With the federal election upon us it is an excellent time to confront the truth and either solve some of our problems or admit we are just paying lip service to them. Those who take the latter option need to freely admit they are virtue- signalling and just hunting votes, hits or likes.
Two matters jump to mind: environmental pollution and drinking water in First Nation communities. The federal government has accomplished next to nothing with respect to getting clean drinking water to First Nations over the past 10 years. They are loath to talk about it but more than happy to talk ad nauseam about reconciliation. I’m not a First Nations person, but had many friends in high school who were and I don’t think any of them gave a damn about talk. Action and solutions seemed to be of more interest.
Our government has instead created a national stat holiday [marking the legacy of Residential Schools] at a cost to the country of $3.6 billion dollars according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. I am against more stat holidays but would welcome a rebranding of Victoria Day. Now that would send a message!
With those savings, we could certainly solve the drinking water problem a whole lot sooner and recognize First Nations people instead of our colonizers. That’s what I call reconciliation.
As for the environment, have you seen a reduction in traffic or heating use as a result of taxation? No. Those demands are almost inelastic. We continue to consume more and the government gets fat on tax. The loser is the environment. Voting for a political party that promises to save the environment does nothing. It’s up to us to change our ways. Don’t fall for charlatans who promise someone else will do it for you.
The Trudeau Liberals should not be promising anything new, rather explaining how they accomplished so little of their 2015 platform. They are very good at telling you what to do but not good at helping the environment, First Nations people and most of the rest of us because they only care about the message— not solutions.
Robert Mitchell // Whistler
