Canada. Once the envy of the world. Blessed by an abundance of natural resources and a climate not especially prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. A country with the lucky accident of geography having placed it next door to the most dynamic economy in the world, with much economic growth enjoyed as a result. Being linked with the U.S. also meant that we didn’t have to work too hard on our own defence as we knew the U.S. would step in if needed. Geography also meant we were oceans away from the trouble spots of the world, and for centuries remained largely immune from international crises because of that distance.
For decades, Canada had a reputation of punching above its weight in world conflict. In World War I, World War II and even the Korean war, Canada did more than its share to protect freedom and democracy than its relatively small size would indicate. Our country’s motto of “Peace, order and good government” seemed very fitting for such a strong contributor to global stability and strength.
Since those days, however, Canada is now viewed as an unreliable ally, being routinely left out of discussions of international groups such as the Five Eyes, of which Canada is technically a member. Foreign interference in Canada from harmful global regimes such as China and Russia have become commonplace in our elections and elsewhere as our electoral authorities acknowledge them but don’t do anything to act against them.
Most recently, we have seen senior Iranian officials from the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), named as a terrorist entity under the Canadian Criminal Code, entering Canada for refuge because our immigration system is so lax that even known terrorists have no problem getting into the country. For the last decade, Canada had a prime minister that seemed to believe showing off his socks to global leaders was more important than the serious topics discussed at international meetings.
Is it really any wonder that Canada is viewed as a laughingstock on the world stage these days? Lots of things happened to contribute to this, but the one notable development was bad government. The first Trudeau in the 1970s and 1980s made a splash on the international scene in terms of his extroverted character and bold style yet moved Canada closer to leftist regimes such as China and Cuba. Pierre Trudeau also introduced a significant expansion of the social safety net, such that many people who did not really need such support were enticed to seek it as work was less valued. This is always the case in socialist regimes, and the key reason why they have consistently failed throughout history.
Now we have a supposedly “new” government, yet with many of the same players who destroyed much of the promise of Canada over the last 10 years. It would almost be funny that the current Liberals are now trying to appear opposed to the very policies they put in place over the last decade, if it weren’t having such a negative impact on our country. It’s reminiscent of George Orwell’s amazingly prescient novel 1984, in which the government regularly rewrote history to dupe the masses into believing things that did not happen.
As Orwell wrote, “The final, most essential command is The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.” The most recent example of this happened just this past weekend when, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s cutting off trade negotiations with Canada, the Carney government responded by eliminating the Digital Services Tax (DST) after insisting for years that the tax was absolutely essential and positive for Canada. Carney himself said there was no way he would get rid of it because of Trump’s (and previously Biden’s) opposition to it. The Carney government is now stating how great it is that the tax they have insisted was necessary for years is eliminated as it will create jobs. Really Liberals? Clearly, they think a goodly number of Canadians will buy this idiocy, and the last election result sadly proves them right.
The good new is that Canada still holds all of the potential it has ever had, and maybe even more. Despite bad government policy for the last decade, we have survived, albeit with a lower standard of living and a less promising future. All it would take to turn Canada’s fortunes around is taking bad policy off the books (such as the oil and gas emissions cap, the industrial carbon tax, the impact assessment act, the BC tanker ban, among others) and replace it with good policy that encourages unleashing our incredible resource sector and reducing the intrusive role of government. This will not only benefit Canada but the world and help the environment at the same time as less polluting energy sources such as LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) replace the much more damaging pollutants that are being used globally.
To accomplish this, we Canadians must demand better from our governments, and endorse policies that benefit the economy and average Canadians, not just conform to some ideological beliefs that are not supported by fact nor science. We can do it – it’s not really all that hard. Instead of the silly, juvenile “elbows up,” we really just need to hunker down and get on with it.
Happy Canada Day!
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
