Tag Archives: Justin Trudeau

Canada: Refugees and CETA

20 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by in Canada, European Union, Terrorism

≈ 2 Comments

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Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers assist a child from a family that claimed to be from Sudan as they walk across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Canada, from Champlain in New York. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

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http://ca.reuters.com/news/pictures/articleslideshow?articleId=CAKBN15W2GN&channelName=topNews#a=1

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/02/18/hemmingford-quebec-rcmp-refugees-asylum-border-photo_n_14842790.html (video)

Crossing the Border

The picture above shows a topsy-turvy world. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer is helping a family cross the U.S.-Canada border. An American border patrol, not shown, is trying to prevent them from entering Canada. They had to go through a gully where they had thrown their belongings. Without the help of the police they could not have entered Canada.

Both the American border patrol and the RCMP officer were doing what they had to do. One should keep in mind that the United States has welcomed people fleeing persecutions and oppression for most of its history. One of our WordPress colleagues remarked that the United States had been a lighthouse, a beacon, to the world. It is inhabited by immigrants and descendants of immigrants, many of whom are or have become prominent Americans.

Matters will be remedied, because Mr Trump’s policies are not “American.” They are a violation of the American Constitution. I watched a video showing a man carrying signatures, a petition, from people who are asking that Mr Trump be impeached.

For the time being, Canadians have been asked to shelter refugees who could be the victims of a particularly harsh winter day. I doubt that this reflects a formal policy, but one rescues people who endangered by a harsh winter and could be deported. However, one also dials 9-1-1 and informs the police.

Islamophobia

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/protest-us-consulate-islamophobia-white-supremacy-1.3967434

Many Canadians are protesting against President Trump’s Islamophobia. However, Canada has not escaped a degree of Islamophobia. One Canadian killed 6 Muslims and wounded 5. Investigators reported that Alexandre Bissonnette, the Quebec City shooter, could not be associated to a terrorist organization. He had been influenced by the media as his Facebook accounted reflected. He admired Donald J Trump, the President of the United States, and Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s Front National. The shooting was investigated immediately and the shooter could not be linked to an Islamic terrorist group. Certain individuals would have liked to link the brutal attack on Muslims in Quebec City to an Islamic terrorist group.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-city-mosque-gun-shots-1.3957686

Justin Trudeau travels to Europe

  • CETA
  • NATO

On Thursday, 16 February 2017, Justin Trudeau was in Strasbourg, France, where he addressed the European Parliament, which had ratified the Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA). CETA had been discussed since 2013, when it was proposed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Mr Trudeau’s predecessor. The agreement had to be modified in order to be ratified by the European Union, hence the delay. CETA must now be passed by the Canadian Parliament (the House of Commons) and approved by Canada’s Senate.

President Trump is promoting protectionism, which places limits on free trade. Canadians promote free trade between Canada and the European Union. However, CETA was not negotiated to oppose President Trump. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Chancellor Angela Merkel

Chancellor Merkel will commit a larger financial contribution to NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (l’Organisation du Traité de l’Atlantique Nord, OTAN). However, Canada will not. It will contribute otherwise. NATO is a military alliance.  He met with German Angela Merkel on Friday morning.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany Friday, February 17, 2017. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-angela-merkel-germany-1.3987562

Chancellor Merkel was close to former American president Barack Obama. Whether or not she will be close to Prime Minister Trudeau remains to be seen, but they had a congenial meeting and she gave him of photograph showing Trudeau père and 10-year-old Justin during a trip to Germany. When leaders talk, ordinary citizens live in a safer world.

Later on Friday, Canada’s prime minister was honoured at Hamburg’s St. Matthew’s Banquet, a black tie and tuxedo event. The Prime Minister did not speak about Mr Trump. However, when asked about Mr Trump, he was reassuring. He has been labelled the Anti-Trump. Not quite. Canada, however, has become home to 40,000 refugees from the Middle East: Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans. (See European migrant crisis, Wikipedia.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/02/17/trudeau-hamburg-black-tie-gala_n_14824820.html

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, Hamburg Mayor Olaf Scholz, right, and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, left, pose for photographers at city hall in Hamburg, Germany, on Friday. Trudeau later gave a speech talking about warding off populist anger by addressing middle-class anxiety. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

Conclusion

During the past week, there were attempts to build bridges. The European Union was weakened by the European migrant crisis, which began in 2015. Brexit showed that people tend to fold up if they feel threatened. Nativism arises. The more salient example of this kind of behaviour is the 2016 American Election. Barring Muslims from entering the United States invites further radicalization and terrorism.

