Blue Like You

Today on Canada Day, the Toronto Sun features a debate between Lorrie Goldstein and Paul Berton titled Whoa Canada, which discusses possible reasons for a supposed lack of patriotism among some Canadian demographics.

However, a recent Harris-Decima poll found that a clear majority of Canadians are very proud of their country:

The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey asking Canadians to rank their pride in Canada on a scale of one to 10 found 57 per cent gave it the highest mark.

Another 25 per cent gave it an eight or a nine, while just 3 per cent ranked their pride lower than a five.

Personally, I can’t think of a country I’d rather live in. However, there are concerns bubbling under the surface that require our attention. Jeffrey Simpson’s Globe editorial hones in on some issues that seem to be taboo in Canadian society today:

…Is it boredom, political correctness, entrenched self-interest, self-satisfaction or moral superiority that creates so many no-fly zones for debate in this curious country?

There is the sacred cow of supply management in agriculture about which no politician will utter the faintest moo of criticism. Immigration is doing more to change and challenge Canada than any other development, yet we can’t seem to debate it, even though the evidence is piling up that immigration isn’t working as well for the country as it once did. One province, Alberta, is becoming so much richer than the rest that it will strain all sorts of federal policies, but we can’t talk about it.

Nor can there be a debate about medicare. Canada’s system ranks somewhere in the middle of the health-care pack in international studies, yet Canadians cling to it fervently and believe it to be the best in the world.

We can’t use "productivity" without instilling fear and loathing in the public. Competition is a dirty sort of word. The native reserve system is taboo for debate….

One issue that he seems to have overlooked is the threat to our freedom of speech which is at the very heart of democracy. Rex Murphy considers the ongoing HRC fiasco the most under-reported story of the year.

It is indeed disturbing that this Conservative government has taken so long to acknowledge the problem, although some MPs seem to be opening their eyes lately. It is ironic though that it look a Liberal private member’s motion to focus Parliament’s attention on this travesty.

However, we now have Liberal Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty trying to subsidize and streamline the process to encourage even more complaints at taxpayer expense!

And where is the outrage, Canada?

Or are we already so browbeaten by the PC Police that we no longer have a voice?

Are we being forced to be tolerant? Have they really been successful in changing our thoughts, or are we just too afraid to open our mouths any more?

So on this Canada Day, please consider how much complacency and fear are threatening to destroy this beautiful country that we hold so dear.

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Update: For a more light-heartened look at Canada Day, check out ChuckerCanuk.

Live broadcasting of Canada Day events this afternoon from Parliament Hill.

Check out the Hill Cam!

1:30 pm - Blue Rodeo onstage.

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A Canada Day resolution: Don’t let your politicians do your thinking for you .

And how about that Morgentaler guy for Order of Canada, eh?

Lifesite:

…Strangely, both Morgentaler and last year the architect of homosexual ‘marriage’ in Canada were awarded the nation’s highest honor under the Conservative Government…