Showing posts with label QUEBEC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label QUEBEC. Show all posts

Friday, November 8, 2019

East VS West: Ignorance Stops Now


East VS West: Ignorance Stops Now
The divide that we see in Canada today has been growing for decades. We see the West being taken advantage of, used and abused, and treated like second class citizens in a country the West has supported financially far too often, only to have no voice in Parliament. This has been building up distrust, frustration, and hatred between the two halves of a country that should be united. Part of the reason for this is that Canada has very different thoughts, lifestyles, and understanding in many parts. We have the Vancouver-Victoria area, then the Territories, then the rest of the West, Winnipeg-Eastern Manitoba, Urban Ontario, Rural Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. These areas seem to butt heads far too often, causing a huge feeling of division across our Nation. Each of these areas seems to be ignorant to the ideas and ideologies of the other areas. Ontario, Quebec, and part of the Maritimes, seem to be closer in thought and band together to control the rest of Canada. Which is a major cause of anger to the rest of the country. They minimize and remove the voice of most of the West, yet they seem quite willing to accept money, in the form of equalization payments, from the West.


Ignorance. Something all parts of Canada are guilty of. In way too many areas there is no attempt made to understand or see the views of the other parts of Canada. It needs to stop. We are a country, a country that is looking to fracture. The country needs to ensure ALL areas have a voice, ALL areas are represented equally, ALL areas are given the chance to implement their ideologies into our Nation, and ALL areas are shown respect. Right now, what Canada has is a mesh of too many groups that want nothing to do with the other, which is not just a present issue, it has been an issue since Confederation. Quebec immediately grabbed special rights and privileges, and uses them to twist the arm of the country into doing their bidding, something that Urban Ontario is far too willing to allow and get behind. The Eastern mentality has all but destroyed everything the West has worked hard to develop and build. A shattered economy with what seems like no hope for a future in Canada. Fueling a fire smoldering and growing in intensity, spreading vehement flames throughout our Nation, threatening the very existence of Canada. If Ignorance is not stopped, Canada may very well become a part of history, a story told about to future generations, a folklore. Below is a couple of examples of the ignorance mentioned, and responses issued by myself.
Please stop posting this Eastern propaganda....it might sway the dumbasses. The clown has disabled commenting on the vid. Says it all. The blowback to this bullshit was fierce. This is between Western citizens and the criminal Federal authority. We are not fighting for Eastern Canada, a faraway land we have never seen. If they want to remain enslaved to a retarded Fed that is their business. THIS is our home and Eastern Canadians need to stay the fuck out of the conversation.
Response:
“Clown? Commenting is still on the vid, I just checked. Check your facts before commenting please. Besides it isn't Eastern Propaganda, it's balanced reporting. Showing all sides of a discussion. If you want one-sided, biased reporting, look at CTV, City TV, and CBC, that is biased Eastern propaganda. What in there offends you? The fact that I mention that it will be a slow process to complete a separation or make change? It takes time, sorry but it does not happen over night. The fact that I mention that not every single person in the West is sold on separating? Sorry but it's a FACT. We both may not agree with these people on the subject, but they are entitled to their opinions, as we are to ours. I agree that I want to be away from Eastern control and have our voices heard again, but that does not mean everyone is forced to agree with us. Forcing people to have your opinion is a dictatorship. Just stop and think about that please. Not wanting to argue, just trying to educate and have people make informed decisions. Thank you

