Interesting facts as usual Diane. You do put all the puzzle pieces together but I wonder why you left Alberta out as one of the provinces that will wrestle some control back form the intrusive federal government. That was a big win for Western Canada last week. Quebec has enjoyed special status and autonomy for decades. Canada has swung so far to the left because of a narcissistic fool at the helm. I do believe with one of your readers that WEF has so much to do with influencing/controlling him as well as the Laurentian elite (Power Corp). I could go on and on but the biggest problem is a sleepy uninformed electorate who don't realize we are in a war for our freedom. Death by a thousand cuts. The silent majority who watch as statues of our founding fathers are torn down, listen in disbelief that whites are evil and racists, and our passports neutered of our heritage and achievements, to be replaced by squirrels eating nuts. We can only hope that the corrupt and scandal ridden Liberals will be voted out in 2025. There will be an end to the carbon tax which fuels inflation, the safe drug supply which is an unbelievable failure, and instead have a functioning health care, exports of oil and gas to enrich our country. Canada right now is a socialist authoritarian country created by Trudeau and Singh alliance. It is not a democracy by any yardstick.
Thank you Diane, thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm sure that your US readers will view your comments as a wake up call. As for your Canadian readers, many of them already know the truth.
Excellent recap of Canada's mis-management and conundrum. Fortunately, our next door neighbour is the US and not Russia or China or Mexico to name only a few. I see weakness in all political parties and their leaders, which doesn't give me much hope for positive change in the future. We are politically divided and special interest groups continue to distract us from the very real job at hand, economic growth and management of social changes because of technology, AI, etc.
Thank you, Diane, for a very informative blog. The simple truth is that Trudeau's government can "afford" being such a disappointment because it would invoke support from, and intervention by, the U.S. if and when Canada should experience difficulties from foreign powers. The U.S. would, of course, intervene because of Canada's proximity and common border. But Canada should, at the least, return the favor (and profit from doing so) by supporting America's and the "democratic coalition's" showdown with Russia by increasing its output of fossil fuels and other natural resources so as to lower Russia's ability to profit from sale of those commodities. This measure, alone, would be far more supportive than any increase in military aid to Ukraine.
However, what puzzles me is the seeming passivity or inability of Canada's Ukrainian Diaspora to leverage its proportionately sizeable numbers into effective influence on Trudeau's government. Ukrainian Canadians represent 3.5% of Canada's nearly 40 million population. If we include the 2.7% Polish community that strongly supports aid to Ukraine, the Ukrainian community has a very significant demographic base with which to assert influence on Quebec's federal elections. Even more so, as regards Canada's legislative branch, Manitoba and Saskatchewan - entitled to a cumulative 8% representation in Canada's Parliament - each hosts a Ukrainian community of 15%. Both aspirants and members can be expected to be very mindful of the interests of every 7th voter in their province. A third province (Alberta) with more than 10% of Parliamentary seats hosts a very sizeable Ukrainian community of 8%. Those three provinces alone control nearly 20% of the seats in Parliament, and Ukrainians - by their concentration in those provinces - can be expected to have a very influential voice in Canada's legislative and executive branches of government.
There are lessons here for the US. It seems the left in Canada and the right in the US feel they can rule without specifying just what it is they want to accomplish.
Canadians live in the same “great again” illusion as Americans but expressed differently- for Canada it’s a romanticized past of Nobel Peace prizes, Worlds Fairs, successful Olympic hockey teams..political strategy turns on inculcating fear of the other- in our case fear of Conservative opposition, by opacity, and by treating citizens as incapable of understanding complex issues - hence feed them nonsense ..the country is run by a liberal version of Trump..
Diane, thanks for putting my concerns into words. Time for a change! Unfortunately, Polievre doesn’t instil confidence. I don’t think he’s ever had to meet a payroll either. The revelations about China and Trudeau ministers is disturbing! open.substack.com/pub/dianefranc…
Two huge empty countries, Canada and Australia, remind one of the classic line: "the English have a great hunger for desolate places," though the truth is more like the British wanted any place the French might otherwise occupy. I surmise from the unusually large number of comments that you have many Canadian readers, all fed up with Justin Trudeau, but one feels Canada's identity problem as a strip of territory perched atop a colossus (with a defense budget close to half of Canada's entire GDP) is a good deal older. I am more apt to compare Canada's 39 million population, GDP US$2 trillion, with California's 39 million, GDP US$3.36 trillion, making Canada seem feeble, but surely even if it had a proactive government it still couldn't defend itself, and neither can Australia. A future US Administration might not come to Australia's aid, but could never let Canada be attacked, especially given the geographic position of Alaska, and if I understand correctly nearly all Canadians live with 100 miles of the U.S. border. Back in the day, Canada's armed forces were considered in service of the British empire and fought in imperial wars. It may be that no one has really re-thought how Canada fits into the changed world; Mexico has the same problem.
