In the midst of a deadly third wave of the pandemic — nearly 2,000 Canadians have died of COVID-19 so far in January — the fiercest political debate going on at the federal level concerns the state of the nation’s store shelves.
At issue is a new rule that says anyone driving a transport truck across Canada’s border with the United States must be vaccinated. That rule is now being enforced by both the Canadian and American governments.
The federal Conservatives are loudly opposed and point to images of empty grocery store shelves as they accuse the Liberal government of imposing unnecessary hardship.
“If you walk into a grocery store and you see products on the shelves, thank a trucker,” Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative party’s shadow finance minister, said last week. “If you walk into a grocery store and you see empty shelves, thank Justin Trudeau.”
But Conservatives say their concerns go beyond supply issues — they’re also worried about “freedom.”
With a convoy of aggrieved drivers now headed for Ottawa, Conservative MP Garnett Genuis tweeted the hashtag #TruckersForFreedom and called the vaccine rule “nonsensical.”
Both Poilievre and Genuis refer to the border policy as a “vaccine vendetta” — essentially suggesting the mandate is part of some long-held grudge Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden have against truckers. (Or maybe Conservative wordsmiths just liked the alliteration and didn’t think too hard about the meaning of the word “vendetta.”)
Some products might not be as abundant as they were before the pandemic and some things might now cost more — for several reasons.
An embrace of ‘radical individualism’
But even if the vaccine mandate for cross-border transport ends up contributing to those problems, Poilievre’s simplistic summation can just as easily be turned around. If the shelves are full, thank a vaccinated trucker. If the shelves are empty, thank an unvaccinated trucker.
Federal Conservatives appear to be dug in hard against all forms of vaccine mandates. Where once Conservatives might have gotten behind vaccination requirements as a matter of personal and mutual responsibility, they have instead come down on the side of “radical individualism,” to borrow a phrase from Conservative strategist Ken Boessenkool.
“We think the best way to get people vaccinated is through persuasion, not intimidation,” Poilievre said last week. “We don’t believe in robbing people’s freedoms. We believe in convincing them through data, science and logic.”
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre rises during question period on November 29, 2021 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
All this talk of a “vendetta” and “freedom” might make it even harder for some to hear that “logic.”
Ideally, rational explanation would prevail. But what happens when that isn’t enough?
In the face of a contagious and potentially deadly disease — one that can evolve as it circulates — how long should society defer to an individual’s “freedom” to remain unvaccinated? What should be done when an individual’s choices put others at risk?
Vaccine mandates do invoke a trade-off by placing the general welfare ahead of unfettered individual choice, even at the risk of alienating some of the unvaccinated. When the Trudeau government decided to move ahead last year with vaccine mandates for public servants and air and train travellers, it might have seemed like a dramatic step.
But mandates might now be the moderate position.
The anger of the vaccinated
Days after Quebec Premier Francois Legault floated the possibility of an annual tax for the unvaccinated, Maru Public Opinion released a survey that found 61 per cent of Canadians would support forcing the unvaccinated to pay the full cost of their hospitalization if they are admitted with COVID.
Thirty-seven per cent of respondents polled would go much farther — they would actually bar the unvaccinated from hospitals. Twenty-seven per cent said they would support a five-day jail sentence.
Maru didn’t ask about a vaccine mandate for truckers, but 77 per cent of respondents said they felt it was acceptable for the unvaccinated to be restricted from “entering public spaces and premises such as restaurants, cinemas, libraries, liquor and cannabis stores, and various retail outlets.”
The Conservatives have ended up more or less aligned with the 23 per cent who oppose such measures. But the support of the vaccinated majority doesn’t quite give the Liberals carte blanche to impose mandates without care or concern.
The vaccine mandate for truckers shouldn’t be used as a scapegoat for shortages or higher prices attributable to other problems. The Canadian Trucking Alliance — which “strongly disapproves” of protests on public roadways — says the vaccination rate among truckers is on par with the rest of the population and it remains to be seen how many holdouts will continue to refuse the vaccines. If real impacts do result from the mandate, efforts should be made to distinguish between mere inconvenience and serious hardship.
But vaccine mandates have run into trouble — or have failed to materialize — when governments were unprepared to deal with the consequences. In Quebec, a proposal to require vaccination for health care workers collapsed when it became apparent the government couldn’t deal with the number of unvaccinated workers who would be put out of work.
Some kind of shortfall probably was inevitable and foreseeable. In that event, the question becomes whether government did enough to ensure the mandate can be implemented safely.