Comment on a Toronto Sun article. 
Robert Mullins commented that someone was a liar and a sore loser.
Response:
“You would be a sore loser too if the decisions of Eastern City-Dwellers, with no knowledge of how the world works in rural areas, made decisions for the whole country. Try losing your job, home, car, belongings, forced to go on welfare or take a low paying jobs. Try watching friends commit suicide, as they feel trapped, stuck, due to circumstances beyond their control. Try watching your neighbours move away with nothing, simply because the government that they rejected came into power and destroyed their livelihoods. Livelihoods that lies are spread about, villainized for providing a source of energy that the vast majority of our products are made from. Energy that people who live in large urban areas, deem to be dirty and shame them for making it available, despite living in their cozy homes, with cozy jobs, with cozy cars. Going about their lives like they haven’t destroyed other people’s lives with their uneducated decisions, and brainwashed by a media that is so biased, that truth is far from their goal. All the while, they use the items and belongings that were all made by the source of energy that they deem to be evil. People in large Eastern urban centers, that have no clue about the energy industry they attack. Brainwashed into believing solar and wind energy is the answer, despite these taking more energy to make than they actually provide in their lifetime, particularly wind turbines. These two energy sources use the same energy source to make them, the same energy produced in the oilsands, and pulled from the ground in much of the west. If you want to call the reality behind these facts being sore losers, then I guess we are all sore losers, and you will be as well when this government you Eastern Urban Dwellers voted in, destroys the half of the country that provides the vast majority of equalization payments. Maybe, just maybe try educating yourself on the facts before throwing stones that may break your own glass house. Try using empathy, try looking at other people’s lives outside your own little world, at least attempt to shed your ignorance before it makes you look even more foolish. This government’s foolish policies have already cost us thousands of jobs in the short time since getting re-elected. Don’t let this government take your ability to think, to show compassion, and to ultimately keep your family safe.”
 The hatred seems to run deep between these halves, East and West, but civility can be used. Comments about “F Trudeau” and Quebec MLA’s/MPs commenting complete disrespect for the West, are just not necessary. Comments like these simply work to spread the divide, and simply show how ignorant people can be. The question put forth then becomes, how do we find a resolution? A question I have seen put forth many times, I have seen great ideas come from fellow Westerners, also seen foolishness presented. The best way to combat this is with empathy and understanding. Try to see the other person’s perspective, this goes for both the East and West. Show respect even when frustrated and angry, as Pat King states, “Everyone has a voice, if you can’t talk responsibly and speak respectfully, then don’t talk. All people are entitled to have their say.” He goes on to state that we should “beat with words not fists”, and cautions, “Don’t engage if you can’t be respectful.” Good advice. A loud voice does not normally get what you want. A soft tone garners more understanding and willingness to listen. Do I believe that Parliament will listen? No, but attacking those who oppose you accomplishes nothing.
A slower paced approach that has a desire for change, for the betterment of the West is what is needed. Educate yourselves on the issues, and not just from one source but many sources. By educating yourself, you can then propose strong arguments, win debates, show that the West is not just “dumb hicks”, or “stupid rednecks”, or “white supremacists”. Show that the West does know what we are talking about, use facts to disprove, facts to convince, facts to open eyes. The East is fed a lot of misinformation, or very little about the West, they focus on themselves. The West cannot be this way, don’t be ignorant. Yes, the West will need to fight for their rights, but it needs to be done in the proper manner. By educating yourself, you can then educate those in the East. The East may turn a blind eye to these attempts, but at least you have been the bigger person. A lot is happening behind the scenes in the West to bring about this change, let us do our best to implement these plans, support our efforts, find a way to help. Shouting angry rhetoric full of hate, will only close ears and eyes, and turn the rest of the West away from the movement for change. Anger, bitterness, and hate only hinder the efforts of these people who are working to bring about change.
Angry rhetoric did not bring about the efforts we are seeing success in trying to pull out of CPP and gaining our own sovereignty. Support is best provided through peace. Anger is understood, but use a healthy form of release, not hiding behind a keyboard attacking anyone who says something you don’t like. Learn to control your mind, use it for good. Assist us in bringing about change, show Canada that ignorance is not tolerated, is not needed, and is not helpful. Bring about change by showing knowledge through words and actions. Help us help you. Educate yourselves. Stop ignorance in its tracks.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Wexit: Mixed Reactions Across Canada

