FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

Jul 30

U.S. Congressional Hearings on January 6th Capitol Breach

by bcurry

On January 6, 2021, a peaceful and patriotic crowd of citizens gathered in front of the steps of the U.S. Congress, on what is referred to as the Hill.  They lovely and respectfully greeted the law-enforcement officers from the Capitol Police on duty that day.  Suddenly, these individuals who were exercising their right to protest, broke through the police lines and entered the people’s building of American governance.  They did not mean to hurt anyone, although there were a few who mockingly shouted that they wanted to hang Vice-President Mike Pence.  In order to avoid the determined mob, both Republican and Democrat members of Congress conveniently left the Senate Chamber in order to make room for the touring crowd.  These patriots then went about their business of sightseeing through the corridors of the Capitol.  Once they had finished their tour, they left the premises, often carrying handfuls of souvenirs to show the family back home.  Meanwhile, the outgoing President of the United States of America, sat comfortably in the White House and calmly watched the unfolding events televised on American news networks for all to see.  He was particularly concerned that none of his supporters would be seriously injured by the authorities during their visitation.

Months later, one now has a House select committee investigating the storming of the Capitol, much to the chagrin of majority of Republicans who don’t see any need for any inquiry, let alone an independent commission of inquiry.  For this reason, Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to seat two Republicans who publicly opposed the establishment of the committee itself, and instead invited two more neutral Republicans, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, to join the committee.  This seems to make sense.  Let’s face it, most Republicans would like the whole January 6th armed insurrection to go away.  Remember, many of the mob have said under oath that they were there because Donald Trump sent them.

I don’t know about you, but I sat in front of my television witnessing what some have called the worst attack on Washington since the War of 1812 — between what was then Canada and the U.S.  I could not believe what I was witnessing!  No one in their right mind can deny the fact that the attack was orchestrated and well planned in advance.  To say that a few of Trump’s supporters simply got overly zealous is a pile of you know what.  The real problem and failure, indeed the tragedy, is that the actions of the mob were not foreseen by the Trump administration and the intelligence and security communities.  Congress was virtually left at the mercy of a crazy group of insurrectionists.  It is these elements of what happened on January 6th that need to be investigated and made public.  The role of Donald Trump in inciting his supporters is already well known and no longer of particular import.  What is important is to establish what went terribly wrong within the intelligence community, law enforcement and among federal agencies involved, including the Department of Defence.  Hopefully, these are the issues that the committee will examine in order to introduce changes that would ensure that something of this nature will never happen again.  Let’s face it, there’s plenty of blame to go around.  What one needs is truthful answers and expert analysis.

Donald Trump Republican Party US US Politics

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Jul 28

Appointment of Remarkable Indigenous Woman to be Canada’s 30th Governor General

by bcurry

On July 26th, Mary Simon was officially appointed the Queen’s representative to Canada.  What is extraordinary is that Mary Simon is Inuk, having been born and raised in what is now Nunavut.  Nunavut is one of Canada’s three northern territories and is populated primarily by the Inuk people.  Now of course, the role of the Governor General is primarily ceremonial, but there are certain situations where the Prime Minister as head of government must consult with the Governor General, such as in the case of dissolving Parliament and calling a federal election.  What is more important, that as head of state, the Governor General will oversee a number of ceremonial events such as the opening of Parliament and awarding Canadians with various titles of recognition for service and achievements.

What is even more important, in this period of reconciliation with indigenous peoples, Mary Simon will have numerous opportunities to travel the country and meet with Canadians in their communities.  She appears to be devoted to trying to bring Canadians together and to serve as a bridge for people of different races, colour, life preferences, religions, etc., etc.  She is also committed to improving the economic and social situation for people in the Artic, many of whom have been forgotten by past governments in Ottawa.  She has also been a major spokesperson for issues surrounding climate change, particularly in global Artic regions.  In her inauguration address to Parliament, Mary Simon demonstrated her sincere desire to serve all Canadians in a respectful and humble manner.