ISIL is a reality, but ISIL is an Islamic terrorist organization. Saying that all Muslims are terrorists is false and it is dangerous. So is building a wall to keep Mexicans out. It is divisive. The better path could be to boost the Mexican economy.

Love to everyone ♥

Homemade music video for Salve Regina by Arvo Pärt. Performed by The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Conducted by Paul Hillier.
(Images: Sátántangó, 1994)

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The Charitable Samaritan by Rembrandt, 1638 (WikiArt)

© Micheline Walker
20 February 2017
WordPress

Justin Trudeau goes to Washington, P.S.

17 Friday Feb 2017

Posted by in Canada, Refugees, United States

≈ 8 Comments

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Prime Minister Trudeau in Washington (MSN)

Concerns: the Environment

After posting my article about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Washington, I started feeling uneasy. Had I intimated that I supported President Trump? No, I fear Mr Trump and Canadians feared the first meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Trump. Would Mr Trudeau sell the country? No, but Canada is a signatory of the Paris Agreement. Yet, Trudeau and members of his government agreed to re-open the Keystone XL Pipeline. That worried me. Would our prime minister agree to another arrangement that could cause an environmental accident? The pipeline is in need of repairs. Will this be done? With respect to climate change, experts have determined that we are about two minutes before midnight. (See Doomsday Clock, Wikipedia.)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/what-canada-agreed-to-in-paris/article27742735/

Washington: a Successful Meeting

Prime Minister Trudeau managed his first meeting with President Trump successfully. He achieved this victory by stating that he had not travelled to Washington to “lecture” President Trump on how to govern. He also stated that Canada and the United States had lived in harmony on their respective side of a border that stretches from sea to sea. Canada’s motto is A Mari usque ad Mare (see the Canadian Encyclopedia). Moreover, Americans and Canadians had fought together and died together on various battlefields. D-Day is the foremost example of a combined effort. In short, we have respected one another so Canadians have earned the right to welcome refugees while fighting terrorism.

“One swallow does not a summer make”

No, I have not turned into a supporter of Mr Trump. I fear Mr Trump and reject his belief that all Muslims are terrorists.

However, until President Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met, I believed that solidarity and résistance were the United States’ and the world’s only way of surviving the Trump era. One swallow does not a summer make, but last Monday I saw a relaxed and happy Mr Trump. He was not the man who had been issuing no end of executive orders, as though he did not have an administration and the United States had lost its government. But there had been a dialogue and an acceptance of differences. In other words, Canada could continue to welcome refugees.

Many refugees have now entered Canada illegally and to my knowledge, none have been returned. Two men were outside in the bitter cold when finally a trucker stopped and picked them up. The trucker called 9-1-1. The men were frost-bitten and no one can enter Canada illegally.

To my knowledge, however, refugees have not been returned, but Canada has to amend its immigration legislation to accommodate circumstances it did not expect. President Trump’s Islamophobia and xenophobia are driving people out of the United States.

At the moment, refugees to Canada are applying for refugee status after entering Canada. The Canadian government has yet to amend its immigration laws, so applying after entering is a temporary policy. Authorities are also making arrangements so frost-bitten refugees can be hospitalized at no cost.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/13/americas/refugees-flee-united-states-for-canada/index.html

Conclusion

No, I have not become a Trump supporter, but it would be my opinion that Justin Trudeau shaped events skillfully. There are times when humans are powerless and times when humans can configure reality. At the moment, Canadians are probably configuring reality.

However will President Trump stop building a wall to keep Mexicans out of the United States ? Will he stop thinking that all Muslims are terrorists and attempt to prevent them from entering the United States, in defiance of the American Constitution and the decision of courts. I don’t know and we don’t know.

