During the past week, millions of Canadians have gone to the advance polls to vote in the federal election. Millions more will vote on election day as they weigh in on who can best lead Canada through some of the greatest challenges this country has faced in more than a generation. All signs are pointing to a record turnout. Most Canadians recognize that this election will be consequential and potentially a game-changer.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s attacks against Canada’s economy and sovereignty have woken most of us up and made us realize that the ‘same old, same old’ may not work anymore and that we, as a nation, need to speak with one unified voice in dealing with the challenges we face.
Yet there are those among us who would oppose Canadian unity and use the current sovereignty issues we face for their own purposes. In that context, I am reminded of an old comic strip, no longer published, called Pogo. In one of those strips, Pogo announces: “I have met the enemy, and he is us.”
A recent case in point is statements made by Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet. He has called Canada an “artificial country” and a “post-national state.” At the same time, he has called Quebec “a proud nation.” He has stated that Canada is a “hollow project with no soul and that Canada itself, “means very little.” How is that for Canadian unity?
No doubt, much of this rhetoric is aimed at Quebec Separatists to encourage them to vote for the Bloc Québécois in the national election. But it is divisive at a time when we desperately need cohesiveness, and it plays right into the hands of those who would weaken Canada and attack our sovereignty.
Indeed, I have often wondered why a separatist party, with only one goal in mind and with disdain for the rest of the country, is in Canada’s Parliament where every Canadian should be treated equally and with respect, most importantly, in that institution.
Blanchet himself has said that he feels “like a foreigner” in Canada’s Parliament. Sadly, I agree with that. If he is a separatist, he has no place there. Would you let someone into your house if their stated intention was to destroy it? Why then let them into the House of Commons?
There are many Canadians in Western Canada too, who feel they get a raw deal from our national government. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has capitalized on this, cozying up to U.S. President Trump and sending signals that a referendum on separation is not off the table in her province.
Whoever receives a mandate and becomes prime minister after this federal election has a massive job ahead when it comes to Canadian unity. Without that, we are weak, providing those who would challenge Canada’s sovereignty and effectiveness as a nation with the ammunition we should not want them to have.
There are some who believe that we overreact to Donald Trump’s threats and tariffs against Canada. I am not one of those. Trump cannot get it out of his head that Canada should become part of the United States. He views the United States and Canada as not unlike the relationship between Russia and Ukraine. He wants to exploit Canada’s natural resources, badly needed by the United States, without having to pay for them.
Although attempts have been made to shut Trump up about making Canada the 51st American state, it has not worked. We now know that he brought it up with Prime Minister Mark Carney when they talked a few weeks ago. We also know that only a day or two ago, when asked on Airforce One about his views on Canadian sovereignty, Trump doubled down on his belief that Canada should become part of the United States.
Some American right-wing media also back Trump when he takes on Canada. Sean Hannity, an anchor on Fox News, who could well have Donald Trump on speed dial, is reported to have said this: ”I kind of like the idea of Greenland and Canada joining the United States. I think we should invite them in and if they resist, conquer them.”
These statements should not be taken lightly. The government of the United States has made direct threats against Canada and its sovereignty. No Prime Minister of Canada can effectively deal with these threats, if Canada itself is divided.
Canada is a diverse society. That is good and it brings out the best in Canadian culture. But there is a difference between diversity and divisiveness, and it is the latter that must be addressed.
We need to open up Provincial barriers to trade. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador have already signed a memorandum of agreement toward that as have Ontario and Nova Scotia. That is a good start, but we need free trade among all Canadian provinces and territories.
Oil and gas are major natural resource in Canada. There are countries that still require both and we need to find better ways to get these natural resources to market. To his credit, the Premier of Quebec has opened the door to a pipeline, saying it would depend on a referendum by citizens in that province.
Donald Trump has said that the United States does not need anything from Canada. But we know that they do. Conversely, Canada has depended too much on the United States, and we must now learn to stand on our own two feet, with new trading partners, fresh allies, and out-of-the-box initiatives.
This can only be accomplished with a united Canada, yes, a vast country often with different priorities and points of view, but also with a common thread of what it means to be a Canadian. We need to cherish that connection, find ways to move forward together with a united purpose, and we need to stop competing and fighting with each other.
Until we do that, Canadian disunity will indeed be a threat to our sovereignty, and those who wish Canada ill will have the upper hand. Pogo will have been posthumously right.
We have found the enemy, and it is us.
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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In fact Western Canada has received a great deal from the Trudeau liberals.
The Liberals delivered on expanding infrastructure to enable oil and gas sales to Asia which diversifies trade and rapidly strengthens our economy.
LNG will start to flow this year to Asia from a new terminal in Kitimat BC.
The costly TMX pipeline that the feds bought means:
“Since the pipeline opened, the price differential between Canadian and U.S. crude oil has also narrowed, lately falling to under $10 a barrel, down from around $18 to $20 a barrel in the past decade. Canadian producers tend to fetch a cheaper price for their oil because it’s heavier and harder to refine, but having access to more diverse markets has helped reduce the discount on Canadian oil. “That’s huge,” said Trevor Tombe, economics professor at the University of Calgary. ”
Enabling sales to Asia, and not entirely the US, means Canadian oil went up in price for every barrel produced. More infrastructure to enable more lucrative sales are in the works.
First let each province export the resources ptovided, the previous Liberal government locked up Albertas oil and gas industry. Be aware of and partmer with the struggles and issues with the people in Canada, help where hrlp is needed. If a program is successful use it elsewhere. Loke the addiction issue. Alberta is showing the best success rate for addiction being defeated. USE IT!!
Thanks Hugh for challenging every newly elected member of parliament to act together as Trustees of Our Canada to ensure the success of our democracy and a safe and productive and peaceful life for all citizens. Canada has a great future.
Unity, like divisiveness, is driven by the Federal Government. Canada was divided long before Trump came on the scene as a result of policies forced on us by a Party with a little over 30% support from Canadians. That Party showed little to no accountability to the other 70%.
Last night’s election was always going to be a two horse race, outside of Quebec, The minority Liberals need to recognize that reality and govern accordingly. If, as has been the case for the last 10 years, personal agendas, minorities and foreign interests are supported with our tax dollars, while almost 50% of Canadians are not listened to, then we will continue to be divided, and the country may also break apart entirely.