Canada is a country divided. In reality, there are several areas of divide in the Nation of Canada, but The Western/Eastern split seems to be receiving the majority of the focus at this moment. Many parts of the West are calling for Separation from the rest of Canada. However, it is unclear just which provinces and territories would be included in a Western Separation at this point. Many of the comments on this subject focus on Alberta and Saskatchewan, which seems like the most likely separation situation. There has been increasing talk that most of Manitoba and British Columbia would like to join if separation referendums become a reality, showing the growing support for separation. It does not end there though; a new push has emerged to include some of the Territories in this Wexit movement. A split of that magnitude would cut the country in half, and could be devastating to the Eastern half of the country. One has to ask then how people across the country feel about the likelihood of Canada separating?
According to a member of the Facebook group VoteWexit.com, he explains what he feels is necessary for any separation of the Western portion of Canada to succeed. “For this to succeed, we need to have One Common Vision that everyone can envision, with common achievable goals.” He also points out that the prairie provinces have ample resources, but cautions against allowing “outside controlling forces” to get involved. As his post continues, he explains that this, “Will not happen overnight,” claiming that if it is to succeed it will take integrating policies of tolerance, respect, understanding, compromise, education reform, and care about our culture. Equal representation is a common theme among all supporters of the movement.
In the West there seems to be a lot of support for this separation movement, even some support seems to be coming from the Eastern provinces.  However, there are a lot of people who are on the fence, unsure about the movement or what it could mean to them personally. From some in the Vancouver-Chilliwack area, there seems to be confusion, wondering about how the provinces will all support themselves after a separation, both those who separate and those who remain in Canada, as well as the question of how it would affect the living costs as a whole. The sentiment of it being a waste of time, seems like a common sentiment among those in opposition to the idea, particularly, but not limited to the Central Manitoba region. Despite this, it does seem to be picking up momentum in the Northern areas of BC, as well as the portion of British Columbia from Kelowna East.
Part of the problems in the Wexit movement, seems to be around the lack of united front. When people disagree about a point or question that has been put forward, they are immediately attacked by keyboard warriors, which does not garner support, or help the cause. The same could be said for those who are not completely on board. Comments from some Albertans have been attacks against anyone who does not share their opinion. Sentiments seem to be that you are either with them or can move East, and only wanting people with Conservative values, plagues the province of Alberta. The result of these attacks is a loss of momentum and support. To those with cooler heads, they seem to understand that reason, well thought out plans, empathy, and a united front are going to be the only way to get a successful referendum, putting aside differences to join together and come up with a solution that works best for the West as a whole.
When asked what their thoughts are on the likelihood of separation happening, sentiments varied. Many in the West think it will happen for sure, while those in the East mainly feel that it will not happen, that it is all talk. A person interviewed in southwest Saskatchewan says that he doesn’t see it happening as anger over election results will cool down, people will grin and bear it for Trudeau’s term. He insists that people need to keep informed and share opinions, instead of just letting it slide. Another person who lived in the Maritimes for most of their life, but now lives in Saskatchewan, says that they never would have thought of separation while in the East, but now living in Western Canada and speaking with friends who have lived here their whole lives, she is being forced to stop and really think about what is best for Canada as a whole. When asked about acceptable timelines for separation, many Westerners feel that a referendum must be called within a few months or it will lose momentum, and change won’t happen. However, those in the East and West do agree on one point, that a timeline really depends on each province’s leadership and what they do over the next couple of years, but that if an election happens sooner than the 4-year term, some issues may very well resolve themselves through change in government. They just aren’t sure how much would actually change.  
The sentiments from the Eastern and Western supporters seems to be in consensus over what the goal for separation should be. They all feel that they need to gain control over business and economy again, and that they need to have the whole West in mind, not just one province, whatever allows them to begin steady growth again. A lady who has lived in both halves of the country sums up what she feels are the main reasons behind the Wexit movement, “Western families feel the Canadian government has failed them and has no interest to help them succeed financially. What with stripping away many Western families’ livelihoods and thwarting any hope of oil progression over the next foreseeable four years.” This quote sums up how most Westerners feel. To stop a separation from taking place, people feel that the government will take the tact of ignoring the complaints of the West and let the movement fizzle itself out. People in the West feel that what the government needs to do is, scrap the carbon tax, which they feel is not likely to happen, and to start listening to what the West has to say, make them feel that they have a voice. Part of giving the West a voice, would be shown through a change in the electoral system, to properly represent the population bases, adjusting or scrapping equalization payments, and to allow, as well as assist, in pipeline projects. The likelihood of a Western Exit actually happening they feel will depend on how angry the West remains, what the government does to appease the West, and just how much sustained pressure is put on the Liberal government. Staying organized seems to be the common sentiment of success.  
Support was ramping up for this movement, but may have hit a small snag when VoteWexit.com founder, Peter Downing, put up a post stating, “WEXIT Canada will sweep the next election. The Conservative Party had their chance.” This statement seemed to ruffle the feathers of some supporters. It was followed with comments like, “We don’t need a new party. Referendum can be done with CPC.” “We don’t need another party.” “Ya I’m sure it will. I’m out.” “Creating a new party to compete with Federal Conservatives seems off point.” They seem to be worried about a further splitting of votes. These sentiments may cause trouble for the Wexit movement, time shall tell. Further more, there seems to be frustration around the singular focus of Alberta being the only one in this, when other western provinces feel that this is an insult to the support that they have been providing the province of Alberta. It is hard to predict what course and direction the Wexit movement will take, nor what it shall result in. Efforts have been put in motion by separatist leaders to bridge these gaps.
Right now, it seems to be a healthy outlet for the pent-up frustrations the Western Provinces are feeling. A lot of details need to be sorted out before any solid referendum plans can formulate and be put into action. Although many appear wanting to rush the process, a slower more well thought out process tends to be the preferred method for these proceedings. Starting the separation process and successfully creating a country is not something to be rushed into. As stated before, there are many little and big details that need to be sorted out, red tape to get through, and things to make sure are in order before any action can be taken.
Canadians as a whole should be asking themselves, how long before things calm down? And when things do calm down, can the momentum for a separation referendum survive?
Time will be the only true test. I leave you with Trudeau’s thoughts on this matter, “I will be saying more about this, as my thinking evolves.”
Tony Peters