On Wednesday, President Trump asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to “hold back” on settlements and told him that it was for the Israeli and the Palestinians to decide whether they would be one state or two states.

“I’m looking at two-state and one-state and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like,” he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israeli-settlements-trump-presidency-1.3983943

Love to everyone ♥

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Nocturne Opus N° 2 – Frédéric Chopin

aamq7r6©Micheline Walker
17 February 2017
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A Quebec Incident

24 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by in Bilingualism, Canada

≈ 8 Comments

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question during a town hall in Sherbrooke, Que. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/trudeau-town-hall-sherbrooke-quebec-public-questions-1.3940058

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister, was in Sherbrooke last Tuesday, 17 January 2017. There was a town hall meeting and both French-speaking and English-speaking Quebecers were in attendance.

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https://slmc.uottawa.ca/?q=english_french_legal

The Incident

  • Quebec is officially unilingual
  • Interculturalism vs Multiculturalism
  • Bill 22 and Bill 101: language laws

There was an incident. An English-speaking woman asked a question in English, but Trudeau answered in French. French is Quebec’s official language but outside Montreal, inhabited by citizens of the world, Quebecers’ everyday language is French. Prime Minister Trudeau was criticized for answering in French.

Justin Trudeau speaks only French at Sherbrooke town hall, despite English questions – Montreal – CBC News

Canada is an officially bilingual, bicultural and multicultural country, but Quebec is an officially French-language province promoting interculturalism. Interculturalism is a form of multiculturalism, but not altogether. It encourages interaction and a “cross-cultural dialogue.”  Interculturalism’s theoretician is philosopher Martha Nussbaum. Interculturalism recognizes a common bond between all human beings despite different cultural customs. (See Interculturalism, Wikipedia.)

Quebec is officially unilingual because the survival of the French language is threatened in North America. French-Canadians are a minority and most live in Quebec and in the Maritime Provinces. To protect itself, not only is Quebec unilingual, but it has language laws.

Quebec declared itself an officially unilingual province by virtue of its Official Language Act (Bill 22), passed in 1974. Two years later, in 1976, the province elected the Parti Québécois, a separatist party. On 26 August 1977, the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) was voted into law and granted Royal assent. Several English-speaking Canadians had started leaving Quebec after the October Crisis of 1970, quelled by Trudeau père. English-speaking Canadians left Quebec:

https://prezi.com/djlgz8m7innt/quebec-1980-and1995-quebec-sovereignty-referendum/

Education

Quebec unilingualism and attendant language laws are reflected in its education system.

  • Children whose parents are English-Canadians may attend an English-language school.
  • It may be possible for a child born to French-speaking parents outside Quebec to be educated in English, but the child may have to attend a French-language school.
  • It is also possible for a child born to mixed parents, such as an English-speaking father born outside Quebec and a French-Canadian mother, born in Quebec, to be educated in English, but problems may arise. The child may have to attend a French-language school.

Language laws also apply in other areas. For instance, a driver is unlikely to see the word “stop,” a French word, on a Quebec stop sign. Moreover, overhead monitors providing traffic information are unilingual. That’s dangerous.

In other words, while they may ensure the survival of a French-language Quebec, the language laws are a hindrance. Out of the 10 Canadian provinces, only New Brunswick is officially bilingual. The only officially bilingual province of Canada is New Brunswick and the only officially unilingual province of Canada is Quebec. Its official language is French.

In the remaining 9 provinces, children may attend an English-language school, a French-language school or a French “immersion” school. Many English-speaking children learn French at an immersion school. To my knowledge, there is no such thing as an English immersion school.

http://www.montrealites.ca/education/bilingualism-the-english-immersion-project.html#.WId8dRsrLIU

Other Facts

Quebec has not signed the patriated constitution, or Constitution Act of 1982, which was signed by other provinces and the federal government on 17 April 1982. Quebec asked to be able to veto Amendments to the Constitution of Canada, which may explain its refusal to sign. (See Quebec Veto Reference, Wikipedia.) However, although Quebec did not sign the Constitution Act of 1982, Quebecers are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,  embedded in the Constitution Act of 1982.

