Commentary
It is no exaggeration to say that the last two years have been a unique challenge for Canadians. That said, they were primarily characterized by a united show of solidarity in the face of an unprecedented pandemic. One of the obvious exceptions of the past few weeks is a complete indication of the growing division and frustration in our country.
There is a lot of responsibility for many of the things that make up our current public discourse, but the responsibility for what happened in the capital of our country last month lies at the feet of one and only one, it’s Justin Trudeau. ..
From the beginning, the prime minister has used a pandemic to prey on the horrors of Canadians and wedge and split for political gain.
Starting with the weaponization and politicization of vaccines in the last federal election, he effectively classified vaccine repellents and opponents of vaccine obligations as “others.” Trudeau then interpreted his reelection as an approval to continue the divide-and-conquer law and promote disciplinary action against unvaccinated people.
Faced with rising opposition from his compelling mission to truck drivers, he accused him of being a racist, misogynist, and white supremacist. I relied on calling my name shame.
When thousands of frustrated Canadians appeared at his doorstep, he dismissed them as “fringe minorities” with “unacceptable views.” His explicit refusal to engage with truck drivers was characterized by the need not to provide them with any kind of legitimacy.
Faced with rising international attention and pressure from protests, he cites the serious threat posed to our security and democracy, and the lack of other available options, of the emergency law. Defeated the sledgehammer by using unprecedented force. And, almost as fast and mysteriously as he first adopted it, he canceled it, and the rhetoric to watch with it.
The immediate abolition of the emergency law was right, second only to never invoking it in the first place. But the damage caused by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s unfounded overkill in our democracy and public discourse cannot be underestimated.
The right to protest is a fundamental element of our democracy and must be defended and defended at all costs. Equally important is the rule of law, which must always be upheld. Blockades of critical infrastructure are unacceptable. However, protests are not an emergency, and inevitably the turmoil that results from protests must be dealt with by law enforcement agencies that already use freely available law and by politicians who drive resolution and dialogue.
It is up to all members of parliament, especially the prime minister, to call for unity and interact with frustrated people in times of crisis. Citizens’ complaints are not inconvenient (and should never be considered) — it is an active participation in our democratic process. The explicit refusal to meet the Canadians on behalf of Justin Trudeau is a failure of his duty as Prime Minister to uphold our principles and become the leader of all Canadians. I greatly admit it.
It was only two years ago that pipeline protesters blocked Canada’s rail system and effectively closed it for two weeks. At that time, the Prime Minister called for “dialogue and mutual respect.” In 2020, the Prime Minister joined when Black Lives Matter broke COVID restrictions and thousands of people went out on the streets.
Unlike today, Trudeau does not threaten the use of emergency law, despise or dismiss protesters, despite the fact that the 2020 protests are more threatening to the interests and welfare of the country. did.
With an immediate reversal of the emergency law just two days after approval by the House of Commons, the explicit representation of the double standard confirms that many of us knew from the beginning that it was true. It has to do with the dangers posed by the truck convoy, with Mr Trudeau’s political agenda and his relentless tendency to prioritize partisan politics over national interests.
Canadians will do well to remember.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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Leo Housakos is a Canadian Senator on behalf of Quebec. He chaired the Senate in 2015.