Critical Perspectives and Reflections

  The Peoples Party of Canada is troublesome, and repugnant; it stands for everything I find appalling and un-Canadian. While many may take post election liberties and poke fun at this “Purple Wave” that was supposed to happen. Before you make fun of them, start drilling deep on this site by province, by riding. Naturally the PPC had a strong showing in the Prairies, one guy polled 20%, with some others in double digits. Indeed, reasonably strong in BC. Of concern is their strength in Ontario particularly rural ridings, however some strength in the smaller urban centres.  Thank God for the sane people of Quebec and the Maritimes, the PPC was not so popular with these folks. Though Maxine Bernier polled 20% in the Beauce, he’s a local boy so there is no doubt some loyalty on a pers level. And his father was the MP in the very same riding.  Nationally, the PPC polled higher by and large than the Greens at the riding level other than where sane Canadians live. The Conservati...

The unnecessary Canadian election is now over. One of its many issues was the pandemic and the virulently negative attitudes and resistance to vaccination of a noisy minority of the population. It is obvious that it will remain a front burner problem for the foreseeable future. I’ve noted a lot of comments by anti-vaxxers on Facebook and in letters to the editor as well as the odd op ed columns of our daily papers, that those refusing the small jab in the arm should not be criticized for refusing to be vaccinated to protect “themselves” against covid. They maintain that it is a simple human right. I even saw one which claimed that any vaccine mandate is a negation of charter rights. Leaving aside that we have yet to hear of any court challenge based on charter rights being brought to any court, I take the position that this is an uninformed, even “selfish” position. My attitude, shared by many by the way, not surprisingly, and invariably raises the ire of the anti-vax crowd. Can’t We A...

  For Canada, the issue of the residential school horror is part of one of the two equally important/vital/fundamental issues facing this country. The one, is the existential crisis of climate change of course. The other, of which the issue of the unmarked graves of innocent children forms an important part, is ending Canada’s colonial relationship with Indigenous people. This is issue is being foregrounded1 and has been in the news for some months. There is increasing concern, even fear, among a good deal of the caring public that the issue of the many unmarked graves of residential school students is falling out of the attention of the general public. The fear is that what occurred to those interred, thyoung victims of Canadian colonialism, is that it is in danger of going under the rug. The first is dismaying but to a certain extent understandable. Our contemporary society has a notoriously short attention span, the news cycle is a short one, and there is an array of genuinely i...

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.          - George Carlin We have all seen the various news reports of the angry crowds of fairly well-organized gangs of protesters attempting to disrupt some of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election events. In some ways this is not new, but in others, it is both new and troubling. One of the concerns is that the individuals are so focused on one issue, not climate change, not the economy, not housing or some other important, and typical election issue, but anger over the necessity of vaccinations and mask mandates. These newly “woke” champions of justice are demanding that they be exempted from any and all regulations that are aimed at helping us all (including them and their families) to get out of this horrible pandemic. The second, and I believe greater, concern is that the same or similar gangs are now descending on hospitals so that they can target health care providers, nurses, doctors, re...

I was diagnosed with PTSD, mixed anxiety and severe depression in 2010. My diagnosis resulted from my experience as a “Repatriation Officer” to Canada Afghanistan military personel who had been killed in action. There are other causes of course and I’m only one of many. These days I’m doing quite well, especially now that I’m a grandfather. My darling sweet Princess Freyja, is my world and her presence makes me soar in blissful joy. Thank you Savannah Bellows and Kieran Lawless-Johnston for the greatest gift of all. Dark Times  During my dark times, at my lowest point, I attempted suicide twice. Looking back I can’t help but think what a horrible legacy it would have been to leave Freyja. I know how difficult things can be. Truth be told I think that now I’ve got that PTSD and a depression pretty well managed, but the anxiety pops up far too often, and when I get in a panic sometimes I lose my raspberries. My anxiety kicks in and causes me to be rash and I’m not quite sure how to e...