Grand Theatre
To pick up a Canadian newspaper or listen to a Canadian talk radio station (I would list watch Canadian television news but I never do) we are daily bombarded with the wondrous goings on of the Federal Government. This week the news is of how we have now announced our support for Palestine and the creation of its statehood. Also of the buyback of dangerous illegal guns starting in Nova Scotia. Last week was the news of the release of the Governments initial list of five national mega projects that will dramatically improve the plight of Canadians.
Lesser stories are floating about regarding the reduction of temporary foreign workers, a staggering drop of next to nothing, the ‘success’ of Mr. Carney’s latest trip to Europe and the ongoing story of conversations between our PM and the US President.
Of course what is also being published, although spoken of less or not at all, are the counter stories. The stories about Mahmoud Abbas’ 17 year extension of his four year term as the duly elected President of the Palestinian Authority. There are virtually no stories regarding the background of Israel and Palestine in Canadian news, my daughter last week came to me asking for some background and context to what our PM did given she has a friend who’s partner is Palestinian. Her instincts were that something is that something was not right, but the news was not reporting much.
Now let me say here that not all Canadian news is this way. I read both the National Post and Toronto Sun every morning, along with the Globe and Mail. Two national newspapers and one large local newspaper. The Globe would be what I consider slightly left of centre in its opinions and centre in its news. The Post is right of centre on both opinion and news as is the Sun. both of these papers though have been trending to the middle more and more. Neither has the support of the left, not so much because of the reporting or comment but because they are ‘owned by Americans.’
Back to the Palestine announcement, unstated is the fact that now in Canada there are over 1.8 million Muslims in Canada as of the 2021 census versus 335,000 Jews. What seems obvious is the trend for the Muslims to be more vocal and or violent then the Jews as well. I can not speak to the block voting trends of these demographics but I think one can draw inference from the announcement which group the Government thinks more important. This does not speak of principle to me, simply political theatre designed to garner votes.
Let us take a look at the announcement that the Government is finally moving forward with the gun buyback scheme of the last Government. Here again most news is not talking about the story of how the Minister in charge of the program, the Safety Minister, is overheard to be telling a constituent his real thoughts. Those are that the program is ridiculous and simply moving forward to appease a portion of the Quebec Liberal vote. That he knows it has nothing to do with improving the safety of Canadians. Even with this knowledge in the public sphere our PM announced his support of the program moving forward. So more theatre.
Surely though Mr. Average Canadian, you must be impressed about the five Nation building projects our Government recently announced. From the doubling of an existing project for liquid natural gas to enlarging the container port of Montreal each of these projects were already on the books, nor are any really significant. Sure we can expand the Kitimat LNG facility but without more gas to supply it how does that help? An already under development copper mine in Saskatchewan? Sure, copper is important so why not announce a new mine?
Ontario gets the upgrade of the Darlington nuclear facility put on the list. This was already being fast tracked as it is described as the newest most important for of nuclear energy. The Small Modular Reactor, which by the way a Carney company Westinghouse is at the forefront of the technology, will they benefit? Well the news will not report it. What about the Port of Montreal? A major port no doubt with rail lines to the rest of Canada. A worthy endeavour you say. Except that the St. Lawrence river channel to Montreal is to shallow nor is it upgradable for the Panamax container ships needed to make the port viable against competitive east coast ports in the US.
And then we have the Energy East project on Nova Scotia. An enormous project that is said to be able to deliver one quarter of all expected energy needs for Canada when complete. What wonderful news, except if you look at how to get the electricity from Nova Scotia to the rest of Canada. I can not even begin to guestimate the transmission loses sending power for coast to coast. Nor could I guess as to the reaction of Quebec, which this power must flow through to the rest of Canada. Having already lost a court battle over the Churchill Falls project I would expect the Government there to put up a considerable fight.
This does not even begin to touch on some issues with these projects. No where in media is there discussion of the long term affects of these wind turbines in the ocean. The deleterious hydrophonic noise generated by these generators creates virtual undersea deserts devoid of animal life. The noise can not be tolerated by the marine life in the area that vastly surrounds these wind farms. And our East Coast fisheries will be devastated by the installation of these colossal abominations. But the theatre is amazing.
This Average Canadian remembers all the stories read and when one of these theatre pieces is foisted upon us context is generally immediate. Not so it seems with a large component of the populace. Face value is what most people see with these announcements . Which is the hope of those making them.