Canada always

It seems the right time of year for gratitude. And yet the geo-political reality of the times we’re living in calls out for acknowledgement as well.

I’m appreciative that I am living in a Canada that is on the move.  By necessity, really, because of the hostile actions of our so-called closest friend and neighbour. But I’ll take it. Fortune favours the bold and Prime Minister Mark Carney is seizing the day. The news cycle is a steady stream of new projects, new ideas and reaching out across the globe for new business opportunities for Canada. Every time the U.S. attacks us verbally, through economic means or otherwise, we should ink another deal that doesn’t involve them.

More Canadians are avoiding the U.S. when it comes to travel, which the nationalist in me appreciates. Canuck resident return trips from the states were down nearly 30 per cent year-over-year in August, according to Statistics Canada. Unless there is a family or close friend connection to consider, why would any Canadian visit a country that is antagonistic towards us? Go to Montreal or Charlottetown. See Calgary and the badlands. Or find out why Saskatoon is called the Paris of the Prairies. And if you’re the type of person who needs a winter weather break, go to the Caribbean and fly right over our so-called friend and wave. We have other options than them. We always have.

I’m grateful we’re integrating more closely with Sweden, signing a strategic partnership on defence and talking about incorporating their concept of “total defence.”

In Sweden, the whole of society — government, local authorities, businesses, organizations, and individuals — work together to prepare for and respond to threats like war or major crises. Everyone between 16 to 70, has some duty, which may just mean citizens being prepared to support themselves until official help arrives. The goal is to build resilience throughout society.

As for Pete Hoekstra, U.S. ambassador to Canada, what can I say about this obnoxious man, other than he mirrors his detestable leader? Hoekstra implies our NORAD agreement might not survive us picking Swedish Gripen jet fighters over American F-35s. The nationalist in me wants to drop the purchase of 88 F-35s altogether. But I get it. The Americans are looking for us to have “interoperability” with them. So buy 44 of the American planes and 44 Swedish Gripens. Other countries do this. For example, in the UK, the typhoon handles air-defence and quick reaction alerts and their F-35 provides more stealth-and-strike needs. The squadrons are split by primary role. The bottom line? The U.S., again, will see that we have other options.

And in case our attitude toward the United States isn’t yet clear, let Sir Wilfrid Laurier make it clearer, as he did in 1911:  “Remember that the blood which flows in our veins is just as good as your own, and that if you are a proud people, though we have not your numbers, we are just as proud as you are, and that, rather than part with our national existence, we would part with our lives.”