We think of Canada as a free country. And it is in many ways. Yet, our Charter of Rights and Freedoms notes in its first paragraphs that our freedom is subject to reasonable limits. While there are different opinions about what constitutes reasonable limits, there are also reasonable ways to express concerns about those limits. It is when unreasonable people defy the law with noise and inconvenience for others, that we can have problems.
The one thing for sure is that people who break the law by blocking access to border crossings and occupying the streets of our capital city are not using reasonable methods. And federal politicians who support them should be subject to censure in parliament for failing in their responsibilities in office.
And what is of special concern is when politicians take advantage of these unreasonable people to further their own agenda. There are actually elements of the conservative party of Canada, led by MP Pierre Poilievre of Carleton who fawn over and encourage these unreasonable people. Poilievre also tells us he has signed up some 300,000 of these malcontents and others as temporary members of the conservative party. He expects them to make him the leader of the conservative party.
As of the last update from Health Canada in June, 2022, 85 per cent of Canadians (over five years) had been vaccinated at least once against COVID-19. Most of our seniors have had three and even four shots. It is why Canada’s mortality rate for the pandemic has been less than many other G-7 countries and even the United States.
But we can never get rid of COVID and its variations as long as Mr. Poilievre’s friends are voicing their objections to vaccinations, mask mandates and other attempts to curb the disease. Who gives these people the right to continue to spread disease to others? And who says they can force change to these attempts to protect Canadians?
We are always a stronger nation when we work together to get things done. As long as demagogic politicians such as Poilievre seek to channel distrust and dissatisfaction to assist their objectives, a stronger future for our country is delayed.
-30-
Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to: