Whither Canada?
by Eduardo del Buey
Whither Canada?
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the vicious attack on Israel by the forces of radical Islamism in the form of Hamas.
Instead of observing this tragedy and the war and suffering unleashed by Hamas and Hezbollah on Gaza and Lebanon, the world appears to be calling for global intifada and the imposition of sharia law globally. Millions around the world are filling the streets of their cities with hatred against Jews and Western institutions of liberalism and democracy.
Toronto and Montreal have become global capitals of intifada and jihad, and these perpetrators of violence and hatred appear to have the full support of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his cabinet ministers, and municipal leaders in Toronto and Montreal.
Federal, provincial, and municipal police are aiding and abetting terrorist demonstrations by not applying hate laws and arresting those who disturb the peace and threaten Jews with violence and death.
This is not my Canada.
The Canadian government has proven completely incompetent in managing the Middle East file since October 7, 2023, and its spillover onto Canadian streets and universities.
This is one of the many reasons why the Liberal Party is in third place in the polls, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has lost all popularity.
Machiavelli once noted that it is more important for a leader to be respected than to be liked.
Mr. Trudeau spends much of his time trying to be liked.
Unlike Machiavelli’s “Prince”, Mr. Trudeau is on his way out due to his performance as well as voter fatigue after nine years in office.
Indeed, polls indicate that he is neither liked nor respected.
His cabinet does not fare much better.
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has proven to be one of Canada’s poorest foreign ministers (except perhaps for former Conservative Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier whose ignorance and poor performance in this portfolio is legendary).
Her anti-Israel and antisemitic bias, and her inability or unwillingness to balance humanitarian concerns while addressing the vital threat of Islamist extremism and face the truth about terrorism and power politics in the Middle East has become legendary.
While Israel has faced thousands of missile attacks since October 7th, uncovered the undeniable extent of the Hamas terrorist state in Gaza, and suffered an unprecedented ballistic missile barrage from Iran last week, Joly’s constant harping against Israel’s right to defend itself would be naïve were it not simply wrong.
Under her watch, the Canadian government has imposed sanctions on the sale of military equipment to Israel to allow it to defend itself in a multi-front war.
As if this were not enough, Development Minister Ahmed Hussen acts as Hamas’s representative in the Canadian cabinet.
Under his watch, Canada reinstated funding for the United Nations Reconstruction and Works Agency (UNRWA) whose leadership in Gaza and southern Lebanon has been composed of Hamas operatives at its highest levels.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Mr. Hussen has constantly labelled Israel to be at fault despite the constant attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah.
He has upheld and defended Canada’s commitment to UNRWA even after the U.N. has admitted the fact that many of its senior UNRWA operatives actively participated in the massacre of October 7th.
His decisions have resulted in taxpayer funds to be used to finance UNRWA – a proven associate and supporter of Islamist terrorism. Despite all evidence to the contrary, he has yet to review this erroneous policy and admit that his personal and ideological biases have compromised Canada’s standing at home and abroad.
Each time Hamas or Hezbollah attacks Israel Canada’s only response is to demand that Israel not “escalate” while calling for a cease fire that would only benefit the terrorists.
Never is there a call to sanction the terrorist groups and their supporters in UNRWA for their aggression, only Israel.
Canada’s constant response to the rise of tensions has been underwhelming.
Appearing to side with terrorist groups rather than the only democracy in the Middle East has left many Canadians concerned with the course of the government’s foreign policy. And the government’s appearing to support radical Islamist elements has left Canada bereft of leadership in addressing this global threat to our security.
Another example of the government’s deafness to the threat posed by Islamist terrorism is the decision to allow two thousand Gazans to come to Canada as refugees with little or no vetting, and the promise to invite more over time.
These people have lived under Hamas control for their entire lives, and it stands to reason that if Hamas authorities allow them to leave it is because it suits the terrorist group’s purposes.
What dangers does this pose for Canadians?
Can these immigrants be expected to adapt to Canadian values and assimilate into Canadian society, or will they contribute to increasing radical Islamist sentiment among Muslims and non-Muslims in Canada?
Certainly not if one views the hundreds of thousands protesting in the streets of Montreal and Toronto during this past year calling for an end to the Canada we know and for an Islamist and sharia state in its place.
A related issue is the rise of antisemitism in Canada.
Now-constant anti- Israel and anti-Jewish demonstrations in Canada are usually met with studied indifference by Prime Minister Trudeau who prefers to spend his time warning about Islamophobia rather than taking strong, concrete action to protect the Jewish community.
