Listen Up! Did the pandemic change things? | Commentary

I sometimes wonder whether the world and our particular place in it have been irrevocably changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am coming to the conclusion that they have. 

I am not sure why that is, but I believe people are angrier now, more concerned about their individual rights, more determined to challenge the status quo, less interested in global affairs, and considerably less concerned with the rule of law. 

Many people, especially younger people, see things differently than they did before the pandemic. Instant gratification and immediate reward are now serious contenders to the maxim that hard work and innovation are the keys to personal success. 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no particular shortage of people to fill existing job vacancies. Since then, however, finding individuals who are willing to work, especially in the service sector, although not only there, has been a serious problem.

Some businesses have closed, and others have had to modify their services simply because they cannot hire enough staff. Notices are posted in many establishments asking folks to be patient and not vent their frustration and anger on those employees who are actually prepared to work. 

Why is that? Where are these people? They were there before the pandemic. Where are they now? One must wonder if the financial relief provided during the pandemic turned into a disincentive for some people to return to work and a preference to rely on the public purse to support them. A shame if that’s the case. Such an approach does little to improve lives or the economy.

Canada, in my view, faces a number of serious challenges in the years ahead. Their resolution will not be determined on the basis of how things were prior to the pandemic but rather on the way things are now— a more populist approach to issues and a growing propensity to take to the streets to drive home their priorities and to effect change.

I doubt many people in Canada, certainly those outside the province of Quebec, have ever heard of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. But they soon will. He is the new charismatic leader of the Parti Quebecois, who has pledged to run on a platform of complete separation from Canada for Quebec in the next October 2026 provincial election. 

Some, of course, will shrug their shoulders and say, “It hasn’t worked before, and it won’t again”. But things are different now. 

For one thing, the Parti Quebecois, according to recent polls, is surging in that province. According to an article in Friday’s Toronto Star, there are increasingly strong odds that the PQ could return to power in Quebec.

Previous referendums have been ambiguous. But the new PQ leader has said that won’t happen in the next referendum. He says the question will mirror Article I of the PQ’s Charter, which says, “The Parti Quebecois aims to achieve the sovereignty of Quebec by making it an independent country.”  

So why would this referendum, if it comes, have any different result than the previous two? For one thing, in the last referendum held in 1995, the “NO” side hung on by their fingertips with a bare majority of 50.58 percent of the vote. On top of that potential base, circumstances have changed.  A referendum, if it occurs, would be held under post-pandemic conditions, where people are more inclined to reject the status quo and push very openly for change. 

With everything else going on these days, I doubt that the potential breakup of Canada is top of mind for too many people. Nevertheless, with the rise of a charismatic separatist leader in Quebec, that possibility could well raise its ugly head again. And, if it does, the changes in our society from pre-COVID to post-COVID could well pave the way to a much different outcome.

 It would diminish Canada, both domestically and on the world stage.  To me, that would be catastrophic on a number of levels, including our relationship with our behemoth of a neighbor immediately to our south (especially if you know who is President again). 

Another post-pandemic problem I have seen is a marked decrease in and lack of respect for the rule of law. It no longer seems to be the priority it once was in a democratic society.

 Bail reform, long overdue, allows some people back on the streets who should simply not be there, and we have seen the consequences of that. There are far too many vacancies for judges within our judicial system. As a result, numerous cases before the courts have been tossed out, and justice has not been served. There is no excuse for this, but it just doesn’t seem to be a priority anymore for our federal government.

Finally, there is the matter of chaos taking place across our entire country because peaceful demonstrations, a fundamental right in a democratic society, have morphed into something quite different and far more dangerous, disruptive and at times bordering on civil unrest. 

Much of this is taking place under the banner of pro-Palestinian protests, but it has become more than that, resulting in raw antisemitism, destruction of property, obstruction of highways and public institutions, and a complete disregard for the rule of law. 

In my view, these so-called demonstrations have also become a platform for those whose only goal is to spread discontent and chaos wherever they can, regardless of the issue.  My guess is that many of them couldn’t care less about what is happening in the Middle East and wouldn’t know where Palestine is if you asked them. They are just there for the party, and in my view, not enough is being done to shut them down. 

 I will always be a proud Canadian, and I do not believe our country is broken. But I do believe that many things have changed here since the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have many challenges ahead.

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.

Don’t miss out on Doppler!

Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!

Click here to support local news