“I just want to live somewhere where I touch a button on the wall and it will become nice and warm.” These words of a four year old spoken over 20 years ago have stayed with me. So, today I want to look at Canada to see how we are doing in making this dream a reality.
Every year the number of single mothers and children grows. These are our neighbours and citizens of our communities. They are locked out of the dream, and live in poverty most often.
Our First Nations people are locked out too. The children seek drugs and suicide for relief from the hopelessness. The mothers seek a future where none exists, often forfeiting their lives. Children are taken away from their culture, and placed in unsafe environments.
As our families within communities are torn apart through the need of migrant work, we leave mothers and children to adjust to the disruptive family life. Society loses its members as no one has the time to participate or think about issues. A vacancy is created that leaders cannot fill.
Security is an issue, as our future adults are burdened with debt, housing costs beyond their means, low paying jobs with no future. The children of today may well become the new homeless of tomorrow, this the real terror of our times.
The children of the past generations are the homeless of today and this reminder strikes terror in our hearts, for this may be the future for our children’s children.
So the war on terror and the laws for security can not and have not protected its people.
The principles of leadership are neglected in this Canada. During the election listen carefully to the fear mongering and wonder if these are the real issues in the real lives of the people. I for one would like a Canada that cares for its people and the Earth.
The health of a nation is not measured by its wealth but by the health and happiness of its citizens.
Pauline ListeParksville
