Most people today, will not know of Hugh Maclennan. In his day, he was a well-known Canadian author. One of his best-selling novels, published in 1945, was Two Solitudes which dealt with the perceived lack of communication between English and French-speaking Canadians.
I was reminded of Maclennan and that book, which I studied in school, on Friday as I watched Canada Day activities in Ottawa, but for quite another reason than the differences between French-speaking and English- speaking Canadians.
The atmosphere in Ottawa this long weekend was festive but subdued. It was also significantly different than any other national Canada Day celebration that I can remember.
The good news is that the level of disruption and violence was not nearly as high as anticipated. This was due in part to much better preparedness by Ottawa police and Capital officials and also by a change in strategy by the so-called Freedom marchers.
On Thursday evening James Topp, a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who was fired for refusing to obey COVID-19 vaccination mandates, completed his cross-country march to the National War Memorial in Ottawa to protest those mandates.
At his side, as they marched toward the War Memorial, cheered on by hundreds of people, was Pierre Poilievre, the self-proclaimed leader of the ‘Freedom Movement’ and a front-running candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. As they surrounded the War Memorial, with ‘freedom’ and convoy memorabilia plentifully in evidence, it almost seemed to me like a victory march and an occupying force.
The next day in Ottawa, Canada Day, actually saw two major events marking that day—each competing with the other. The official Canada Day Celebration, traditionally held on Parliament Hill, was moved, primarily for security reasons, to a park several blocks away. A park that is little known outside of Ottawa.
Meanwhile, the so-called ‘Freedom Movement’ held their own celebration at the National War Memorial, a stone’s throw from Parliament Hill, with James Topp leading it off with our National Anthem.
The symbolism here, at least to me, is striking, if not chilling; a National Government’s recognition of Canada Day, moved away from Parliament Hill and those who oppose the government, some on record to over-throw it, celebrating on the edge of the seat of Parliament.
Although overall attendance in Ottawa on Canada Day was significantly down, it was also disturbing to see, judging by the naked eye, that attendance at these two events that ran simultaneously was pretty well equal.
I am sure that to most Canadians the biggest takeaway from celebrations in Ottawa this weekend was that there was minimal violence and disruption. To me, however, a closer look at what really took place there shines a new and somewhat frightening light on the relevance of “Two Solitudes,” in relation to Canadian culture.
We have a tug of war going on here and frankly, I do not know who is winning.
The ‘Freedom Movement,’ in my view, is not about freedom, and yet it is clearly gaining traction in Canada. It is a movement that challenges the right of government to make decisions in the national interest. Its tactics include misinformation and fostering fear, and it embraces extremism and Trumpism.
And if they ever do gain power, this movement would also want that same right to make decisions. They would likely fire the head of the Bank of Canada and radically change our monetary system. They would undermine many of our traditional Institutions. They would challenge or ignore scientific recommendations related to public health, and they would rank individual rights well ahead of the common good.
Recently, James Moore, a former Conservative Cabinet Minister said, “Importing toxic American culture wars on abortion, guns or race, into Canada in order to instigate fights between Canadians for partisan gain is indefensibly dangerous politics. It is cheap, splits communities and should be confronted and rejected.”
I agree with that assessment, but would add to the list the deliberate misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccinations and other mandates as well as the increase in civil unrest and the unfortunate need for increased security.
It regularly amazes me to read or hear of so many people who willingly embrace disinformation. Just this morning I saw this on social media: “I would never get on a plane with a pilot who has been vaccinated. People who have been vaccinated suddenly die with no warning at an alarming rate. It is only a matter of time that this will turn deadly. Shame on government for allowing this. This isn’t safe.”
Really? Do people believe this stuff? Are we that vulnerable to people who feed us this crap for their own political gain? I wonder. And I worry.
I am a proud Canadian. I continue to believe we are living in the best country in the world. I reject extremism and I fear we are heading in that direction on both the left and the right of the political spectrum. We are becoming increasingly polarized, and we are creating two solitudes in Canada that could inevitably clash with devastating consequences.
In my view, we desperately need a political middle ground in Canada. The Liberals with their NDP counterparts are moving too far to the left, and the Conservatives are courting right-wing extremism.
The battle for the heart and soul of the Conservative Party will play out in September. If, as anticipated, it elects an extremist leader, then perhaps the time will have come to consider the great void in the middle, where in my view, most Canadians are. Could that be a new political party?
Stay tuned.
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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