Reports of a crisis associated with the trucker mandate are premature. The vast majority of vaccinated Canadians might support mandates right now. But Liberals can’t take that support for granted; if there are significant disruptions or costs, could the vaccinated conclude that the policy is more trouble than it’s worth?
Vaccine mandates might be defended on principle. They might increase the number of people getting their shots. They might ultimately save lives and lower this pandemic’s sickening death toll.
But mandates have had little impact on the vaccinated so far. Conservatives seem to be hoping they can rally unvaccinated truckers and those vaccinated Canadians whose resolve might be shaken by a frustrating trip to the grocery store.
EDMONTON – Canada’s Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is apologizing after shifting claims about his Indigenous identity came under scrutiny.
The Liberal member of Parliament said at an unrelated announcement in Edmonton on Friday that he’s sorry he wasn’t as clear as he could have been “with everything that I know now.”
“I apologize that I wasn’t as clear as I could have been about who I am and my family’s history,” he said, adding that he’s still learning about his family’s heritage “in real time.”
Boissonnault has previously referred to himself as “non-status adopted Cree” and said his great-grandmother was a “full-blooded Cree woman.”
He said Friday he’ll have to confirm his great-grandmother’s status, but his mother and brother are citizens of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
“I apologize if that particular way of referring to myself — I apologize that it was inaccurate.”
It comes after the National Post reported that a company co-owned by Boissonnault unsuccessfully bid on two federal contracts in 2020 while identifying itself as Indigenous and Aboriginal-owned.
The government has pledged to award five per cent of its procurement contracts to Indigenous-owned businesses.
Since that story’s publication last week, Boissonnault has said the family he was adopted into has Indigenous ancestry and his adopted mother and brother are status Métis.
Boissonnault said Friday he never claimed any Indigenous status to his business partner, Stephen Anderson.
“Mr. Anderson should never have claimed that on the particular contract application, and no contract was awarded,” he said.
Boissonnault has previously sat as a member of the Liberal Indigenous Caucus, but he said he joined it as an ally representing many Indigenous people in his community.
When asked about the Liberals’ past claims about his Indigenous identity, he said he corrected the party and asked for the descriptions to be changed as soon as he became aware.
“I never asked the party to refer to me as an Indigenous person. I never clicked any box in any form with the Liberal party. I have never put (an) Indigenous claim to any contract or any application in my entire life,” he said.
The Conservative party has said it wants Boissonnault to testify before the ethics committee so he can “answer truthfully for these serious allegations of fraud.”
“This is even more urgent given the new allegations that his company fraudulently claimed to be Indigenous-owned while applying for government contracts,” said Conservative MP Michael Barrett.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.
The Internet’s most powerful ability is its propensity to spread. This holiday season, amidst the hustle of shopping, party planning, and reflections, let’s use this power to spread joy and generosity. This December, I invite you to transform your social media feeds into a canvas of goodwill, reminding your followers and communities that even small acts of kindness can create waves of joy and inspiration.
Before you dive into creating festive holiday content, it’s crucial to set the stage by updating the aesthetics of your social media profiles to mirror the holiday season. Using Canva (www.canva.com), refresh your banner/cover photo on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. with holiday-themed images. Change your profile picture to one that captures the festive spirit, such as wearing a Santa hat, standing next to a Christmas tree, or under Christmas lights, or wearing a Christmas sweater.
Once your social media profiles reflect your festive mood, consider the following suggestions to inspire others to get into the holiday spirit.
The 12 Days of Kindness Challenge
The English Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” inspired this suggestion, a “12 Days of Kindness” challenge. Starting 12 days before Christmas, or whenever you want, commit to doing one act of kindness daily. It could be paying for someone’s coffee, leaving a heartfelt note for a neighbour, donating to a local charity, or dropping off baked goods at a senior home. Post pictures of each act on your social media channels with the hashtag #12DaysOfKindness. Encourage your followers and tag your friends to do the same, thereby creating a chain reaction of goodwill that spreads far beyond your immediate circle.
Support Local Charities with a Virtual Fundraiser
Use your social media clout to raise money for a local charity by hosting a virtual fundraiser. Invite your followers and friends to join you in a fun activity, like a virtual trivia night or bake-off. Promote donations to a charity of your choice and share updates on the progress. In addition to building community spirit, promoting local causes demonstrates the power of collective action.
