Post-postnationalism
Shortly after the Trudeau election victory in 2015 Fearless leader announced Canada was to be the first post-national state. Many folks, myself included wondered just what a post national state is. From my perspective it seemed to be a devaluing of what Canada was.
The past ten years have seen how this concept has been implemented into our governments priorities. From the apologies to aboriginal groups to the dilution of our culture and heritage by proclamation and historical revision, all levels of government are participating in this exercise of debasement. No government program of the past half century has done more to damage the fabric of what Canada is then the unchecked levels of immigration into our land.
I am not a xenophobe, nor am I a racist. What I am is someone who for 60 years now has watched as the government encouraged more and more folks from cultures unlike ours and then told them their heritages were important to foster and keep. The definition of multiculturalism. They told us, starting with Trudeau the first, that this multicultural salad bowl was a much better way to grow a country than a melting pot. In truth what it has seemed to do is keep people separate which then allows for instilling fear. And the fear keeps them voting a certain way.
I had a business with a group of Punjabis. I was part of Phatboy Fireworks and in the seven years I spent working with these men I learned a great deal about their political beliefs as we talked endlessly about current events. Al of the guys I worked with were second generation. Many had kids, gen three. I worked with many of them as well. I had the opportunity to meet their folks as well.
What I gleaned for this was how voting preferences involved generational change. The original imigrees usually voted for the party that was responsible for them coming to Canada. Which most is the Liberal Party. They would be told that a vote for the Conservatives was a vote to be sent home. And as they were directed to cultural ghetto’s with the rest of their emigrating countrymen they would not interact with multi-generation Canadians to understand how welcome they were.
Second generation members of these families started businesses after going to school with other Canadians. While maintaining a great deal of their heritage they also took on the values of hard work and business that makes Canada a great place. They understood the value of low taxation and business deregulation as the culture was one of entrepreneurship. And they voted the way of this, discarding the fears of their parents. They enrolled their kids in hockey, sent them to trade schools or university trying to install the ethic of hard work and advancement they had themselves.
This second generation swing away from from the liberals also seems to be in play in the US with second gen and later latino voters moving toward the right politically as well. Of course this poses a problem for Liberal governments and so ever greater numbers of immigrants are brought into the country to ensure the vote. It cannot be for any other reason as the results of this increased immigration are showing to be disastrous for both the economy and for the Canadian Identity.
I identify as a Canadian. I have a mishmash of European genetics but being here for multiple generations with family fighting past wars on behalf of Canada is the only heritage I know. I grew up proud of being a Canadian, still am for the most part, I love my country and am sickened by the debasement of what it means to be Canadian. This idea that there is no common element of what a Canadian is not only is not true, but creates great issues for future generations. What is it to aspire for or believe in. How could you ever fight for something that you are told does not exist.
Elbows up, the enemy is to the south of us we are told. We are not told that the real issue is our own government. Over spending our money on pet projects or this ridiculous idea that reconciliation will solve the ‘First Nations’ issues. Honestly, when has showing money at a problem actually solved it.
We do not screen those we allow into our country it seems. The hatreds of other places are being moved here to Canada. Parliament is filled with first and second generation immigrants who now promote their radical ideas and hate with our government. Feckless leader donning the garb of a separatist movement and dancing like a fool only irritates other governments. Our current leaders recognition of terrorist organizations trying to form a country at the expense of another further contributes to this idea that Canada is no longer a serious country.
President Biden made the observation that it is difficult to buy something at a convenience store if you do not speak Indian. No one appreciated Joe saying this although the underlying fact is that immigrants do make up a significant portion of those working in such establishments. Here in Canada convenient stores, gas stations, motels and fast food establishments are predominantly staffed by recent immigrants. Jobs that used to be the domaine of the high school or university student are now roles expected to help run households.
Bringing a million or more new people into the country without our values create many issues that we are seeing explode. Costs of housing these folks drives up the costs of living spaces. A multi-family house is very normal nowadays, not just multigenerational, but several whole families. Easily this drives up the costs of houses as when you have 6-10 incomes paying the mortgage things are much easier.
Our healthcare has experience a double issue, the late 90’s had our reducing the number of potential doctors admitted to med school, now the lack of doctors with the explosion of population means a crisis exists in our healthcare industry. If we do produce a new doctor the lure of big dollars in the US exists to draw them away. I just thank God that the doctors that look after me all decided stay to here in Canada.
There are now signs though that something is changing. Government speaking to reducing immigration numbers. The US Vice-President calling out the policies of immigration as the problem here in Canada. The US State Department issuing a statement that unchecked immigration is the greatest threat to western societies. There is a way to go here in Canada before we can claim some sort of change is under way.
Our current feckless leader tells us we need to be more European. I do not know what that means. Is that unfettered immigration from countries that hate our way of life? Is that greater government regulation? Are we supposed to be whiter? (Not) Are we supposed to be poorer? Why not a different message, why not tell us to be more Canadian. To find our similarities instead of our differences. To begin the process of creating a truly Canadian Identity. Personally if a leader of a party here in Canada started pitching that message I would likely overlook other aspects of the message and buy into this one.
People want someone who believes that the country is great and will have better times. This message that we must sacrifice is not a winner. The messaging that we are somehow a bad peoples is not a winning message. Enough with the negative messaging. It is time to move to a message of National Pride. Speak to who we are and what we can be. Win me over with confidence in tomorrow. Some might call it pie in the sky thinking.
I believe it is called hope.