3 Suggestions for a better Canada

Three items that should be mandatory courses in Canadian schools:
Yoga - promotes better health and well-being,  for all body types,
Philosophy - encourages critical thinking and inductive reasoning,
Field trips to Canadian National Parks - to appreciate the privilege of being Canadian thereby encouraging citizen participation in all things Canadian.

Unfortunately, some governments discourage and actively suppress citizen participation. A clueless and   uncritical populace is easier to manipulate and herd. Bring on the symbolic tax rebate and the imagined enemies of the state.

A Great Day for Canadians: A Hat Trick for Justice and Fairness

This week has been a great day for Canada… well. actually, just in the last two days.

First, a jury on the Ashley Smith Inquest has ruled and has made recommendations (with safeguards that this ruling be heeded and enforced) that the mentally ill in society, and especially those in the Canadian prison system, be treated in the context of mental illness, with respect and humanity. Remarkably, this jury established that front-line workers may now go with their conscience and  against the orders of senior management if these orders are deemed unjust, even criminal.

Second, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of honesty in police records and notes; that police have to hand in their daily notes, reports, and observations, at the end of their shifts, WITHOUT consulting a lawyer, specifically in cases under investigations. Consulting a lawyer, as well as an officer's peers, risks "compromising the independence of an officer and the recollection of the facts".This will lead to increased honesty and transparency, and inevitably, to justice and fairness for the Canadian public. This can only lead to greater transparency and trust in the police services.

Thirdly, the Supreme Court of Canada, has struck down Canada's medieval, incredibly-unfair-to-women prostitution laws. Unanimously!! This gives women more control over their bodies, and strikes a grievous blow to the pimps and human traffickers. This brings up Canada's laws to the same standards to those of the more enlightened European countries.

Next up, The Canadian government is hinting at the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana; opinion polls consistently show that the government policy is at odds with what the Canadian public wants.

One more item in the news, this just in: Police have recognized the unfairness and the racist implications of the designation "non-white" in police reports. Such a designation will shortly be relegated to the dust bin of history.

Canada: it's a beautiful country!

There's nothing like a good rant to rouse one up...

... from the stupor induced by a life far from the unpleasant. True stuff.

To my American friends: Canadian perspectives on "left" and "right"

A decent article by Chantal Hebert for my American friends to understand  Canadian perspectives on the concepts of "left wing" and "right wing" in politics. The current "right wing" federal government under Stephen Harper espouses gay rights (and is a vocal critic of countries that suppress gay rights),enacts super progressive immigration policies and minority rights, makes it clear  that religion has no place in the business of government, allows for the rights of women over their own bodies, and is committed to economic policies that is favourable to the different classes in society.
The so-called "religious right" in the federal, provincial and local governments are on the fringes of any political debate.
And to think that Harper's government is the most right wing government in years. Canadian governments have always reflected  the soul of the country: pragmatic, secular, and compassionate.
There's a reason why, according to a recent poll, 75% of Canadians would go for Barack Obama. Obama is the most Canadian of all US presidents.
Canadians have this belief that everyone want s to improve their lot in life. Social safety nets such as universal health care, unemployment insurance, welfare benefits, refugee allowances are there to help people when they need it on a temporary basis. It is a belief in the human potential and their aspirations. While the system is not perfect, and a small minority will always take advantage of the system, in general, the system works for everyone. And the benefits of such a system pays huge dividends a few years, a generation or two, down the road.
Canadians realize that we are all in this together. It's not religion, it's not any god that will help us. Governments are just enablers, catalysts if you will, for social changes for the better.
It really bothers me when some people go on an  overtly racist frenzy over this vague,segment of the population that are "lazy" and don't want to work. Sure, ther will be some people like that, but to skew government policies to correct a non-existent issue is at the very least misguided and at most, fatally wrong.