Posted on 02/22/2022 4:03:23 AM PST by Kaslin
Canada is leaving the Western world.
In terms of all-encompassing government, suppression of dissent and the denial of fundamental human rights to many of its citizens, Canada is now more similar to Cuba than to any free country. Canada may eventually return to Western civilization, but as of this writing, the majority of Canadians appear to have no interest in it doing so. According to Maru Public Opinion, "two-thirds (66%) of Canadians support Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bringing in the Emergencies Act ... A majority (56%) of Canadians do not support the truckers who are protesting in any way, shape, or form ... This is a majority view held in every province/region across the country."
I suspect that most Americans -- and certainly most people outside of America or Canada -- do not know precisely what Canada's Marxist prime minister, Justin Trudeau, is doing to his country.
So, allow me to review.
Last week, for only the second time in Canadian history other than wartime -- the first time was under Justin Trudeau's father, Pierre Trudeau, the other Marxist to govern Canada -- Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act. This statute enables a Canadian prime minister to suspend fundamental human rights and rule as a dictator.
The CBC described in detail how Trudeau is using the Emergencies Act to destroy the lives of Canadian dissidents. This should be read carefully. Such policies have never been enacted by a Western country against its own citizens (with the extremely rare exceptions of those actively engaged in terrorism):
"Using powers granted under the Emergencies Act, the federal government has directed banks and other financial institutions to stop doing business with people associated with the anti-vaccine mandate convoy occupying the nation's capital.
"The government's new directive, called the 'emergency economic measures order,' goes beyond asking banks to simply stop transferring funds to protest organizers. The government wants banks to stop doing business with some people altogether.
"The order says that banks and other financial entities (like credit unions, co-ops, loan companies, trusts and cryptocurrency platforms) must stop 'providing any financial or related services' to people associated with the protests -- a move that will result in frozen accounts, stranded money and cancelled credit cards.
"The Emergencies Act gives authorities the power to freeze the finances of those connected to blockades and protests, and the consequences could last long after the demonstrations end...
"The regulation's definition of a "designated person" also includes ... anyone sending funds to support these protests...
"Mark Blumberg is a lawyer at Blumberg Segal LLP who specializes in non-profit and charity law. In an interview, he said that while the Emergencies Act gives banks time-limited powers, these institutions 'may just decide to shut the person's account down' because there could be 'huge risks' for banks servicing these customers in the future. Banks will be working with law enforcement to decide who should be 'de-banked.'
"A senior government official said ... police could gather the names and license plate numbers of people participating in a protest or an unlawful assembly and share that information with FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada) ...
"Former CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) senior strategic analyst Jessica Davis (said) 'the people who are participating in the protest aren't going to be able to do things like pay bills, pay their hotel bills. They will eventually run out of supplies as well...
"With access to bank accounts and credit cards and other financial instruments suspended, protesters won't be able to pay for things like hotel and fuel bills...
"Over the longer term, Davis said, it may be hard for some of the truckers participating to ever find work again because they could lack the necessary insurance to operate a big rig. 'Paying bills, paying rent and any kind of day-to-day financial transaction can be stopped for people who are part of the protest movement,' she said. There may also be some 'unintended consequences' from frozen accounts, such as suspended alimony and child support payments, Davis said. 'It's going to be very difficult for them.'
"Banks have been granted immunity against legal action in the event of disputes over whether someone should have been denied financial services. 'No proceedings under the Emergencies Act and no civil proceedings lie against an entity for complying with this Order,' the regulations read."
None of these life-ruining, due-process defying measures is necessary. The truckers' demonstrations could have been ended by arresting drivers who would not move their trucks or simply just towing their trucks. The purpose of these regulations is to destroy dissenters and deter future dissent. In a word, it is to ruin the lives of those who disobey Justin Trudeau.
As one who has followed Canadian life over the decades -- I have lectured in nine of Canada's 10 provinces -- the moral descent of Canada is depressing but not especially surprising. Since I was in college in the 1970s, I traveled abroad every year of my life except in 2020 -- to some 130 countries. I not only took interest in the countries I visited but in the tourists who visited them. I recall well that when I was young, many young Canadians stitched a Canadian flag onto their backpacks. As almost no tourists from other nations did that, I asked Canadians why they did. Their reason was to identify themselves as Canadian rather than as American.
