Y'know this lady is now 164 years old, and not showing her wrinkles at all. A few bumps, bruises and the occasional political pest, but overall Canada still continuously ranks in the top 10 in almost all metrics that matter for Quality of Living on this Planet.
Sure, we have to change some of our old, polluting ways and ecological ignorances to become more of a shepherd for our planet, and not a Wolf, as all our industries currently demand.
I'm not anti-Industry - I just think that there are more ecologically sound, if perhaps a few pennies more expensive than current, methods of manufacturing.
I believe Canada CAN become a World Leader, but we need World Class Leadership, and currently in our National, and Provincial governments, this is sadly lacking.
Taking bold action does not mean take away Citizens Rights - it means doing the Right Thing, no matter the Cost.
Canada can immediately start trimming all that exo-Canada spending, well actually, donations to causes that beggers the mind as to why they deserve our largess. Over $18 Billion (Yes, a "B"!) is given away by Canada to various causes. The two biggest spenders are Global Affairs Canada and Department of Finance Canada.
Next on the list is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at a measly $1.7 Billion. Why this is included in our International Assistance Portfolio is confusing, but hey, what do I know?
Public Health Agency of Canada, the ones you would THINK would be spending scads of money to help eradicate international illness, assist countries with poor medical systems and so on, but they get a whopping $181 Million (with a "M"!).
I mean, What The Heckles???
Global Affairs "...leads Canada's international assistance efforts to reduce poverty and inequality by leveraging Canadian expertise and financial resources...". Okay, sounds important. But do we not also have poverty and inequality here in Canada?
Would you not want to clean your own house before you start cleaning houses in the slums? I mean, sure, put boots on the ground to teach the folks there how to take care of themselves, but do we really need to build $300,000 homes for former wandering tribes, knowing that they most likely will tear it apart for material to build hovels.
Or cook food on the floor in the kitchen.
In a fire-pit!
Don't laugh! This happened in Germany, where Immigrants were give very fucking nice apartments, where they proceeded to trash everything, up to and including roasting goat over an open fire in the living room.
Another had the toilet torn out, so that they could "squat" over the hole as they had since childhood. You can imagine the smell in that room - not just their toilet, but every other toilet in that building attached to the same drain/stack. Expensive tiles were either taken out or damaged beyond repair, costing hundreds of thousands of DM (at the time) in repairs in each building.
So, stop spending money on crap that the locals can never use, don't want to use, or will misuse as soon as we turn our backs.
Mentoring is the BEST way to teach locals to better provide for them. With the advent of the SpaceX Satellite Internet being available world-wide, this should also open up possibilities for extended education in remote parts of the world. Even China LOL.
But doing everything for these folks is not a sane method of taking care of them. They are not babies.
They are adults, and should be treated as such.
Lets look at the Department of Finance Canada - they manage "...Canada's relationship with the World Bank Group, including the International Development Association, the IMF and the European Bank for Reconstructions. In 2022-2023, DoF provided $4.85 Billion in the for of loans to help Ukraine's urgent balance of payment needs in support of the defense of their country.
Right after the Ukraine, Nigeria received $277 Million.
Ethiopia received $251;
Bangladesh (a dictatorship) received $234 Million!;
Tanzania got $229 Million;
Democratic Republic of Congo - $207 Million;
Jordan, an oil rich country, received $188 Million; and,
Mozambique got $173 Million.
I mean, even India, with over 1 Billion citizens, received $112 Million. That works out to about 11.2¢ per person!
Well friggin' done! Why not just send a few dozen Tim Horton's mobile coffee shops - you'd get as much satisfaction from the locals as this money would!
But I'm not here to dictate my wishes - I just wish to say that despite our piss-poor response to emergencies, Climate Change, EV's and alternate Energy sources, I am profoundly glad that I carry the Canadian Passport. I am, and remain an avid promoter of our Country, our Province (despite political misgivings), and especially our great little City of Fort Saskatchewan.
I served 23 years in our Military, been around the world, met many, many interesting folks in many, many lands, and found that they are NO different than I am. We all have the same fears, likes, loves, disgusts, senses of humour, and unfortunately, unsightly bias'.
In every case, I talked proud of my homeland, and I talk of our natives who despite our ancestors' disgusting actions, are proudly standing up and saying "No more!". And I support them as much as I logically can.
I mean, giving money to a family for something that happened Decades, if not Centuries before?
Why? Is money now a form of apologies?
It would be better to return stewardship of treaty lands to the original Nations, let them sort it out themselves.
Honestly, I used to vehemently believe that we should stop backstopping all the reserves with Federal Money, giving payments to Bands without any accounting or followup. This just encourages laziness and creates a ghetto mentality. Of course drugs and alcohol are rampant. Free money with no gainful employment or useful skills because - well, why should they when everything is given to them.
Being older, I now understand a bit better the rationale for the Feds to keep giving Reserves money, but it still riles me up that they have had over 100 years to get their civilization up to modern precepts. I understand that "white man" greatly slowed down, if not totally interfered with their coming of age, education, land claims, and ability to integrate with the rest of the Nation.
A lot better care could have been taken when signing Treaties, often favouring White Men and either a government rep, or a Rep from one of the big trading companies, like the Hudsons Bay Company. They had their fingers in everything.
From discussions with Natives serving in the Military, they joined to get away from that life - it is a disease infecting Reserves across Canada, and only Strong Leadership can help these folks now - not throwing money at them.
Look at the Band in Southern British Columbia. A new, strong leader took the reins and cleaned up their community, got folks working together to create a sales force for their own manufactured items, and they are not only richer for it - they are better neighbours and better citizens, now paying taxes, and not sucking on mothers teat. With meaningful employment and disposable income, quality of life climbs quickly, and old, detrimental habits become things of the past.
If one band could do this, why can the rest not do so?
No, I'm not going to talk about that. Instead, I'm going to talk about Canada's people. Not any particular person, group or agency.
Just common folks.
At almost any city we stopped at across Canada, we were always warmly welcomed, politely informed of local laws and events, markets, stores and accommodations. No matter what language they speak, English, French, Chinese, German, or heck, even American (yup, we got summa them too!) our interactions have always been friendly and enjoyable.
I think overall Canadians are smart, well educated and willing to help those in need at a greater rate than almost any other Western country.
It is a joy to go out on my mobility scooter and stop to talk to folks and get their stories. Or just shoot the breeze with some old guys at any coffee shop around 10 a.m.
Yes, it's a thing. Also the 2 p.m. coffee-klatch.
So, even though I am only a bit over 6 Decades in age, this old lady called Canada is a great place to live, and I hope all you other Canadians realize what a great country we live in, and try to keep it that way.
Happy Canada Day!