Because Quebec has not signed the Constitution Act of 1982, its Health Insurance Card is not accepted outside Quebec, but hospitalization costs are covered. The Health Insurance Card of residents of other provinces are valid in Quebec. This problem will be solved when Quebec signs the Constitution Act of 1982, which Quebec Premier Dr Philippe Couillard intends to do.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/philippe-couillard-tells-stephen-harper-he-wants-quebec-to-sign-constitution-1.2758043

http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/417814/couillard-harper

Paying income tax to both the Quebec government and Canada may also be an irritant. But I should point out that Quebecers are eligible for services not covered in other provinces, such as daycare. The cost of daycare has now been increased, but minimally.

Trudeau père was a blessing to French-Canadians living outside Quebec. He fashioned an officially bilingual and bicultural Canada. Suddenly, one could watch Ici Radio-Canada, the French language counterpart of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (the CBC), from coast to coast. French immersion schools became fashionable. It was a brave new world. Trudeau père was also a blessing to immigrants. We are a multicultural country. No one is a foreigner.

Rights and Reality

Ironically, it is unlikely that in a province other than Quebec, a person could ask a question in French and expect the question to be answered in French. There are exceptions, but English is spoken in 9 of the 10 Canadian provinces, so French-speaking Canadians living outside Quebec may have the “right” to ask a question in French but, unless they are addressing Prime Minister Trudeau or a bilingual political leader, they may not be answered in French, particularly if most persons in at a gathering speak English. If the question is asked in French, both the question and the answer may have to be translated into English. Outside Quebec and Canada’s national capital, Ottawa, the majority of Canadian citizens speak English.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/news/quebec-language-laws/

Theory and Practice

I would not dare say that French-speaking citizens living outside Quebec are victimized, but there can be no doubt that certain theories cannot be put into practice other than exceptionally. Many Canadians are bilingual but most communicate in English rather than French.

But it is possible for English-speaking residents of Quebec to spend their entire life in Quebec without ever needing to learn English.

The 17 January 2017 town hall meeting was held in an officially French-language province. As a Canadian, the lady whose question, asked in English, was answered in French had the “right” to expect being answered in English and could have asked the Prime Minister to do so. It was an informal venue. But the problem is elsewhere. Canada is bilingual, but the province of Quebec is unilingual. So what does one do?

—ooo—

The truth is that Trudeau is very respectful of English-speaking Canadians. His mother is an English-speaking Canadian and Trudeau is very fond of Queen Elizabeth II. It should also be noted that he speaks French and English very fluently. I prefer not to throw stones at him for supposedly letting down English-speaking Canadians living in Quebec. He has not betrayed his father who made this country bilingual, bicultural and multicultural. I would say that he got caught between a rock and a hard place. Had he spoken in English, he could also have been criticized.

All I fear is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be intimidated by President Trump.

Love to everyone ♥

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Justin Trudeau (AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI)

http://blogs.canoe.com/davidakin/politics/trudeaus-delightful-toast-to-our-queen-and-her-delightful-response/

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Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Yousuf Karsh)

© Micheline Walker
24 January 2017
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Tchaikovsky‘s Old French Song

 

 

 

The Arctic: Paul Nicklen

22 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by in Election 2016, United States

≈ 3 Comments

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Photo by Paul Nicklen

Paul Nicklen on the Arctic

Following the publication of my last post, I received information from Paul Nicklen, a scientist and a photographer for Sea Legacy and National Geographic magazine. The document Mr Nicklen sent me was on official White House stationary and, I suspect, many individuals were sent a copy. It was signed in the following manner.

Paul Nicklen
Wildlife Photojournalist
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia, Canada.

The document seemed private, which may no longer be the case.

The link below took me to Mr Nicklen’s fascinating but alarming account of the Arctic and the word “yesterday” was the day before yesterday, probably 20 December 2016. The following is a link to the document, but the document inserted itself at the bottom of my post automatically:

Yesterday, President Obama designated vast portions of the United States’ Arctic Ocean as indefinitely off limits for future oil and gas leasing.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/president-obama-issues-permanent-arctic-213340950.html

I am not a scientist. Therefore I cannot speak personally and accurately about the effects of global warming in the Arctic. I have to rely on the testimonial of experts. All I know is that the Arctic is very rich, but I have now read that:

“The danger of an oil spill would deliver a fatal blow to this pristine and critically important ecosystem.”

