Readers discuss the federal cabinet's $1.3M 'affordability retreats,' Jordan Peterson's attack on 'wokeness,' and more
Re: Cost of Liberals’ ‘affordability’ cabinet retreat rises to nearly $500K, updated figures show; and As cost-of-living crisis deepens, Liberals spend $1.3 million on three ‘affordability retreats’ — Bryan Passifiume, Feb. 5 and 21
Yet again, the Trudeau government looks down its proverbial nose at Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet. The excess of patronage was on full display at cabinet’s “affordability retreat” held in Charlottetown. Much like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doesn’t seem to understand conflict of interest, Liberals don’t seem to recognize what it means to be tone deaf.
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More appropriate venues for their “affordability retreats” would have been any of the hundreds of food banks, now overwhelmed across our country. Cabinet ministers could have worked the bread lines, met the homeless or near homeless, and looked into the faces of seniors, of mothers and of children who are paying dearly for Liberal arrogance. Instead, Trudeau et al enjoyed only the finest at our expense, without actually saying, let them eat cake.
Paul Baumberg, Dead Man’s Flats, Alta.
Re: Banning replacement workers is all about politics — Robin Guy, Feb. 20
The federal government dictating how privately operated companies operate during a strike is another example of Canada’s slide into autocracy under the expanding Liberal/NDP government takeover.
Most sectors covered by the ban on replacement employees in federally regulated businesses (banking, energy, forestry, mining, retail food and drug, telecommunications, transportation etc.) are operated by publicly traded companies that represent a substantial portion of Canada’s GDP and retirement savings in pension plans. Where’s the outrage from corporate leaders and pension fund managers to this unwarranted government intrusion?
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Perhaps the affected companies are planning to collectively launch a legal challenge against the legislation or planning to protect their businesses by offshoring a portion of their labour (where possible). Just so long as they remember the Freedom Convoy and what happens when you stand up for your rights in Canada.
Gary Krieger, North York, Ont.
Re: The awe-inspiring conservative counter-offensive against woke nonsense — Jordan Peterson, Feb. 29
Jordan Peterson’s mapping of the Canadian mind puts his own interpretation ahead of the facts. It’s true that the conservative tide is coming in; Pierre Poilievre will be Canada’s next prime minister, but it’s not because of “an anti-woke awakening.” That young men are becoming more conservative follows the cycle of typical Canadian history that alternates between liberal and conservative trends. Brian Mulroney followed Pierre Trudeau, Stephen Harper followed Paul Martin, and Poilievre will displace Justin Trudeau.
Consequently remembering history is essential to grasp a realpolitik understanding of the trending conservative wave. Peterson is scholarly enough to know the maps of ideological ideas and their movements historically. That’s why he foresees and warns that his conservatives taking power will result in a disastrous first term for Poilievre. Supposedly, Canada is too broken to be easily fixed immediately. Another explanation for this setback, which is more mythical, is that pride comes before a fall, which reflects a conservative understanding of history.
Actually the countercultural conservative backlash prevailing in Canadian provinces to the woke times is self-evident: with Danielle Smith in Alberta, and Blaine Higgs in New Brunswick. And that’s the virtue and beauty of our democracy with its reliable tradition of peace, order, and good government. In time, both left and right, each get a partisan take at power. The resultant benefits for Canada are that voters can elect representatives regularly to bestow different political combinations of woke idealism and pragmatic materialism on the Canadian identity.
So, conservative Canadians, celebrate your upcoming turn to govern, even if it’s premature. Enjoy it while it lasts because it won’t. Nothing last forever in politics.
Tony D’Andrea, Toronto
It is not fanciful to compare Jordan Peterson’s impassioned attack on wokeness with Churchill’s opposition to appeasement in the 1930s. Both clearly recognize an existential threat to our way of life. Both speak forcefully, from the wilderness, acting alone, and in the face of overwhelming force. Both demonstrate remarkable courage and wisdom, accompanied by a unique ability to marshal the English language into a dynamic force for truth.
The woke crowd must now be regretting their attempt to silence Jordan Peterson.
Barry Kirkham, West Vancouver
Re: The notwithstanding clause in action; Quebec falls down rabbit hole over Bill 21 — Chris Selley, Feb. 10; and Five things about Quebec’s contentious secularism law — Sidhartha Baner Jee, March 1
Under the cover of the notwithstanding clause — a get-out-of-jail-free card — Quebec has renewed Bill 21, which discriminates against teachers, police and others on the basis of religion, for no good reason. Indeed, Bill 21 is a bigoted solution to a bogus problem.
Bill 21 is not about religious neutrality, but about neutralizing freedom of religion. It seems that in Quebec, charter rights can be cancelled by the will of the majority. To put it mildly, this is democratically dangerous.
George McArthur, Montreal
Re: Exactly 40 years later, will the son take a walk in the surf? — Raymond J. de Souza, Feb. 28; and Blustering, funny, vain, exceptional and inexplicable; Mulroney was achingly human — John Ivison, March 2
I have traditionally cherished Feb. 29. It is the day upon which a great friend was born and the day that an unpopular prime minister resigned. I may have to recalibrate. Now it is day that a great prime minster passed away and an unpopular prime minster did not resign.
John P.A. Budreski, Whistler
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