In a time when the current pandemic has created more divisions among Canadians, an effective and respected Governor General can certainly help to address some of the critical issues we face, without the appearance of adhering to any particular political biases.  She has talked about real acts of meaningful reconciliation and the need for healing in Aboriginal communities across Canada.  Through tolerance and understanding, she believes that Canada can truly become a country of diversity, greater equality and hope.  I, like many Canadians, could not but be impressed with the inspiring words of our new head of state.  We can only hope that Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, as our 30th and first Inuk Governor General, will help all of us to heal and move forward in a positive way.  She certainly has challenging work set out for her!

Canada Climate Change Federal Government

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Jul 24

To Mandate COVID Vaccinations or Not?

by bcurry

When COVID vaccinations really took off in the spring, people began to sense that they could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and a return to so-called normalcy.  However, despite large numbers of Americans, Canadians and Europeans having become fully vaccinated or at least having one dose, the sudden emergence of the Delta Variant is once again starting to dim that light.  In the U.S., COVID-19 hospitalizations are trending upward in 45 states.  While levels remain well below previous peaks, health care centers in parts of the Midwest, West and South are strained.  For example, some Florida hospitals have more COVID patients than ever before.  In Europe, the Delta Variant is now the predominant strain and appears to be spreading rapidly, especially among the unvaccinated.  In France, 22,000 coronavirus cases were reported in a 24-hour period this past week, the highest rate in more than two months.

The result has been that a number of governments reintroduced masking and physical distancing requirements, especially for indoor public activities.  What is more interesting is that several governments, like that of France, have introduced mandatory vaccination for health workers and are telling the rest of the population — if not vaccinated or without testing negative — will be denied access to most indoor public spaces.  In the U.S., more than 400 colleges and universities are required to vaccinate students for COVID-19.  As well, based on recent favourable court decisions, the U.S. government provided guidance that companies can require workers entering the workplace to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or to be tested.  America’s business leaders, who had hoped the country would already be fully on a path to normalcy, are caught in a conundrum of requiring employees to be fully vaccinated in order to return to their workplaces or allowing them to continue to work from home.  Given the apparent emergence of another wave, employers have to ask whether workers will feel comfortable enough to come back, even if good controls are in place?  Less than half of Americans are fully vaccinated, exacerbating the situation in their workplaces.

To date, studies have shown that vaccines remain effective against the worst outcomes of COVID-19, including those from the Delta Variant.  Whether or not they are a hundred percent effective is not the point.  When determining vaccination requirements, people are using the “precautionary principle”, which claims that certain health and safety actions are justified even though one may not have all the evidence readily at hand.  One just needs to know that the potential benefits of taking an initiative outweigh the apparent risks, especially when it comes to public safety.  The courts have determined that reasonable practices will supersede the impact on individual liberties, especially where the good of the community or employees are at risk.

During this global pandemic, governments have closed borders, placed restrictions on travel, imposed testing and quarantine requirements for travellers, obligated masking and physical distancing requirements, etc., etc.  Now that we have relatively effective vaccines that can help prevent further COVID outbreaks, the question of mandatory vaccinations will continue to surface in many countries and communities.  It will no doubt stir up pockets of deep resistance among some elements of the population believing that such policies are an infringement of individual liberties.  The debate has already surfaced with respect to the idea of having vaccination passports in order to travel or enter certain types of public spaces such as gyms, restaurants, bars and sporting/entertainment events.  There are growing divisions over how far it may become mandatory to receive an injection.  As in Europe, the debate will continue in both the U.S. and Canada, sometimes placing local authorities in opposition to the policies of state and provincial governments.  Who ultimately wins this debate will most likely depend largely on political beliefs and whether the current surge in the Delta Variant can be adequately controlled. In the meantime, health care systems and front-line workers will unfortunately continue to be strained!