Mr Nicklen wrote:

“As a scientist, what I know about the Arctic is terrifying. Currently, it’s warming twice as fast as anywhere else on the planet. As a photographer, I can observe and document these effects first-hand: receding glaciers, struggling wildlife populations, and cities impacted by rising sea levels.

And as the landscape changes, driven by climate change, I am watching the Arctic region become increasingly vulnerable. In particular, we should see the rapid disappearance of sea ice here for what it is: a sign of imminent and catastrophic change. The danger of an oil spill would deliver a fatal blow to this pristine and critically important ecosystem.”

But — with the leadership of President Obama — we’ve taken a step forward.”

I gather that, given the above, Mr Putin cannot come in and drill. The Arctic may be very rich, but it is “off limits” for excellent reasons. We cannot kill the Arctic because we would lose what it has to give. There would be no remedy. In other words, it’s a “Poule aux œufs d’or” (Hen with the Golden Eggs) narrative. (See RELATED ARTICLES.)

Privatization

  • good and bad
  • education, an example
  • healthcare
  • global warming

The Trump presidency will affect Americans in many ways, but, first and foremost, we must expect privatization. In this regard, citizens of the United States must act. In certain areas, privatization will not be harmful to citizens, but in others, it could wreak havoc.

For instance, limits must be put on the privatization of education. An education cannot be the privilege of the rich. A good education is an extraordinary tool in that it gives everyone more freedom. For instance, it allows informed voting, which was needed on 8 November 2016. The 2016 American Election was so flawed we can call it a disgrace!

However, everything has to be put into perspective and we must then go from plan A to plan B.

Healthcare, for instance, is a “right.” Taxes buy protection and safety. They also buy a good education or job-training,  adequate housing and, as we advance, they may also guarantee a universal minimum income.

The well-to-do can also buy safe and effective contraceptives, a vasectomy, tubal ligation, a hysterectomy and an abortion when it constitutes a medical imperative, which is why the Ohio “Heartbeat” Bill is a slap in the face for women belonging the middle-class and poor women. It is the beginning of serious cuts in health-care legislation and must not be voted into law. A five-year old is too young to carry a child. (See Lina Medina, Wikipedia.)

However, if Insurance Companies have a monopoly on healthcare, the United States will be stepping back to an era where cancer was considered a pre-existing condition and the sick were left to die in pain. An insurance company’s first goal is a profit. They are in business. The same is true of pharmaceutical companies.

Mr Trump has stated that he does not “believe in” global warming. Well, global warming is not a matter of faith (I believe in); it is a matter of fact. If the United States does not protect the environment, the world will not survive. This would be the ultimate genocide.

Canada and the United States: an Agreement

On 10 March 2016, Canada signed an agreement with the United States concerning the Arctic and the environment:

http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2016/03/10/us-canada-joint-statement-climate-energy-and-arctic-leadership

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama hold a joint press conference in Washington, D. C.

Conclusion

As I surfed the Internet yesterday, I saw a comment that caught my attention. Mr Trump likes Russian President Vladimir Putin because he is a good “leader.” What does Mr Trump mean? Mr Trump would have liked to silence the press, a freedom the press will not abandon. Mr Trump may also intimidate a few leaders, but all he does will be screened by the press.  Freedom of speech will never have been so free and focused. Moreover, it will still be the government of the people by the people.

Mr Trudeau fils should perhaps remember his father Pierre Trudeau‘s words:

“Living next to you [the US] is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.”

