MY TAKE
IS THAT A HELLO OR A GOODBYE?
Imager credit: JOY REAL on Unsplash.
By SHAGORIKA EASWAR
When I see strident protestors hurling abuse at Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh on their campaign trails, I tell myself they are a fringe minority.
And so unCanadian.
Two incidents helped define our views on Canadians and the Canadian way of doing things soon after our arrival in Canada.
The first was a candlelight vigil in downtown Toronto for a victim of violence. People gathered at dusk, holding candles and posters with her name and photographs. Now they are, sadly, more common in all parts of the world, but this was the first such vigil that we’d witnessed. We saw complete strangers come together as they mourned the senseless loss of life quietly, respectfully.
The second was at a town meeting to discuss a new development in our neighbourhood. A large gathering packed into a community hall, turning it into a standing room only affair to listen to the developer and representatives from the town make their respective pitches. Feelings were running high as the proposed development was not popular, but when a man in the audience loudly heckled the developer, going so far as to comment on his dress sense, he quickly found himself alone. Another member of the audience stood up to apologize on behalf of the rest of us – we did not stand for rudeness, he said.
I knew then we were in a good country, a good place to raise our sons. Where the community’s values were in sync with our own.
As soon as we were eligible to apply for our Canadian citizenship, we did. Because while we were entitled to every privilege as landed immigrants, only citizens could vote. And we wanted to make that commitment.
Then came our first election in Canada! It was our chance to show our sons that we belonged and that we believed our vote counted and could help make a difference.
It was also an eye-opener.
Where was all the hulla-gulla (hullaballoo) of the Indian elections that we were used to? The slapping of garish posters on all available surfaces? The shouting of loud slogans from loudspeakers attached to vehicles that toured neighbourhoods promising residents the sun, the moon and the stars?
It’s not that Canadian politicians didn’t make promises. They did. They promised change and better days and so on.
But they promised to do this by funding programs to help specific communities or to improve services in certain sectors, they didn’t offer free television sets or free laptops as “gifts”.
Leaders of various parties actually met for televised debates and while they attacked each other’s performance or platforms, they refrained (more or less) from personal attacks. At the end of the debate, they shook hands. It was all very civilized, very refreshing. Very – as my parents would have said in approval – parliamentary.
Now as Canadians head into the country’s 44th federal election, we are again watching the parties woo voters.
But now, we are older and wiser. Over the years, we’ve seen many governments come and go, and we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the issues and have become more involved in the process. Our sons have their views on the political parties and their leaders and we have lively dinner table discussions on the merits of each.
While seeing a politician’s spouse dancing to Tu meri dal makhni or to dhol beats (Laureen Harper, in Brampton during the 2015 federal election that her husband lost to Justin Trudeau) or visiting places of worship might be entertaining, it isn’t what sways the savvy voter.
We want someone who sees everyone as equally Canadian with Canadian issues, not pigeon-holed into convenient ethnic minority pockets.
We need someone who champions all our causes.
Several years ago, a callow young man, untested in the political arena, swept the polls. Someone who my niece in India described as “Your dishy prime minister”.
Now that young man is older, and one hopes, wiser too. He has steered the country ably through a very difficult time with a steady hand and done as well as one could have hoped for.
Trudeau hopes to cash on in on that performance, but he has a younger man, Jagmeet Singh, nipping at his heels. And surprise! Going by recent polls, Erin O’Toole, a rank newcomer, is rapidly gaining on both.
Each party is, again, promising change.
But don’t get taken in by the colour of a party’s election manifesto.
Don’t project your wishes onto a politician. Skilled politicians are like blank screens – they will project whatever it is you wish to see.
When Justin Trudeau promises Quebec a $6 billion grant without any strings attached for the federal national child-care program when Quebec already has its own day care program in place since 1997, ask why. Why can’t childcare be subsidised in other provinces, too? Why should the disparity be so vast that in Quebec they pay $8.35 a day while parents in Ontario have to come up with close to $100 a day?
When Jagmeet Singh promises to increase the wealth tax by one per cent, ask how. How will that work if it drives the wealthy to other tax-friendly shores? Wouldn’t it be far better to encourage them to invest that one per cent in Canada, start new business, create more employment, all the while making more money? After all, isn’t that what the investor category for potential new immigrants is about?
When Erin O’Toole promises to make recognition of foreign credentials a priority, ask when. When will we see enough of a change in this area? Successive governments have done work in making it easier for newcomers, but far too many still struggle to find meaningful employment. In fields in which they were considered qualified enough to be an asset to Canada.
Ask for their policies on climate change, and on protection of businesses and continued income support for those affected by COVID. On affordable housing. On racism and on Indigenous rights.
Ask how they will address these issues. How will they pay for the change they promise?
Rob Wilson, a columnist in our sister publication CanadaBound Immigrant, describes propaganda as “a form of communication that is intentionally used to spread information (or disinformation) and ideas that can promote a cause or discredit an opposing one. And, it often preys on our fears”. The best way to protect yourself from propaganda, he writes, is to understand how it works and be on the alert for it.
And the best way to deal with propaganda? Avoid it!
“Make sure that you’re not buying into a narrative that goes against your best interests,” writes Wilson. “Be wary of slogans. Ask yourself how is this statement attempting to reframe the issue or situation? Don’t allow yourself to become isolated from other people. Community is important in understanding the truth. Gather together, talk, discuss, and analyze the things you are being told.”
From time to time, we hear people express concern about the world we are leaving for our children. But it’s in the future, they add, and not much, really, we can do about anything.
That’s not true. Think carefully before you cast your vote this month. Your action could make this a better place for your children. Or not.