Canada Coronavirus COVID-19 US

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Jul 18

Despite Evidence to the Contrary, Climate Change Skepticism Lingers in the U.S. and Canada

by bcurry

An extreme heat wave affected much of Western North America in late June and early July of this year. The heat affected Northern California, Idaho, Western Nevada, Oregon, and Washington in the U.S., as well as Canada’s British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and Yukon.  The extreme heat was accompanied by droughts, hundreds of wildfires, hundreds of heat-related deaths, the interruption of major interstate transmission and rail lines, and the evacuation of dozens of towns and communities.  In the case of the village of Lytton, British Columbia, it was sadly completely destroyed by wildfires.  International researchers concluded that the extraordinary heat wave in the northwestern United States and parts of Canada would almost certainly not have occurred without global warming.

Yet, despite all the evidence to the contrary, there are still Americans and Canadians, often living in the most affected regions, who remain skeptical about the impact of climate change.  For example, they instead blame more severe wildfires on the federal government’s water policies and forestry management, referring to it as ‘environmentally caused mismanagement’.  Unfortunately, skepticism appears to be highest in the U.S. partly because of a major distrust of everything that has to do with the federal government, similar to that found among anti-vaccination groups as it pertains to COVID-19.  

Seeing the results of climate change during the past decade, there are those who believe that we have to invest more in developing infrastructures that can withstand the future impacts of such extreme weather events, including flooding along our coastlines.  These investments will have to include looking at major infrastructure changes to energy transmission, water conservation, building structures, crop management, forestry management, emergency preparedness, etc., etc.  In order to better cope with future extreme weather events and other impacts due to climate change, the needed infrastructure changes will cost trillions of dollars.  There is no segment of society that will not be affected.

In order to deal with those skeptical segments of society, we will have to do a better job of countering misinformation about climate change and informing people about the serious inevitable consequences of not preparing for impacts associated with climate change.  This is the number one priority for the human race.  Given the course that we are on, there must be a clear understanding among all of us of the urgent need to get even more serious about this issue.  People have a right to be skeptical, but not to the extent that it places them in real danger.  This is exactly what’s happening now!  This issue is beyond a doubt the priority for the twenty-first century as it affects every aspect of our society, and societies in other countries, especially those in the so-called Third World.  Without sounding overly alarmist, our lives and livelihoods depend on our dealing with the impacts of climate change today and not tomorrow!

Canada Climate Change US

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Jul 15

From the Ridiculous to the Surreal: Renaming of Major Thoroughfares in Toronto, Ontario

by bcurry

I’ve just read that Toronto city council plans to vote to rename the major thoroughfare Dundas Street and other locations named after the 18th-century politician Henry Dundas.  The reason apparently is that someone discovered that Henry Dundas was a Scottish politician who delayed Britain’s abolition of slavery by 15 years.  Now, having lived in Toronto for the majority of my young life, I would have never known the origin of the name for Dundas Street.  I’m certain that, even today, the vast majority of Torontonians do not know anything about Henry Dundas. 

Now it’s one thing to remove statues of major historical figures such as John A. McDonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister, but it’s quite another to start renaming major thoroughfares in cities.  Can you imagine the costs associated with such initiatives at a time when urban centers are starting to reopen following the costly pandemic.  Toronto’s city council has suggested that the city also plans to make room in its budget to support people and businesses affected by the change, otherwise taxpayers.  You would think that they have other more important issues to spend money on, such as increasing affordable housing, fixing aging infrastructures and improving social and health care services.

As in most countries, historically local governments often chose to name streets and municipal properties after people, sometimes based on historical connections.  For example, I lived near Bathurst Street in Toronto — a major north-south thoroughfare — which apparently was named for Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst, who was also a member of the British Parliament during colonial times, and who like Henry Dundas had never once visited Canada.  I never knew this and really couldn’t have cared less!  I’m certain that if someone did a deep dive into Henry Bathurst’s history as an 18th-century British colonial politician, they would probably find something to object to.

The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, declared that the “names of our public streets, parks, and monuments are a reflection of our values as Torontonians.”  While I recognize his sentiments, I cannot but think that this is a political ploy to satisfy a small group of persons at the expense of the rest of us.  Can you imagine all the small businesses and other organizations along Dundas Street or Bathurst Street which would have to bear the expenses associated with changing their business and mailing addresses?  Should the motion go through, one can only ask whether this is one incidence or whether this is just the beginning of a ridiculous trend across North America?  Indeed, this could represent a dangerous and costly precedent, going from the ridiculous to the surreal!

Canada Leadership Urban Issues

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Jul 12

Mandatory COVID Vaccinations vs. Civil Liberties in North America

by bcurry

With the post-secondary school year not that far off, several colleges in Canada and in the U.S. have announced mandatory COVID vaccination policies for students, especially for those wanting to live in residence.  There reportedly are now well over 500 colleges and universities in the U.S. which are requiring vaccinations to come on campus in the fall, including the entire New York and California public systems.  Although these currently represent only about 10 percent of American colleges and universities, the numbers apparently continue to grow.  Here in Canada, with some exceptions, mandatory vaccination requirements for students have been slow to emerge.  For example, University of Toronto students living in dorms this fall will be required to be vaccinated.  Those moving into residence at Western University will be required to receive at least a first dose.  However, most Canadian colleges and universities only tend to strongly encourage all community members to get vaccinated as soon as they become eligible.

Cara Zwibel, director of the fundamental freedoms program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, views that such mandatory vaccination policies undermine the idea that vaccination is a choice.  Yet, Ontario schools require children and teens to be immunized against designated childhood diseases, unless they have a valid exemption.  Indeed, when it comes to introducing vaccination and medical mask requirements in workplaces, the province of Quebec leads the way in Canada.  A passport-based approach, which is still rare in Canada, will take effect this September in Quebec which will allow only fully vaccinated people to access non-essential places such as bars and gyms.  Last April, Quebec’s workplace health and safety board required that medical masks be worn at all times indoors in workplaces.  As well, additional restrictions have been placed on visitors to long-term senior residences for persons who are not fully vaccinated.  Most long-term care employers are now requiring employees to be fully vaccinated with few exceptions.  Otherwise, the non-vaccinated employees will face continuous COVID testing protocols and additional personal protective equipment requirements.

Mandatory COVID vaccination and masking requirements will continue to raise the eyebrows of civil liberties groups, arguing that vaccination and masking should be a choice.  However, health and safety specialists will counter by arguing that, by the very nature of the coronavirus and how it quickly spreads, there are situations where congregate living situations (residences) and shared common spaces make it challenging to isolate or quarantine should someone become infected.  From various surveys, it would appear that otherwise healthy young people taking a more vaccine-hesitant stance is not about an infringement on their civil liberties, but more about complacency.  As a society, we place all kinds of requirements on our citizens to protect the overall health and safety of our communities, especially in workplaces.  Under certain circumstances, it would appear that mandatory COVID vaccination requirements to safeguard oneself and others from the spread of this dangerous virus make sense.  The continuing reluctance of the majority of institutions to not introduce these requirements and to take a wait and see approach is inviting future outbreaks and possible lockdowns in both countries.

Canada Coronavirus COVID-19 US

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Jul 8

Walking a Tightrope When Discussing Human Rights and China

by bcurry

Back in March of this year, Canada joined other Western allies in sanctioning Chinese officials who are suspected of involvement in the persecution of China’s Uighur Muslim minority in the western province of Xinjiang.  There has been an on-going war of words between Chinese officials and state media with the Canadian government over alleged human rights violations in the mistreatment of its Uyghur minority.  More recently, this public war of words escalated with a Chinese anti-Canada offensive soon after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves containing the remains of children at former indigenous residential schools in Canada.  Much of the criticism towards Canada, and in particular towards Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was openly levelled by a Chinese Communist Party newspaper with an active online presence.  The Prime Minister has accused Beijing of having failed even to admit its present-day human rights problems, let alone take measures to alleviate them.  Trudeau views this failure as a “fundamental difference” compared to Canada.  However, with various active Chinese support groups located in Canada, particularly in Chinese communities and on college campuses, one can expect that the state supported campaign will continue for some time to come.

In addition, there is always the matter of economic and trade initiatives between Canada and China to consider.  The Canada China Business Council (CCBC) is a powerful high level lobby group that promotes a greater degree of commercial and diplomatic interaction between Canada and China.  The influential CCBC’s board of directors is a who’s who of Canada’s power elite.  The Council has head a number of trade missions to China, promoting lucrative Canadian business ties in China.  As one observer noted, even the Crown corporation which invests taxpayers’ money, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, has invested to the tune of $56 billion, or 12 percent of their total investments, in China.  Investments can include companies with provable links to human rights abuses.  Moreover, it has become clear that Canadian accusations of human rights violations by Chinese authorities is little more than an annoyance, intended primarily for our domestic consumption and not to be taken seriously.  Business goes on as usual.

The reality is that Canadian authorities understand this delicate relationship when it comes to Chinese foreign and domestic policies.  As in the case of Australia and the U.S., the Chinese state propaganda machine will counter with its own accusations of human rights violations in other countries, whether past or present.  They certainly have a vast array of means to counter what they view as foreign interference in their domestic affairs, whether through their on-line presence or through sources readily available within other countries.  Let’s face it, Canada by itself is not in a position to discredit those sources, and indeed may not really want to rock the boat for fear of creating future trade barriers.  When openly discussing human rights in China, Canada is forced to cautiously walk a tightrope.

Canada China's Relations Native Issues

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Jul 3

War on COVID has presented today’s youth with opportunities to demonstrate strengths

by bcurry

With all of the negative news surrounding COVID-19, there is also a fair amount of positive news that one can take away from the last year and a half.  Much of it has to do with the actions of today’s younger generations, be it the Millennials or Generations Y and Z.  Youth in past generations had to overcome the consequences of global depression and the horrific impacts of fighting in two world wars.  Today’s generations have been placed in a similar position.

Today, the battles such as those against a global pandemic are just as challenging.  Nevertheless, younger people have emerged to take leadership in tackling this disease in scientific, health care and front line services.  Take their evident participation in contributing the scientific research surrounding the incredible development of mRNA vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer.  The speedy delivery of COVID vaccines is anything but miraculous.  College, secondary and primary students have had to adjust to a relatively new teaching environment involving the use of innovative technologies, including those involving on-line learning and virtual communication.  No easy task!  Young people and their families have been asked to pay a heavy price, but for the most part they have shown great resilience and commitment.

On a personal note, I was greatly impressed by the participation of many young health care practitioners and volunteers at a local community COVID vaccination clinic.  Working around the clock and having to continuously wear personal protective equipment, these young people helped to provide an efficient, speedy and convenient service to the community, all the while doing so in a polite and caring manner.  Then there are those thousands working in hospitals who have had to deal with the tragic loss of life due to COVID, often where patients have been completely isolated from their families and friends.  We owe these courageous people a whole lot of thanks and appreciation.

At the above vaccination clinic, I also noticed a good many young people who had agreed to be vaccinated against this terrible disease.  There has been a lot of talk about the hesitancy factor as it pertains to younger people.  However, from what I’ve seen so far, the majority of young Canadians have stepped forward to aid in the fight against this disease, and in particular to prevent the further spread of the so-called Delta variant.  Given relevant and reliable information, I am certain that today’s youth will continue to play their important role in bringing an end to the pandemic in their communities, and in the country at large.  Rather than dwelling on the negative commentary on social media and elsewhere, we should be expressing our appreciation for their positive contributions to combating COVID.  To the younger generations, I send out a big ‘thank you’ for the critical roles that you are playing.

Canada Coronavirus COVID-19 Leadership US

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