Indeed, this behavior by the current government has left the Conservatives as the only party that supports the only liberal democracy in the Middle East against the onslaught of terrorist groups and terrorist regimes.
What does this imply for Canadian voters?
Canadians will go to the polls sometime in the next year and are faced with some difficult choices.
The Liberals under Mr. Trudeau have slid from scandal to scandal and, in the eyes of many voters, completely incompetent in managing the economy as well as a key foreign policy file at a time when the fight against terrorism is leading us to the brink of the third world war.
Mr. Trudeau has shifted the party to the left, espousing policies that do not appear to reflect the mood of centrist Canadians.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has shifted his party towards the far right, following the path set out by his mentor former Prime Minister Stephen Harper who is now President of the International Democratic Union. This organization groups far right leaders who have shown little respect for democratic values and institutions.
Mr. Poilievre has shown deep support for Israel and against the rapid rise of antisemitism in Canada.
However, everything else he stands for goes completely against my values. In my view, he would drag Canada back in time, eliminating many of our social programs aimed at helping millions of Canadians throughout their lives.
Recent government reports indicate that Mr. Poilievre has been backed by Russian and Indian support, and both he and his Venezuelan-born wife have refused to submit to a security check that is essential to have access to the classified intelligence information critical for a leader to manage international relations.
As such, he remains ignorant of global developments and many Canadians believe that his background is tainted by connections to nefarious parties.
He also enjoys the professional support of former U.S. president Donald Trump’s advisors and is seen by many to be a Trump clone. He follows the former president’s political playbook and has introduced elements of the politics of insults, mendacity, and ignorance unseen in any previous Canadian political campaign.
The leftist New Democrats are intellectually and financially bankrupt, and their leader, Jagmeet Singh, is tied with the Trudeau government at some twenty points behind the Conservatives.
The marriage between Canada’s traditional left and Islamist terrorism appears to have been solidified under his leadership, and this is creating an atmosphere of hatred and violence from which there may not be a way back.
About the only leader who appears to be a voice of reason is Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet.
Ironically, his party seeks independence for Quebec and the breakup of Canada!
There is no Canadian party that represents the political center – a place where moderate conservatives and liberals can forge consensus on issues and present Canadians with palatable choices. Both major parties are intent to cater to their more extremist bases with policies that have little traction with mainstream Canadians.
And there is no Canadian leader who appears capable of leading Canadians back to a more united country.
Elections are not usually based on a single issue.
But, in this time of global crisis, managing international relations and the threat of radical Islamism on the streets and universities of the country increases in importance to voters.
The decision by the Trudeau government to play both sides to the middle and not take a strong stand against Islamist terrorism at home and abroad will influence the votes of many Canadians.
It is underscoring the view of many that he is playing dilettantish politics rather that standing for Canadian values and offering a strong position on a foreign policy issue that affects tens of millions of Canadians domestically.
This is a losing political strategy and makes Canada look like a naïve player on the world stage.
So, where are the leaders who stand for Canada in every way and the values for which so many have fought and died?
Nowhere to be found.
As I wrote above, this is not my Canada.
Is it yours?
Eduardo,
I don’t know where you get your information on what is happening in Canada with Islam and Antisemitism.
You seem to be magnifying anecdotal experience. I have not seen any data or studies about Canada adopting shariah law etc..,
The Canadian government’s position on the Middle East has been consistent for decades. We support the State of Israel, we also recognize the rights of the Palestinian people. I have never heard that Canada has changed its position. We will support Israel. The neighbours have to recognize the right for Israel to live in peace. If the neighbourhood does not guarantee Peace for Israel, there will be no free Palestine.
I'm starting to think that this idea of nations is simply never going to work. The larger they are, the more difficult they are to govern, and the more likely they are to attract the kinds of people who are ruthless enough to do it. I know it's not likely to change in the lifetime of anyone alive today, but wouldn't humanity's best hope to be to live in clans coordinated by AI? For the first time in human history, we have that technology. But throughout human history we've had madmen and a few madwomen (might have been more but for the patriarchal limitations on the ability of women to exercise power) claiming to know what's good for us and having the power to impose themselves on us at any cost...to us. Your article is yet another reminder of how another one is coming up the pipe here. Harepaw won't be the first. The same mentality as those in authority who tried to wipe out our Indigenous Peoples. Definitely not the Canada I dream of.