Random Acts of Kindness Bingo
Create a bingo card, which you can use Canva to create, filled with random acts of kindness, such as “compliment a stranger,” “donate clothes,” or “help a neighbour.” Once created, post the card on your social media and invite others to join you in completing the challenges throughout the month. As you check off your squares, share photos or stories of your experiences, tagging friends and followers to keep the momentum going. The visual aspect of a bingo card makes it fun and engaging, encouraging participation.
Gratitude and Kindness Posts
Incorporate gratitude into your kindness initiatives by encouraging your followers to share posts about something they’re thankful for and how they plan to pay it forward. Use a specific hashtag, like #ThankfulAndKind, to unify these posts. As people share their gratitude and commitment to kindness, you’ll create a powerful positivity narrative that inspires others to reflect on their lives and actions.
Acts of Kindness Story Swap
Engage your audience by hosting a ‘kindness story swap.’ Invite your followers to share their stories of kindness—either acts they’ve done or experiences they’ve had. Create a specific day for these stories and use a designated hashtag like #KindnessSwap. By facilitating the sharing of stories and uplifting your followers, you’ll be connecting people and building a sense of community, which is what social media should be used for.
Kindness Challenge Videos
Challenge your followers to create short videos showcasing their acts of kindness. This could include anything from helping a neighbour with groceries to volunteering at a local shelter. Encourage them to tag you and others in their posts using a hashtag like #KindnessChallenge. Sharing video content is an effective way to spread your message while inspiring others to get involved.
Holiday Cards for Seniors
During the holidays, seniors living in retirement homes often feel isolated. Initiate a “Holiday Cards for Seniors” campaign by encouraging your followers to create and send handmade holiday cards to local retirement homes. List several local retirement homes on your social media and encourage your followers to share photos of their card-making. This simple act will not only brighten someone’s day but also foster cross-generational connections.
Kindness knows no boundaries. In addition to spreading joy, social media offers a powerful tool to foster community and encourage acts of kindness. No matter how small, each act of kindness contributes to a larger narrative of compassion, which the world desperately needs more of. Imagine the joy on a senior’s face when they receive a holiday card or the warmth in a neighbour’s heart when they receive a compliment. Creating and hosting these kindness challenges and sharing your acts of kindness experiences—giving and receiving—will enrich your life and strengthen your community.
This December let’s embrace the spirit of kindness—online and offline. Your social media feeds can become a gallery of kindness, with posts and shares illustrating the joys of doing acts of kindness, making this holiday season a time of connection, generosity, and lasting impact.
HACHINOHE, Japan – Ivanie Blondin helped Canada to a team sprint gold medal before picking up an individual bronze Friday as Canada opened the long-track speedskating season with three medals at the ISU Four Continents championships.
Ottawa’s Blondin combined with Carolina Hiller of Prince George, B.C., and Béatrice Lamarche of Quebec City to win the women’s team sprint in a track record time of one minute 27.87 seconds.
Lamarche used the slingshot technique to launch Blondin into the final lap, which helped the trio maintain their speed. While the move worked, Lamarche said it could be improved.
“The slingshot move felt better yesterday in practice, but it was not at high speed. Maybe we looked smooth, but I personally felt weird and rushed throughout the entire process,” Lamarche said. “I’m excited to try it again during the World Cup in China because I think it can be better.”
South Korea was 1.39 seconds off the pace for silver, while Kazakhstan was 2.49 seconds back of the winners to take bronze.
Later, the 34-year-old Blondin took bronze in the women’s 1,500 metres with a time of 1:57.99.
Japan’s Miho Takagi (1:54.86) and China’s Mei Han (1:56.53) took gold and silver, respectively.
“I feel pretty good about my 1,500,” Blondin said. “I was not able to warm down following the team sprint as we went straight to the medal ceremony. By the time that was over I had to put my skin suit on and get back on the ice.”
“I didn’t have the pop that I normally would — but midway through the race I realized things were going well and my legs were actually feeling pretty decent,” she added. “I was happy with the end time.”
Canada reached the podium for a third time as Anders Johnson of Burnaby, B.C., Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., and Yankun Zhao of Calgary, Alta., finished third in the men’s team sprint.
The United States (1:19.43) and China (1:19.78) finished ahead of Canada, the defending world champion and world record holder in the discipline.
“I think it was a good race for us,” Johnson said. “It was a new setup for our team today and we executed well and skated well. We’re happy with the result and excited to see what comes in the future.”
The championships continue Saturday with Blondin, Dubreuil, Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen, Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., and Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann looking to add to Canada’s medal total.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.