  • « Être votre voisin, c’est comme dormir avec un éléphant; quelque douce et placide que soit la bête, on subit chacun de ses mouvements et de ses grognements. »
  • Addressing the Press Club in Washington, D.C. (25 March 1969)

The Latest in Canada

Canada freezes arctic drilling.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-22/imperial-oil-bp-in-limbo-after-canada-freezes-arctic-drilling

Love to everyone ♥

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Sources and Resources

—ooo—

seals

A Seal by Paul Nicklen

© Micheline Walker
22 December 2016
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View at Medium.com

 

Tomorrow, 19 October 2015

18 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by in Canada

≈ Comments Off on Tomorrow, 19 October 2015

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Justin Trudeau (Photo credit: Google Images)

http://globalnews.ca/news/2283565/the-home-stretch-last-day-for-campaigning-in-the-42nd-federal-election/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/what-the-liberals-economic-plan-would-mean-for-canada/article26838610/

The Platform

Whether or not Justin Trudeau is elected Prime Minister of Canada, he has turned a page in the history of Canada. Throughout his campaign, Trudeau has focused on one issue: prosperity for Canadians, which is the real issue at the moment.

The Globe and Mail, Canada’s leading English language newspaper, reports that, if the Liberals are elected into office under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, Canada’s government will be more “interventionist” than prior governments. This is what circumstances are calling for.

The Children

Trudeau’s Liberals have identified the main issue. Too many children live in poverty, which is unacceptable. As a responsible leader, Trudeau will address this problem immediately. The cost of living is so high that it is taking away from the children of the nation nutritious food, a good roof, the means to purchase sport equipment, musical instruments, art supplies, and the funds to receive a proper education or job training. The cost of living should not be so high that a society finds itself compelled to take away from children the joy of childhood, a degree of that marvelous insouciance a child requires.

Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau has the figures for each city in Canada. He knows the number of children whose well-being is threatened at this very moment and he will help families now. If the government of Canada does not reach out to the people promptly, Canada will lose a generation.

Justin Trudeau has travelled the country and sent a clear message, a message so clear that Canadian political leaders have heard. One does not wait until the poor storm the barricades to reach out to those in need. One acts and one acts now.

Golden Years

It is in this regard that Mr. Trudeau has turned a page in the history of Canada whether or not he is elected to the office of Prime Minister of Canada. Or could it be that he is taking us back to golden years? When Lester B. Pearson was Prime Minister of Canada, he asked Allan J. MacEachen (b. 1921), the former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, to build social programs that would protect Canadians: health care, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, old age security and other programs. Mr. MacEachen devoted his entire life to the people of Canada, however humble, the humblest. At the moment, these programs need better funding. I believe Trudeau will be a people’s Prime Minister, that he will ensure the safety of all Canadians.

Wealth in Canada

Trudeau and other political leaders know that Canada has an enormous potential for growth. Therefore we plan and then we pounce. There is immense wealth in Canada.

I’ve just looked out my window. Snow is falling very gently, which brings to mind Voltaire‘s famous statement. New France was “a few acres of snow.” As I have written in a previous post, if one knows that Voltaire spoke “obliquely” in order to avoid being thrown in the Bastille, his statement could be an indictment of Louis XV. In other words, that statement could read that France was neglecting New France as though it were a mere “few acres of snow.”

At any rate, there is wealth beneath that snow, including oil. In fact, there could be diamonds. Quebec Premier Dr. Philippe Couillard is having a road built leading to the bountiful north. We must be realistic and not bank on what could be an insufficient quantity of diamonds, but let us look back at Canada’s legendary tireless voyageurs, who sang as they rowed.

There are other sources of wealth. For instance, we could build rapid-transit systems. Canada is a large country, but we have groups of cities and some cities extend over a large territory. Building a train ensured that Canada went from east to west, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Why not make it possible for students to go from Maple Ridge, British Columbia to the main campus, the very heart, of the University of British Columbia?

I cannot say this often enough. Human beings build the road to the future. It doesn’t just happen.

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The Supreme Court of Canada (La Cour suprême du Canada) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“My number is 9”

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/liberals-have-strong-momentum-as-election-day-nears-new-poll-finds

There was a particularly interesting moment in the campaign. Mr Mulcair introduced the subject of Canadian unity. Quebec has a secessionist party and the results of the last referendum, held in 1995, showed that Quebec was divided in two almost equal halves: 50.58% to 49.42%. (See Clarity Act, Wikipedia.)

