Mark Carney continues to enjoy majority approval in the
Canadian public. He’s got a great smile and projects an amiable presence. His
governorship of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England probably taught him
that people respond well to even arbitrary decisiveness if it comes with a
demeanour that projects wisdom and good will. Doctors and nurses pass or fail
on bedside manner more than on their credentials, I’m told.
Our Prime Minister heads a Liberal government, but
I’ve become less certain that he thinks and acts liberally by the common
definitions of that word. Liberal Arts Education for instance,
aspires to produce citizens who are broadly knowledgeable, tolerant of
differences, competent readers, dialoguers, and community minded (as opposed to
the current drive to make education more focused on specific, employment areas
of engagement… Science, technology, engineering and mathematics: STEM.) Not surprising
given the breakneck pace at which technology is advancing.
Here are a few of the areas in which Carney’s choices make
me wonder about his liberality:
1.
His stated support for the US actions in Iran,
2.
His push to double Canada’s military capability,
3.
His appeasement of Alberta separatism by adding
another pipeline,
4.
His reduction of environmental assessments in
favour of industrial expediency,
5.
His costly drive to make Canada an AI leader.
I can’t predict whether Carney’s decidedly financial/industrial
focus will improve life in Canada. To me, it feels like Canada is currently
operating as a corporation with Carney as CEO. And I think back to great Liberal prime ministers like Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau who focused more
on peace making and individual human rights and citizen welfare than we’re
seeing today. And I look back at a
Conservative prime minister in William Lyon Mackenzie King, who made it
possible for over 20,000 refugees from Soviet tyranny to resettle in Canada.
Being a pacifist, I obviously am appalled that we’re
escalating our debt to have a dozen submarines, thirty or so jet fighters, at a cost that would build thousands of homes. The most we can do in this area, China, Russia, the USA could turn to
rubble in a weekend. The USA’s “Peace through Strength” ideal has proven so
often to fail: Vietnam, Afghanistan and now Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. Peace
through friendship, dialogue and justice is the true liberal outlook.
We are a democracy. One citizen, one vote is a
consequence of the liberalization of governance and, as far as I know, the best
defense against tyranny. Unfortunately our contribution to our democracy too
often ends at the voting booth, where we choose parties, not people mostly. I’m
going to write to Carney stating my concerns about the five points. My letter
will go into a big basket where with AI’s help, it will be sorted as relevant
or irrelevant and via AI again, a letter will be generated to thank me for my
concerns and that the Prime Minister takes my concerns very seriously. But I’ll
send it anyway. A million such protests would make a difference.
AFTERWORD: Estimated cost of 12 submarines, $24,000,000,000 (24 billion) to purchase and an equal amount to operate for their lifetime. Gripen jets have been sold for $90,000,000 (90 million each flyaway cost) so total purchase package equals $26,550,000,000 which at ca. $300,000 per home building cost, would build 88,500 homes. The per capita cost to Canadians is $663.75 for an investment that brings no profit, but requires immense cost in maintenance and operating after purchase. Not to mention interest on the borrowed billions.
NAICA gg.epp41@gmail.com
