kind of Canada do we really want? That was a recurring question during the leadership race. As I spoke with thousands upon thousands of Canadians over the past eight months, people lamented for a Canada that embodied the simple principles of my leadership campaign slogan: “courage, compassion and common sense.”
People across the country questioned why common sense has become a novel and intriguing concept. Why are the virtues of courage and compassion relegated to the fringe of politics? Over the next little while I want to take the opportunity to address these question in a series of op-eds in this publication.
I will ask provocative questions about the current state of our country and wrestle with questions about what we as Canadians really want from our democracy.
If we believe that change is necessary, what should that look like, and how can we achieve it?
What do we do about the inherent contradictions that exist within our system that allow politicians to skirt responsibility and accountability? Why do we allow politicians to play mind games with us, to avoid answering questions and to use double-speak to mentally manipulate us with answers like “Our highest priority is honesty and transparency” and then not answer the question?
Why do we allow our prime minister and other elected representatives to break our ethics laws multiple times and get away with fines barely higher than a speeding ticket?
Are we so easily placated with soothing platitudes, slogans and virtue signalling? Or is there a path to becoming a country where our words truly matter? A country where protecting the rights and freedoms of all Canadians actually applies to everyone, and not simply the demographics we’ve decided are accessible in the right regions we need in order to win the next election.
Why have we accepted an ethos of hypocrisy in our country: where we solemnly mark remembrance day, but abandon our veterans; where we claim we are protecting women’s rights but are offended by pregnancy care centres that support women during unplanned pregnancies; where we mark mental health awareness days and suicide prevention days, but then make laws that put forward suicide as a “solution” to mental illness; and where we attribute false and hateful labels to people who merely disagree with us.
I was repeatedly told by certain members of the media during the leadership race that I was bringing up topics that were supposed to be closed for discussion. Apparently many Canadians have accepted the false narrative that issues like abortion, euthanasia, racism and a host of other difficult topics are not even to be talked about, let alone have serious and honest debates over how to compassionately address them.
but I’m pleased to report that after months of having those difficult and honest conversations, the success of my foray into the political sphere was not despite my willingness to have those conversations, but because of it.
Canadians are a good people, made up largely of people who came from all over the world because they believed that Canada was the best and most free country they could possibly find. my parents were people just like that, and I believe with all my heart that they were right, but I am afraid that we are losing the principles and freedoms that made this country so incredible, and a beacon of hope and opportunity to the world.
So let’s have the discussions. We cannot be afraid to be uncomfortable as we seek to move our country forward from COVID-19.
We need to have a frank and honest discussion about the culture of disrespect, dishonour and intimidation that we have allowed to fester in regard to our elderly and other vulnerable groups. COVID has exposed a health-care system that is woefully inadequate in its standard of care for the parents and grandparents who paved the way for us.
Are we willing to address the culture of ease and excess that placed us in such a vulnerable position when it came to the communist regime in China and critical supply chains during the COVID crisis? Are we willing to talk about our dependency on foreign oil, and national laws that target resource development in provinces like Alberta? How about the dirty side of green energy that sources raw materials by using poor African children as child labourers?
The answer to the question “What kind of Canada do I actually want to live in” can only be answered when Canadians are prepared to have true and open dialogue about the issues that matter to our future.
WHAT DOES CHANGE LOOK LIKE? HOW DO WE ACHIEVE IT?