The New Face of Canada

Written by Harold McNeill on October 20th, 2015. Posted in Tim Hortons Morning Posts


trudeau-family-photo-portrait-couch

Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie Grégoire and their three children, Xavier, 7, Ella-Grace, 5, and five-month-old Hadrien ((Web Photo, October 2014)

This family represents The New Face of  Canada, a country where everyone who becomes a citizen knows they have made the right choice, a country where the mosaic of culture was stitched together in manner that sets us apart and a country were people care about helping others be it on the home front or around the world.

Link to Photo Album

Heading towards a New Era.

As you may have noticed by my comments on Facebook and in this blog, I have regularly chaffed at how our government has, over the past decade, treated minorities – Muslims and Aboriginals in particular, but also the mentally ill and others who have fallen on hard times – as stepping stones to remaining in power.

With the election results now in, 65% of Canadians have said ‘no’ to the politics of fear. We have turned a corner and this happened because Canadians at large were no longer willing to be browbeaten into submission by those who tried to use fear as the main platform in their re-election campaign.

If Conservatives ever again wish to lead Canada, and there are many individual party members and supporters who have excellent qualities, they will need to shed that mean streak which has driven them to enact laws and propose others that diminish our democracy; where wedge issues are used to ridicule minorities and where other leaders are attacked in the most unseemly ways. Why is this no longer acceptable?

Will young people lead the way?

The change began because many educated, well-travelled, motivated young people have now joined the fray in significant numbers and they actively reject this approach and it is they who will soon be to calling the shots. Also, these young people and a good number of older people are now connected by social media that allows a massive exchange of information and ideas outside the control of government and mainstream media. It is a new world of information sharing in which the old ways of controlling the message no longer works.

While many of these young people have a long standing connection to Canada, others have only first or second generation citizenship, but what they all well understand is that freedom – that is “freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of association,”  – is the foundation upon which this country was built. They will not readily relinquish that right simply because a a government or government agency tells them it is being done for their own good, for their safety and well being. (Link Charter of Rights and Freedoms)

Why do young people make a difference?

In travels to various parts of the world over the past two decades, Lynn and I found the best way to determine how well a country is doing (outside war zones), is to take the temperature of young people. If young people are excited about the future, if they want to stay in their home country, if they feel there is a future for them – you can pretty much take it as a given the country is doing well. While Canada is certainly one such a country, I think that over the past decade many young people have come to question the direction we have been taking, not only in how easily we let our freedoms erode and how we treat visible minorities, but also how we continue to degrade our environment. It’s time for change.

Scanning Facebook posts and in conversations with the many young people having close connection to our family, I can say with certainty they are becoming more engaged in issues of the day and they want a Canada where immigrants and refugees are made to feel welcome no matter which part of the world they come from and they want a Canada that will work to preserve our environment even if we must lower our high standard of living to accomplish this. They want a living, vibrant, welcoming land for their children and their children’s children.

They also understand that Aboriginals arrived and settled this country thousands of years before any European immigrants and refugees, so consider it patently unfair to suggest that any particular cultural group that arrived after the Aboriginals has a ‘God given” right to be recognized as being more Canadian than groups who arrived later.

Thank you to everyone for getting out the vote, now let’s begin the healing process in order that we can again become a world class cultural mosaic of which we can all be proud.

Harold

Take a moment to listen to Trudeau’s Full Acceptance Speech. It will tell you something about the man who is about to become the Prime Minister of Canada.