Jun 5, 2023·edited Jun 5, 2023Liked by Diane Francis
Which is why I have no desire to return after 35 years. Add to that the high level of IDUs, homelessness, traffic noise, wokeness, people snorting cocaine at airport picnic tables, and the degenerating health system....
I have two theories on what’s happened to Canada, and where we are going based on the governments clear priorities of restricting energy, food production, making the cost of everything higher and completely ignoring our Constitution, and Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Theory 1: Canada is a compromised country due to large debt that China holds, so Beijing are calling the shots of keeping Canadian resources in the ground so that they have future supply of energy, minerals and food. They’ve put the Drama Teacher in power as their useful idiot, and he is paying off for China big time.
Theory 2- Interesting no mention of Finance Minister and Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland. She is on the board of the World Economic Forum and a protege of George Soros. Trudeau and Singh as well as many other Canadian Liberals and politicians are all member of the WEF. Klaus Schwab has boasted how his WEF have “penetrated ze Canadian government”.
They the WEF control our government and they will roll in to solve all Canadas problems shortly before the next election in 2025. Problems all caused by Trudeau and the Liberals. Canada will become the first new post nation under WEF governance.
Or - a combination of theory 1 and 2. Either way - Canada is finished as a social liberal democracy unless an immediate course change happens, which of course it won’t due to the entrenched corruption in Liberal Canada. RIP Canada 1867-2015 🇨🇦 😢
the trudeau horror show never ends.....when will the canadian public wake up????this idiot has caused enormous damage to the canadian economy and reputation internationally .....overwhelming evidence of corruption, incompetence and dishonesty is plain to see yet trudeau is still there .....what was it that winston churchill said????'' if you think democracy works , speak to the average voter''.....
Canada's abysmal record of funding the military predates Trudeau and his various lackeys. Keep in mind that the Liberals have been the dominant political party for decades and have left us with this pitiable legacy of mediocrity.
Interesting facts as usual Diane. You do put all the puzzle pieces together but I wonder why you left Alberta out as one of the provinces that will wrestle some control back form the intrusive federal government. That was a big win for Western Canada last week. Quebec has enjoyed special status and autonomy for decades. Canada has swung so far to the left because of a narcissistic fool at the helm. I do believe with one of your readers that WEF has so much to do with influencing/controlling him as well as the Laurentian elite (Power Corp). I could go on and on but the biggest problem is a sleepy uninformed electorate who don't realize we are in a war for our freedom. Death by a thousand cuts. The silent majority who watch as statues of our founding fathers are torn down, listen in disbelief that whites are evil and racists, and our passports neutered of our heritage and achievements, to be replaced by squirrels eating nuts. We can only hope that the corrupt and scandal ridden Liberals will be voted out in 2025. There will be an end to the carbon tax which fuels inflation, the safe drug supply which is an unbelievable failure, and instead have a functioning health care, exports of oil and gas to enrich our country. Canada right now is a socialist authoritarian country created by Trudeau and Singh alliance. It is not a democracy by any yardstick.
Great summary of the canadian predicament. The liberal nanny state fostered by the Trudeau clique has created voter malaise which is hard to reverse.
Thank you Diane, thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm sure that your US readers will view your comments as a wake up call. As for your Canadian readers, many of them already know the truth.
Excellent recap of Canada's mis-management and conundrum. Fortunately, our next door neighbour is the US and not Russia or China or Mexico to name only a few. I see weakness in all political parties and their leaders, which doesn't give me much hope for positive change in the future. We are politically divided and special interest groups continue to distract us from the very real job at hand, economic growth and management of social changes because of technology, AI, etc.
Thank you, Diane, for a very informative blog. The simple truth is that Trudeau's government can "afford" being such a disappointment because it would invoke support from, and intervention by, the U.S. if and when Canada should experience difficulties from foreign powers. The U.S. would, of course, intervene because of Canada's proximity and common border. But Canada should, at the least, return the favor (and profit from doing so) by supporting America's and the "democratic coalition's" showdown with Russia by increasing its output of fossil fuels and other natural resources so as to lower Russia's ability to profit from sale of those commodities. This measure, alone, would be far more supportive than any increase in military aid to Ukraine.
