Why Canadians are sick of Prime Minister Stephen Harper? A commentary

Why Canadians are sick of Prime Minister Stephen Harper? A commentary

By

Dhreff

Anchor for Allvoices

Olongapo City, Zambales

Central Luzon, Philippines

Though Canadians are feeling sick of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, only a few but this writer knew only one of them says, “we are really feeling sick because many if not most of us simply do not care”. She seems to say that in Canada the rule is “Myself first and never think of country”.

Canadians prefer to go to dip and swim in Muskoka Lake, picnicking, play golf, eat, go home and sleep. Yes, they are endowed with good lives and enjoy the comforts of abundance and plenty. Nevertheless, this writer knows one Canadian very much concerned about her country. She worries about the air, water and the like for future Canadians. She was born in England but totally Canadian in sense of citizenship and patriotism. She loves Canada very much.

Canadians are in deep slumber but the “Robocalls” are waking them up. Chinese companies fracturing the oil sands in Alberta to extract the oil Canada will ship to China. The fracturing activities leave toxic residues that contaminate underground water for use of present and future Canadians. Farmers use Monsanto pesticides to produce vegetables and agricultural products to poison Canadian consumers. The seals, other marine animals that abbound in the seas, ocean and lakes of Canada are diminishing if not going extinct. The pristine rivers and other bodies of fresh waters are likewise, bearing the tolls of degradations. The places and environments enjoyed by the First Nation people are getting destroyed because of the need for expanding development. They are sick because Prime Minister Harper allowed all of these things.

What more that makes Canadians feel sick? Aaron Wherry reported that Prime Minister Harper intervened in Air Canada’s labour dispute. As quoted from Wherry’s report, “Reporter: Prime Minister, why is the government treating Air Canada as if it is a state-owned company by meddling in a private sector labour dispute, rather than allow the free market forces determine and set the price of labour? Why act pre-emptively and subvert the collective bargaining process? And what message are you sending to other countries, other airlines that provide competition, like Porter, whose pilots and flight attendants are with us today?” Harper responded as Wherry reported further, “Stephen Harper: First of all, the position of Air Canada is different. Let me be very clear about this. It is far and away the largest airline of the country, and a shutdown of service on that airline would have significant impact, not only on airline service to Canadians, but on the transportation system as a whole, and potentially on the Canadian economy. Air Canada came to us during the economic crisis, during the global crisis, and asked specifically for government assistance in a number of areas, because of the dangers shutting down the airline would represent to the Canadian economy. I’ll be darned if we will now sit by and let the airline shut itself down. Under these circumstances, at the present time, this is not what the economy needs, and it is certainly not what the travelling public needs at this time of year. So as much as there’s a side of me that doesn’t like to do this, I think these actions are essential to keep the airline flying, to make sure there is … the two parties find some way through mediation, arbitration, of resolving these disputes without having impacts on the Canadian public. My concern is not management or labour. My concern is the broader Canadian public, and I think the broader Canadian public overwhelmingly expects the government to act.”

Finally, Canadians are sick because they want to know, “Who Stole Canada's Democracy? Thousands Take to the Streets to Demand Answers”. There are more causes and reasons that make Canadians sick of Harper but let it settle for the ones stated above for this news report. Hopefully, more Canadians will wake up to the present day realities happening in Canada yesterday, today and probably tomorrow.