That also sent a strong message, so strong that Ottawa had to be interventionist. It passed the Clarity Act of 15 March 2000. One vote cannot divide this country. If one vote could break this country, federalism would be brittle.

I missed some of that debate to a cluster migraine, but Mr Mulcair wanted a number, Mr Trudeau’s number. Mr Trudeau stopped and then stated unambiguously that his number was 9. Nine judges of the Supreme Court of Canada, i.e. all judges, ruled that one vote cannot divide this country.

United States President Bill Clinton was in attendance at the meeting that preceded the enactment of Bill C-20 (the Clarity Act), the Reference Re Secession of Quebec (Wikipedia). President Clinton stated the following (fourth line, “when…”):

But the Clarity Act would get a big boost during the closing speech by United States President Bill Clinton. While looking directly at Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard, who was present in the audience, Clinton appeared to echo the Supreme Court Reference, warning that “when a people thinks it should be independent in order to have a meaningful political existence, serious questions should be asked…. Are minority rights as well as majority rights respected? How are we going to co-operate with our neighbours?”. Clinton argued that federalism allows peoples seeking recognition of their identity a way to do so without isolating themselves in a nation-state. The speech would lay to rest any doubts about the U.S. position on the legality and desirability of unilateral secession in Quebec.
(See Clarity Act, Wikipedia)

Which takes us back to Mr. Trudeau’s platform. His priority is the economic well-being of Canadians, from coast to coast including Nunavut and the territories. (See Voter Information, Wikipedia.)

With my kindest regards. ♥

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© Micheline Walker
18 October 2015
WordPress

 

Choosing Canada’s Prime Minister: the Main Issue

08 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by in Canada, Federal Elections

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Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (Photo credit: Google images)

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/election/justin-trudeau-promises-to-sign-global-arms-treaty-1.2599194

http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/national-post-view-the-new-ndp-same-as-the-old

Canada votes on 19 October 2015 and I believe Mr. Justin Trudeau will be elected Prime Minister of Canada. Mr. Trudeau was in Sherbrooke, Quebec, on 6 October and I was in attendance.

The People

  • Poverty
  • The Middle-Class
  • Education vs retirement

I do not think Canadians have any choice but to elect a liberal government under the leadership of Justin Trudeau. Justin Trudeau is the voice of the people, which sets him apart from his contenders.

In particular, his enthusiasm gives Mr. Trudeau and members of his team the winning edge. Enthusiasm means “possessed by a god.” With all due respect, I see very little enthusiasm on the part of his contenders. They are in fact rather lethargic.

The Great Divide

  • enthusiasm
  • lethargy

I’ll call this discrepancy, i.e. enthusiasm versus lethargy, the great divide.

Canadians need an enthusiastic Prime Minister and, supporting him, energetic Members of Parliament. They need a leader who can see there is a future because he is ready to build one. The rallying cry of Trudeau’s team could be:

WE CAN AND WE WILL.

As for his contenders, they seem to have abdicated.

The Main Issue

Mr. Trudeau’s address was not about bilingualism and biculturalism. What a change. His address was about bread and butter issues.

Canada’s social programmes need better funding. The gap is growing wider between the rich and the poor. Too many families have to choose between educating their children and saving for retirement. Many Canadians, children and the elderly, in particular, live in poverty.

Therefore, it would be my opinion that, on 19 October 2015, Canadians will elect a government whose programme is greater prosperity for Canadian families. Canada is losing its middle-class.

Change

In short, it’s all about change. An apathetic government will not bring about changes. It will see obstacles where there are boundless possibilities. Obstacles can be turned into challenges. It’s a matter of perspective.

Justin Trudeau is the son of the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau and was brought up by his father. The manner was at times “unconventional.”

Justin Trudeau and his father, the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Justin Trudeau and his father, the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Photo credit: Google Images)

Justin Trudeau is not the polished intellectual his father was. We are looking at two different individuals. However, I see considerable determination on the part of the father depicted in the photograph featured above, and determination is what father and son have in common.

—ooo—

The candidates are:

My kindest regards to all of you. ♥

Sviatoslav Richter plays Maurice Ravel‘s “Jeux d’eau”

© Micheline Walker
7 October 2015
WordPress