However, what puzzles me is the seeming passivity or inability of Canada's Ukrainian Diaspora to leverage its proportionately sizeable numbers into effective influence on Trudeau's government. Ukrainian Canadians represent 3.5% of Canada's nearly 40 million population. If we include the 2.7% Polish community that strongly supports aid to Ukraine, the Ukrainian community has a very significant demographic base with which to assert influence on Quebec's federal elections. Even more so, as regards Canada's legislative branch, Manitoba and Saskatchewan - entitled to a cumulative 8% representation in Canada's Parliament - each hosts a Ukrainian community of 15%. Both aspirants and members can be expected to be very mindful of the interests of every 7th voter in their province. A third province (Alberta) with more than 10% of Parliamentary seats hosts a very sizeable Ukrainian community of 8%. Those three provinces alone control nearly 20% of the seats in Parliament, and Ukrainians - by their concentration in those provinces - can be expected to have a very influential voice in Canada's legislative and executive branches of government.
There are lessons here for the US. It seems the left in Canada and the right in the US feel they can rule without specifying just what it is they want to accomplish.
Canadians live in the same “great again” illusion as Americans but expressed differently- for Canada it’s a romanticized past of Nobel Peace prizes, Worlds Fairs, successful Olympic hockey teams..political strategy turns on inculcating fear of the other- in our case fear of Conservative opposition, by opacity, and by treating citizens as incapable of understanding complex issues - hence feed them nonsense ..the country is run by a liberal version of Trump..
Diane, thanks for putting my concerns into words. Time for a change! Unfortunately, Polievre doesn’t instil confidence. I don’t think he’s ever had to meet a payroll either. The revelations about China and Trudeau ministers is disturbing! open.substack.com/pub/dianefranc…
Two huge empty countries, Canada and Australia, remind one of the classic line: "the English have a great hunger for desolate places," though the truth is more like the British wanted any place the French might otherwise occupy. I surmise from the unusually large number of comments that you have many Canadian readers, all fed up with Justin Trudeau, but one feels Canada's identity problem as a strip of territory perched atop a colossus (with a defense budget close to half of Canada's entire GDP) is a good deal older. I am more apt to compare Canada's 39 million population, GDP US$2 trillion, with California's 39 million, GDP US$3.36 trillion, making Canada seem feeble, but surely even if it had a proactive government it still couldn't defend itself, and neither can Australia. A future US Administration might not come to Australia's aid, but could never let Canada be attacked, especially given the geographic position of Alaska, and if I understand correctly nearly all Canadians live with 100 miles of the U.S. border. Back in the day, Canada's armed forces were considered in service of the British empire and fought in imperial wars. It may be that no one has really re-thought how Canada fits into the changed world; Mexico has the same problem.
Fascinating and excellent
Which is why I have no desire to return after 35 years. Add to that the high level of IDUs, homelessness, traffic noise, wokeness, people snorting cocaine at airport picnic tables, and the degenerating health system....
I agree with everything you said, but what are the alternatives?
I really don't like the fascism of the conservative right. It's sort of like, Trump light.
I have two theories on what’s happened to Canada, and where we are going based on the governments clear priorities of restricting energy, food production, making the cost of everything higher and completely ignoring our Constitution, and Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Theory 1: Canada is a compromised country due to large debt that China holds, so Beijing are calling the shots of keeping Canadian resources in the ground so that they have future supply of energy, minerals and food. They’ve put the Drama Teacher in power as their useful idiot, and he is paying off for China big time.
Theory 2- Interesting no mention of Finance Minister and Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland. She is on the board of the World Economic Forum and a protege of George Soros. Trudeau and Singh as well as many other Canadian Liberals and politicians are all member of the WEF. Klaus Schwab has boasted how his WEF have “penetrated ze Canadian government”.
They the WEF control our government and they will roll in to solve all Canadas problems shortly before the next election in 2025. Problems all caused by Trudeau and the Liberals. Canada will become the first new post nation under WEF governance.
Or - a combination of theory 1 and 2. Either way - Canada is finished as a social liberal democracy unless an immediate course change happens, which of course it won’t due to the entrenched corruption in Liberal Canada. RIP Canada 1867-2015 🇨🇦 😢
Welcome to the Drill Baby Drill side.
the trudeau horror show never ends.....when will the canadian public wake up????this idiot has caused enormous damage to the canadian economy and reputation internationally .....overwhelming evidence of corruption, incompetence and dishonesty is plain to see yet trudeau is still there .....what was it that winston churchill said????'' if you think democracy works , speak to the average voter''.....
Canada's abysmal record of funding the military predates Trudeau and his various lackeys. Keep in mind that the Liberals have been the dominant political party for decades and have left us with this pitiable legacy of mediocrity.