Exactly one year ago in this very column, we asked politely where all the great ideas had gone, longing for the days of national political debates such as Medicare, the Canadian Pension Plan and free trade, that captivated and engaged the public setting the tone for our future. Just one year later the country has legalized recreational marijuana and are owners of a pipeline.
Only one of these issues was really heavily debated in the house of commons. Pot use and how it will impact communities was debated in municipal forums across the country. In the case of the pipeline the decision was debated openly in the media and marked publicly by demonstrations.
What has become very apparent in the past year is how social media has replaced face-to-face dialogue, or how opinions are formed with little context or information.
The “Donald” in one of his Twitter “communiques,” openly criticized the prime minister after a G7 meeting, for basically repeating the government’s stance on tariffs and free trade.
In one newscycle, the tone of Canada’s relationship with the U.S.A. changed after just a few tweets.
(It should be noted that an improvement, perhaps, is that in the past year Twitter upped its character count to 280 from 140.)
Also changing is the stability of the global economy we now live in — where the stock markets are volatile at the drop of a hat or a “tweet.”
Across the country the past few weeks there have been calls for boycotts of U.S.A.-made products from all corners, and Canada has pledged to retaliate with carefully targeted tariffs on US goods that hit the president’s base supporters.
There’s no doubt that the current tariffs on softwood lumber here at home have had an impact and if the suggested auto tariffs become reality it would change the industry in Ontario.
When it comes trade wars and tariffs, tit for tat, we can’t win.
Being Canadian, we all know that diplomacy always wins, taking the high road, being a bigger person than the other guy.
In the meantime, let’s stand on guard for thee.
— Parksville Qualicum Beach News