To the editor:
How have we become such a fearful country? Rick Hillier, the former chief of defence staff for the Harper government said recently: “We’ve got to stop being frightened of our own shadow.” What’s happened to the optimistic, fair-minded, generous country Canada used to be?
I can tell you. We’ve had a government for far too long that has governed with fearfulness. They’ve been afraid of what scientists have to say, they’ve been afraid of what the census will say, they’ve been afraid of letting Canadians know what laws are being enacted so they’ve hidden everything in omnibus bills—the’y’ve even prevented Elections Canada from encouraging Canadians to vote and only allowed pre-approved Canadians to attend their campaign events. That fearfulness has rubbed off on us.
While Europe is inundated with desperate refugees, Canada does virtually nothing. Rick Hillier has courageously spoken out with an excellent plan for how we can help, but the Canadian government is sticking with its fearful agenda. Most of us are in Canada because previous governments have been welcoming and courageous, not fearful. In Canada, only two people have died in terrorism attacks over the last decade. We’re much more likely to be killed in a car accident. We’ve got to rediscover our Canadian mojo. How can we stand by with meagre future plans for admitting refugees when the crisis is happening now and needs action now?
Aren’t you tired of being fearful? We’re afraid of letting refugees in, we’re afraid to change course on the economy, we’re afraid of our own shadows. Without being willing to change and take on challenges, Canada will stagnate, and we’ll continue to live in fear. I certainly don’t want that future and intend to vote for a much-needed change.
L. Hein, West Kelowna
