Let me tell you a story about my early days working for the House of Commons in a non-partisan position serving all Members of Parliament and all Canadians. While we all had our own political opinions, that ranged from right to left, we all worked professionally and in a non-
Continue readingTag: Canadian values
THE FIFTH COLUMN: Quebec’s Bill 21 Has It All Wrong
I am writing this, not because Quebec’s “An Act respecting the laicity of the State”, commonly referred to as Bill 21, goes against Canadian values and violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which it does, but because it’s provisions will not achieve it’s supposed purpose of a secular
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Iran and the Political Resurrection of Justin Trudeau
Over the course of the last year Justin Trudeau has had to deal with some of the darkest days of his political career.The ugly Cons attacked him like a pack of rabid hyenas over one fake scandal after the other.Their media stooges joined in the attempted lynching. with some of them
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Tehran Tragedy and the Strength of Justin Trudeau
The 176 bodies have apparently been retrieved, including those of 57 Canadians whose lives were so brutally ended as they were on their way home. The Iranian military has admitted that they were responsible. And said that they are very sorry for bringing down the plane with a missile, in the fog
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Justin Trudeau and the Defence Of Our Canadian Values
Justin Trudeau has done many town halls, but the one in Regina the other day seems to have resonated with Canadians to an extraordinary degree.And not just with those who support him, but also with some of those who don't, and even with some of his enemies in the media.For while
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Con Media and Justin Trudeau’s Long Honeymoon
Ever since Justin Trudeau was sworn in as Prime Minister, the Con media has been declaring that his political honeymoon is over.And in recent weeks with the confusion over electoral reform, and the controversial pipeline decision, that clamour has become almost deafening.With one story after the other declaring that his golden ride
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Kellie Leitch and the Betrayal Of Our Canadian Values
You might think that as a doctor Kellie Leitch would understand that most Canadians were still in shock the morning after Donald Trump's victory.Both shaken up and nauseous that such a bigot and a misogynist could have been elected president of the country next door.So you might think that Leitch would restrain
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Kellie Leitch’s Campaign Becomes Even More Absurd
I wasn’t planning to write another post about Kellie Leitch for a while, because I feel I’ve written enough about her to last me a lifetime.
But then I saw the cover of the latest issue of Macleans and I changed my mind.
Because although that picture is absolutely ridiculous, and has people howling with laughter all over the country.
And wondering where did she get that flag pole from?
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Northern Reflections: Confronting It Head On
Kellie Leitch has caused a great deal of controversy with her suggestion that we screen prospective immigrants for “Canadian values.” Actually, she’s touching a nerve which predates Confederation. Desmond Cole writes:
Many have criticized Leitch’s proposal by saying it is impractical, since no one person or group can define or determine Canadian values. That’s a nice idea, but in practice we know the values our politicians attempt to sell us are a reflection of our colonial, white, British, monarchical heritage. There are such things as Canadian values, and they explain how our politicians have been peddling a fear of foreigners for the last 150 years.Suspicion of all immigrants who are not white, or are not members of the former British Empire, is a Canadian value. Canada’s founding prime minister, John A. Macdonald, argued that Chinese immigrants to Canada were unfit to vote because they exhibited “no British instincts or British feelings or aspirations.” Macdonald didn’t need to cloak the authority of the state in the language of wanting a “conversation” about immigrants, as Leitch does today. In his time, there was no conversation to be had.
Of course, all of this is only possible because of another fundamental Canadian value: erasure. Our modern mythology suggests that indigenous people were never here, or that if they were, their values and customs gave way to a superior British way of life. Our history books and our educational resources for prospective new Canadians have little to say about the values and traditions of indigenous people. British colonialism made outsiders of people who had been here for thousands of years, and cast their values aside.That’s how a white man in a red coat who carries a weapon and patrols stolen land has come to symbolize the enforcement of Canadian values. We are taught to honour the force Mounties used to Anglicize this land, to view the guy in red as a symbol of honour and patriotism, no matter what despicable crimes he carries out. The values of dominance and separation enforced by the modern RCMP, and the Canadian Border Services Agency, are not universal or self-evident — they are steeped in centuries of racism, colonialism, and white supremacy.
Montreal Simon: Donald Trump’s America and the Values That Protect Canadians
It speaks to the horror of the Republican convention that although Donald Trump did declare it an enormous success.As only he could.The Washington Post editorial board has seen enough.And has decided to endorse Hillary Clinton about three months ear…
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Syrian Refugees and the Miserable Michelle Rempel
Well the 25,000th Syrian refugee has arrived in Canada. I couldn't be happier or prouder.And I thought John McCallum was right to say that despite some delays in getting them all here, and problems finding them permanent housing, it is something …
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The True Voice Of Canada
As we well know after enduring almost 10 years of darkness, sometimes the loudest and ugliest voices are the ones that command the most attention, thereby skewering our perceptions of reality. If the Harper government had been the true voice of Canada,…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Tale Of Two Canadas
That is the title of a very interesting piece by Michael Valpy in today’s Star that is well-worth reading. His thesis offers something of a challenge to a post I put up the other day talking about the fact that our core values as Canadians managed to s…
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: David Suzuki: Let’s vote for the values that make Canada great
David Suzuki counts universal health care, clean energy, climate change, racial diversity and tolerance among the Canadian values and key issues worth considering before casting your vote on October 19. The post David Suzuki: Let’s vote for the values that make Canada great appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingWhat are Canadian values, of what value are they, and who decides?
Prime Minister Harper, the “old stock” Canadian, recently made the odd remark, “I will never tell my young daughter that a woman should cover her face because she is a woman. That’s not our Canada.” Why such a notion should ever present itself to Mr. Harper is a mystery, but
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Why stop with just one religion? Shouldn’t Ottawa certify clerics for all religions, plus martial arts instructors?
PHOTOS: The Senate of Canada, also known as “the Red Chamber,” possibly for its adoption of tactics for dealing with religion reminiscent of two large communist countries. Actual Canadian Senators may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Andrew P.W. Bennett, Canada’s first “Ambassador for Religious Freedom” and a cantor at
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: New Canadians Abandoning Stephen Harper, Conservatives
A new poll by EKOS shows that new Canadians are deserting Stephen Harper and the Conservatives “despite aggressive wooing” by Jason Kenney in the last three years. The post New Canadians Abandoning Stephen Harper, Conservatives appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Happy Canada Day
I was originally going to take the day off from blogging, but then, after reading the editorial in today’s Star along with some letters reflecting what people would wish for Canada, I decided to briefly add my own thoughts. Certainly, there are a number of challenges we face both as
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: The Bottom Line on the Parti Québécois Proposed Values Charter
I was going to write a long blog post on this but since so much has been written about it I think this captures the spirit and intent of the proposal succinctly.
The bottom line on Quebec’s proposed values charter is that you can visit a hospital name…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: The Bottom Line on the Parti Québécois Proposed Values Charter
I was going to write a long blog post on this but since so much has been written about it I think this captures the spirit and intent of the proposal succinctly. The bottom line on Quebec’s proposed values charter is that you can visit a hospital named after a
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