Canada balances privilege and problems. This Canada Day reflection explores what still works, what’s fading, and why protecting our national character matters.
I finally found a moment to read this and had to roll my eyes thinking about how you lost subscribers over this article. Clearly, only anti-intellectual troglodytes would be miffed enough to unsubscribe. I’m surprised they would ever subscribe to such rational and measured writing in the first place.
Many only want to read what immediately reinforces what they already believe. Thinking, data, self-reflection, reevaluation of one’s values don’t sell well. And here we are.
As the Pop Stars all sang in 1985, “We are the World.” This now seemingly trite phrase applies to Canada as much now as it did to the United States then. Living in Vancouver, there is now a small majority of people who identify as “non-European” ethnicities. Walking around the city as a (very… I mean, almost translucent) white person I am in the minority. Somehow this doesn’t alarm me. My ancestors came to British Columbia over 100 years ago from different parts of Europe but I don’t assume that this makes me more Canadian or entitled to any sort of privilege whatsoever. They just made it here earlier. The First Nations people were here long before us (as European settlers in general) and our treatment of them was dismissive at best.
“Taxes are another point of contention. The more one earns, the more one pays, to the point where some feel discouraged from working harder.”
Those who feel this way are greedy. We hardly have a punitive tax system for the rich, and while they can find lower taxes elsewhere, they won’t find all the things which make our Nation of Nations great & unique.
As the Rheostatics sang in “Chanson Les Ruelles”:
“Laissez les jeunes étoiles
De rock s’en allez sud
Ils oblioueront, et nous aussis
Çe n’est pas son fautes
Ç’est un fair de le monde
J’espère que la frontière
Ne disparaître pas
Peut être nos vents soufflir [sic] aux États-Unis
Nous chantons pour nous même
De tout façon*”
* they actually sing “de tout savon” which is an endearingly silly mistake.
I finally found a moment to read this and had to roll my eyes thinking about how you lost subscribers over this article. Clearly, only anti-intellectual troglodytes would be miffed enough to unsubscribe. I’m surprised they would ever subscribe to such rational and measured writing in the first place.
Many only want to read what immediately reinforces what they already believe. Thinking, data, self-reflection, reevaluation of one’s values don’t sell well. And here we are.
Slipping into echo chambres is real danger in Canada these days
I guess no one wants to hear about challenges in the country or they don't want to hear about the country in general. I can't win
As the Pop Stars all sang in 1985, “We are the World.” This now seemingly trite phrase applies to Canada as much now as it did to the United States then. Living in Vancouver, there is now a small majority of people who identify as “non-European” ethnicities. Walking around the city as a (very… I mean, almost translucent) white person I am in the minority. Somehow this doesn’t alarm me. My ancestors came to British Columbia over 100 years ago from different parts of Europe but I don’t assume that this makes me more Canadian or entitled to any sort of privilege whatsoever. They just made it here earlier. The First Nations people were here long before us (as European settlers in general) and our treatment of them was dismissive at best.
Yes we come together and work stuff out. It's time to do something instead of dwelling how much the country sucks due to provincial politics
Yes and Ontario isn't using it properly. It's a good time to celebrate and focus on what to sort out
Our taxes are among the lowest in the world considering the services we get.
“Taxes are another point of contention. The more one earns, the more one pays, to the point where some feel discouraged from working harder.”
Those who feel this way are greedy. We hardly have a punitive tax system for the rich, and while they can find lower taxes elsewhere, they won’t find all the things which make our Nation of Nations great & unique.
As the Rheostatics sang in “Chanson Les Ruelles”:
“Laissez les jeunes étoiles
De rock s’en allez sud
Ils oblioueront, et nous aussis
Çe n’est pas son fautes
Ç’est un fair de le monde
J’espère que la frontière
Ne disparaître pas
Peut être nos vents soufflir [sic] aux États-Unis
Nous chantons pour nous même
De tout façon*”
* they actually sing “de tout savon” which is an endearingly silly mistake.
Need to enforce how Ontario is spending the federal funds
Not just Ontario.
All the provinces, with a specific eye to Alberta.
Yes Alberta is the Ginger one at the moment