Canada's structure and probable future direction in reply to Scott Gilmore June 2018 Maclean's article.
It has been a few weeks since the last MY CANADA article mostly because of a combination of hot weather and writer's block affecting all writers on occasion. But that might be a subject for another column.
Scott Gilmore wrote a timely article in the 2018 issue of Macleans magazine that relates directly to My Canada. Gilmore titled the column "Canada is not a country" which is appropriate to a large degree. The article begins with the claim air travel within the borders of this country is unexplained and unnecessarily much more expensive than flying to Peru, Europe or any state in the U.S. The article then points out Canadians are often more oriented to having contact with Americans living in adjacent states than Canadians in another province. He does neglect to say the situation does not always relate to close friends or relatives living in another province.
The fact that Quebec is and always has been almost another country with different traditions and even language makes it almost as much another country as nations situated side by side in Europe according to Gilmore. Another issue pointing to a divided and almost separate country is the fact many items including beer cannot be legally transported between many provinces. Even our military is far from being a force that could defend our vast borders. Canada's army and air force are minuscule compared to most countries and the navy has so few ships the coast line is virtually undefended.
The column also points out most countries have a national culture base that Canada lacks. Although many of the citizens are from families that immigrated to Canada in past centuries and therefore boast several generation of cultural base more and more are arriving with culture, language and traditions that are accepted by Canada but would be challenged in many other counties. The reason is mostly since our politicians are always more intent on making certain everyone living in or coming to this country would not be discriminated against or forced to live in the same manner as historical culture and traditions already established for the nation.
After the second world war immigrants and displaced persons from every country affected by the war were encouraged to come to Canada. They brought different traditions and customs than much of the current population in those earlier days but practiced them and still do mostly in their own circle of fellow countrymen without attempting to make Canada a semblance of an original homeland. A great many of the offspring of those mid 20th century immigrants are now leaders in this country boasting their parents and grandparents heritage and customs while practicing being today's Canadians. Whether the same thing will transpire with the immigrants and refugees now entering this country both legally and illegally is up for conjecture. Canada is facing the inevitable changes including a current need to rectify the years of wrongdoing afforded Indigenous Canadians which they are rightfully demanding.
So will our various level of government find the courage and strength to build a Canada that most citizens cherish and hope will remain the Canada the world feels is maybe an idealistic mix of almost everything right for the citizens. As Scott Gilmore states ending his column, 'when the bad times inevitably arrive will we discover Canada was never really a country at all'.
If the future proves Canada is not a real country through a collapse of the democratic programs and other reasons many people even now believe the changes from yesteryear is caused by today's' politics. Almost everyone is aware politicians serve the party as opposed to the people voting each one into an election victory. That is not to say politicians are don't help when needed for specific and personal reasons only that party needs come first and unless a voter is a known supporter the degree of help might differ in some if not most cases.
One of the reasons Canada would probably not survive as a country is the use of taxpayer funds at every level of government. The greatest criteria appears to be an unstoppable desire to keep political income and benefit rates unreasonably high while adding to the number of people on the political scene in an effort to assure election victories. Change unless the economy shrinks is extremely unlikely since it isn't for the most part the wrong people are voted into office, rather perhaps the majority of people running are trying and successfully elected after a strong effort to eventually realize the money tax dollars offer in salaries and benefits. Transversely, some undoubtedly run for politics with a strong feeling their input can enable needed changes. The reader must decide which reason suits the candidate or feels there is another reason the person wants to be elected, such as keeping the country as the nation it has become. Then again few people overall are prone to spending the time, dedication and effort required to even try to be elected to any level of government.
Scott Gilmore wrote a timely article in the 2018 issue of Macleans magazine that relates directly to My Canada. Gilmore titled the column "Canada is not a country" which is appropriate to a large degree. The article begins with the claim air travel within the borders of this country is unexplained and unnecessarily much more expensive than flying to Peru, Europe or any state in the U.S. The article then points out Canadians are often more oriented to having contact with Americans living in adjacent states than Canadians in another province. He does neglect to say the situation does not always relate to close friends or relatives living in another province.
The fact that Quebec is and always has been almost another country with different traditions and even language makes it almost as much another country as nations situated side by side in Europe according to Gilmore. Another issue pointing to a divided and almost separate country is the fact many items including beer cannot be legally transported between many provinces. Even our military is far from being a force that could defend our vast borders. Canada's army and air force are minuscule compared to most countries and the navy has so few ships the coast line is virtually undefended.
The column also points out most countries have a national culture base that Canada lacks. Although many of the citizens are from families that immigrated to Canada in past centuries and therefore boast several generation of cultural base more and more are arriving with culture, language and traditions that are accepted by Canada but would be challenged in many other counties. The reason is mostly since our politicians are always more intent on making certain everyone living in or coming to this country would not be discriminated against or forced to live in the same manner as historical culture and traditions already established for the nation.
After the second world war immigrants and displaced persons from every country affected by the war were encouraged to come to Canada. They brought different traditions and customs than much of the current population in those earlier days but practiced them and still do mostly in their own circle of fellow countrymen without attempting to make Canada a semblance of an original homeland. A great many of the offspring of those mid 20th century immigrants are now leaders in this country boasting their parents and grandparents heritage and customs while practicing being today's Canadians. Whether the same thing will transpire with the immigrants and refugees now entering this country both legally and illegally is up for conjecture. Canada is facing the inevitable changes including a current need to rectify the years of wrongdoing afforded Indigenous Canadians which they are rightfully demanding.
So will our various level of government find the courage and strength to build a Canada that most citizens cherish and hope will remain the Canada the world feels is maybe an idealistic mix of almost everything right for the citizens. As Scott Gilmore states ending his column, 'when the bad times inevitably arrive will we discover Canada was never really a country at all'.
If the future proves Canada is not a real country through a collapse of the democratic programs and other reasons many people even now believe the changes from yesteryear is caused by today's' politics. Almost everyone is aware politicians serve the party as opposed to the people voting each one into an election victory. That is not to say politicians are don't help when needed for specific and personal reasons only that party needs come first and unless a voter is a known supporter the degree of help might differ in some if not most cases.
One of the reasons Canada would probably not survive as a country is the use of taxpayer funds at every level of government. The greatest criteria appears to be an unstoppable desire to keep political income and benefit rates unreasonably high while adding to the number of people on the political scene in an effort to assure election victories. Change unless the economy shrinks is extremely unlikely since it isn't for the most part the wrong people are voted into office, rather perhaps the majority of people running are trying and successfully elected after a strong effort to eventually realize the money tax dollars offer in salaries and benefits. Transversely, some undoubtedly run for politics with a strong feeling their input can enable needed changes. The reader must decide which reason suits the candidate or feels there is another reason the person wants to be elected, such as keeping the country as the nation it has become. Then again few people overall are prone to spending the time, dedication and effort required to even try to be elected to any level of government.