CANADA NEEDS THESE 2016 CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS
The final MY CANADA will not be a review of 2015. Every media outlet in the world is offering everything from the 5 to the 100 best or most watched/read stories of that year. My Canada readers don’t need another source. The New Year is about to become a reality and there is a great deal to contemplate with regard to the way the world, country or the way everyone everywhere lives.
Something every Canadian except possible politicians would like to see happen is changes in the primary school classroom banter happening in parliament question period. The display is disgusting and unprofessional for members to clap and cheer every time a leader makes a partisan political comment. An exaggerated example would be a party leader stating since parliament will recess after the current session he or she is going to go grocery shopping at such and such a store. Every member of that particular party might clap and cheer signifying appreciation for the food distributing corporation’s support. We know the support can’t be in an advertised donation, however all contributors can and will find ways to contribute thereby thought to be deserving of such candor. So there are two issues with the action. One is the unprofessionalism and secondly is the fact donors to political parties can bypass legislation meant to stop donations for political favoritism. Perhaps 2016 will be the year at least the clapping and cheering in question period will end.
Another currently in the news situation is the long neglected First Nations problem that every Canadian is aware has received a great deal of discussion but little in the way of a solution or even new direction. Accusations with respect to the problem include bands getting too much taxpayer money that’s misspent or just benefitting the leaders. Another erroneous and impossible suggestion is for Indigenous communities in isolated regions being forced to move to accommodate integration with non-native communities. Another is bringing youth to live in “civilized” towns and cities to become educated. Making youth move is a solution tried with the infamous residential schools but in a different form. It didn’t work and created a great deal of past unfairness and is still not a solution. The real solution with the first steps possibly on the horizon is the inclusion of all First Nation community leaders and activists in all discussions. Essential in any present or future process is not allowing First Nation funding to be given without strong rules, regulations and controls. Legislated rules relating to keeping aboriginal and non- native populations fully informed all aspects of the reforms is the only way the situation can be even dealt with let alone solved. Public knowledge is the way the non-indigenous Canadian and aboriginal population will know the real picture related to all levels of government action and funding. Government, the public and Indigenous leaders plus the activists must be included. The likelihood of success is completely dependent on both sides forging an alliance even stronger that the current federal provincial relationship. The final solution if possible will be a long road making Canada’s dual or even tri-nation , to include Quebec needs, a solution becoming the envy of all national and international dispute solutions.
Twenty sixteen must be the year the recent attack on some aspects of Canadian democracy must be verified and police action controlled. Incidents of police overstepping the authority legislation guarantees have happened during events with protestors in Canada. To stop progress into the situation of police shootings making headlines in America legislation and action must be taken now by Canadian legislators to assure individual as known in the past democracy is protected.
Finally, the most important issue facing Canada, and for that matter the entire world, is climate change and control. The situation currently happening in Texas with a series of severe tornados followed by unprecedented floods and the onslaught of a cold front causing blizzard conditions if a warning that El Nino effect might not be a rare incident. Nations of the world might have begun to face the problem but perhaps more must be done sooner rather than later to stop these types of disasters.
Something every Canadian except possible politicians would like to see happen is changes in the primary school classroom banter happening in parliament question period. The display is disgusting and unprofessional for members to clap and cheer every time a leader makes a partisan political comment. An exaggerated example would be a party leader stating since parliament will recess after the current session he or she is going to go grocery shopping at such and such a store. Every member of that particular party might clap and cheer signifying appreciation for the food distributing corporation’s support. We know the support can’t be in an advertised donation, however all contributors can and will find ways to contribute thereby thought to be deserving of such candor. So there are two issues with the action. One is the unprofessionalism and secondly is the fact donors to political parties can bypass legislation meant to stop donations for political favoritism. Perhaps 2016 will be the year at least the clapping and cheering in question period will end.
Another currently in the news situation is the long neglected First Nations problem that every Canadian is aware has received a great deal of discussion but little in the way of a solution or even new direction. Accusations with respect to the problem include bands getting too much taxpayer money that’s misspent or just benefitting the leaders. Another erroneous and impossible suggestion is for Indigenous communities in isolated regions being forced to move to accommodate integration with non-native communities. Another is bringing youth to live in “civilized” towns and cities to become educated. Making youth move is a solution tried with the infamous residential schools but in a different form. It didn’t work and created a great deal of past unfairness and is still not a solution. The real solution with the first steps possibly on the horizon is the inclusion of all First Nation community leaders and activists in all discussions. Essential in any present or future process is not allowing First Nation funding to be given without strong rules, regulations and controls. Legislated rules relating to keeping aboriginal and non- native populations fully informed all aspects of the reforms is the only way the situation can be even dealt with let alone solved. Public knowledge is the way the non-indigenous Canadian and aboriginal population will know the real picture related to all levels of government action and funding. Government, the public and Indigenous leaders plus the activists must be included. The likelihood of success is completely dependent on both sides forging an alliance even stronger that the current federal provincial relationship. The final solution if possible will be a long road making Canada’s dual or even tri-nation , to include Quebec needs, a solution becoming the envy of all national and international dispute solutions.
Twenty sixteen must be the year the recent attack on some aspects of Canadian democracy must be verified and police action controlled. Incidents of police overstepping the authority legislation guarantees have happened during events with protestors in Canada. To stop progress into the situation of police shootings making headlines in America legislation and action must be taken now by Canadian legislators to assure individual as known in the past democracy is protected.
Finally, the most important issue facing Canada, and for that matter the entire world, is climate change and control. The situation currently happening in Texas with a series of severe tornados followed by unprecedented floods and the onslaught of a cold front causing blizzard conditions if a warning that El Nino effect might not be a rare incident. Nations of the world might have begun to face the problem but perhaps more must be done sooner rather than later to stop these types of disasters.