NOTE: I have not yet figured out how to edit the YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THIS: as it includes links I have not approved.   Cheers,  Harold

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Comments

  • Mike Fedorowich

    September 1, 2023 |

    I have gone through the above noted text and have found it quite informative.
    I am a former member with several law enforcement agencies from across Canada.
    I worked in the First Nations service under the authority of the RCMP with the over sight of the OPP. My law enforcement service was conducted under the authority of the Nishnawbe – Aski Police Service in North West Ontario the Louis Bull Police Sevice in Hobbema AB, the Kitasoo Xaixais Police Service in Northern in side passage on Swindle Island, the Lac Suel Police Service North West Ontario and the Vancouver Transit Authority Sky Train Police Service. I’m presently dealing with an RCMP member for falsifying a report against me for a road rage event. Court case is finished and the charge was dropped but I have an on going complaint with the member and have forwarded to the WATCH DOGS IN OTTAWA FOR the RCMP review and consideration. I believe the said officer is in violation of his oath of office and should be held accountable for falsifying his RTCC all the while dragging me through the court system here in Nanaimo. RCMP continue to stonewall the appeal but Ottawa and the crowns office are still looking into the matter. if your able and find the time or the interest in this very brief introduction, I would very much like to speak with you and would be grateful to hear any wisdom that may come across from your end. I served with First Nations Police Services for ten years in isolation and six years with Transit Police out of New West Minster. I do value and appreciate any time you could spare to chat for a bit on this particular subject matter. Respectfully with out anger but an open mind, Mike Fedorowich Nanaimo BC 250 667 0060

  • Harold McNeill

    February 28, 2022 |

    Hi Robert, I do remember some of those folks from my early years in Cold Lake (Hazel was my aunt and our family spent many fond times with Uncle Melvin, Aunt Hazel and Family. I knew Lawrence and Adrian. Having read a half dozen accounts it is clear their were many false narratives and, perhaps, a few truths along the way. I tried my best to provide an even account from what I read. Cheers, Harold. (email: Harold@mcneillifestories.com)

  • Robert Martineau

    February 25, 2022 |

    Its been a long time since any post here, but its worth a shot. My Grandfather was Hazel Wheelers brother Lawrence, and son to Maggie and Adrien. Maggie Martineau (nee Delaney) is my great grandmother. The books and articles to date are based on the white mans viewpoint and the real story as passed down by the Elders in my family is much more nefarious. Some of the white men were providing food for the Indians in exchange for sexual favors performed by the Squaws. Maggie was the product of one of those encounters. Although I am extremely proud of my family and family name, I am ashamed about this part of it.

  • Julue

    January 28, 2022 |

    Good morning Harold!
    Gosh darn it, you are such a good writer. I hope you have been writing a book about your life. It could be turned into a movie.
    Thanks for this edition to your blog.
    I pray that Canadians will keep their cool this weekend and next week in Ottawa. How do you see our PM handling it? He has to do something and quick!
    Xo Julie

  • Herb Craig

    December 14, 2021 |

    As always awesome job Harold. It seems whatever you do in life the end result is always the same professional, accurate, inclusive and entertaining. You have always been a class act and a great fellow policeman to work with. We had some awesome times together my friend. I will always hold you close as a true friend. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you this summer.
    Warm regards
    Herb Craig

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Hi Dorthy, So glad you found those stories and, yes, they hold many fond memories. Thanks to social media and the blog, I’ve been able to get in touch with many friends from back in the day. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Well, well. Pleased to see your name pop up. I’m in regular contact via FB with many ‘kids’ from back in our HS days (Guy, Dawna, Shirley and others). Also, a lot of Cold Lake friends through FB. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Oh, that is many years back and glad you found the story. I don’t have any recall of others in my class other than the Murphy sisters on whose farm my Dad and Mom worked.

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Pleased to hear from you Howie and trust all is going well. As with you, I have a couple of sad stories of times in my police career when I crossed paths with Ross Barrington Elworthy. Just haven’t had the time to write those stories.

  • Howie Siegel

    November 25, 2021 |

    My only fight at Pagliacci’s was a late Sunday night in 1980 (?) He ripped the towel machine off the bathroom wall which brought me running. He came after me, I grabbed a chair and cracked him on the head which split his skull and dropped him. I worried about the police finding him on the floor. I had just arrived from Lasqueti Island and wasn’t convinced the police were my friends. I dragged him out to Broad and Fort and left him on the sidewalk, called the cops. They picked him up and he never saw freedom again (as far as I know). I found out it was Ross Elworthy.