I am not the first observer of Canadians to note that a major part of Canadian identity -- especially among Canadian elites -- is being a not-American. Many Canadians were and remain first and foremost not-Americans. Other than that, not much defines Canadians. And when a nation stands essentially for nothing, bad things eventually happen -- because nothingness is eventually filled or replaced by bad.
On my radio show, I once asked the late Charles Krauthammer, one of the most insightful commentators of this era, what he saw as the greatest difference between his native Canada and his adopted country, the United States. Without hesitation, he said that in America the national motto is "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," and in Canada it is "Peace, Order, and Good Government."
The first inspires a nation. The second doesn't.
Upon the death of Fidel Castro, Justin Trudeau gave the most positive assessment of the Cuban tyrant of any Western leader. It is worth quoting in full because it demonstrates Trudeau's affection for communism and because Trudeau is transforming Canada into Cuba:
"It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of Cuba's longest-serving President. Fidel Castro was a larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century. A legendary revolutionary and orator, Mr. Castro made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation.
"While a controversial figure, both Mr. Castro's supporters and detractors recognized his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for 'el Comandante.'
"I know my father was very proud to call him a friend and I had the opportunity to meet Fidel when my father passed away. It was also a real honor to meet his three sons and his brother, President Raul Castro, during my recent visit to Cuba.
"On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and many, many supporters of Mr. Castro. We join the people of Cuba today in mourning the loss of this remarkable leader."
There does remain one major difference between Canada and Cuba. Few Cubans support their Marxist leaders, but most Canadians support theirs. They don't know what they're in for.
I think you can believe the poll. Brits, Canadians, Australians may superficially seem like us, but they’re fundamentally different. The have no acknowledged God given rights. All of their so-called rights are given to them by government and what government gives government an and does take away. They are so used to wearing chains they don’t even notice. This country I’d headed down the same path with gun control and bans on “hate speech” civil asset forfeiture, qualified immunity for government thugs, etc.
I can only give you my personal experience with people I deal with in Canada. I am in the lumber business. I buy lumber from sawmills in Canada and the US. Generally sawmill people are conservative.
The three people I deal with are all upper management in the sales department of major lumber corporations. One in Ontario. The other two in BC. All 35-65ish White men.
I asked each one a couple weeks ago their opinion regarding the truckers protest. Each one said they had thought it had gone on too long. It was time for it to end. Now, this was prior to the events of this past Friday and Saturday in Ottawa. Also, they all know I am a conservative.
One of them is a liberal. He was all in on the Vaccines. When I told him six months ago about the VAERS reported deaths by the CDC, he stated that “I don’t believe that”.
After that we agreed to not discuss it anymore. He was sick of the truckers. Keep in mind these guys use truckers every day that bring their lumber across the border into the USA.
The other man is an older gentleman farmer who lives out in the Sumas Valley east of Vancouver. He is probably the most conservative of the three. I would call him a moderate. He was tired of it. Especially when they blocked the border crossing right in WA.
The third is a 35-40ish married father of two who lives in a Vancouver suburb. He is also liberal but knows I am a conservative. His opinion also was it was time for it to end.
Keep in mind, in general Canada is much more Socialist/liberal than the US. Yes, they own lots of guns, but those are mostly used for hunting by people that live out in the bush. Not by the Hosers who live in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
Lastly, their country is similar to ours in that some parts like Alberta, SK, Manitoba and the countryside away from Vancouver in BC are much more conservative than the metro areas.
The Eastern provinces like New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island are not that much different than Maine. These people like Americans. They love when we visit. They would actually make good additional US states. As would Manitoba, SK and BC. Although Vancouver is like north Seattle.
Quebec wants to be a separate country. The French Canadians all have a chip on their shoulder. They can be rude to English speaking Americans. Similar to the French in France.
So, let them enjoy their Dictatorship.
On Monday night, the Canadian Parliament voted to uphold Castreau’s invocation of Emergency Powers.
The only way out for Canada is through.
My former neighbors were Canadian immigrants. He was an electrical engineer and had moved to NH for his job. They lived next door for eight years. They were very nice neighbors. He helped me with his tractor a couple times when I first moved there. They were also Liberals. She hated Trump. He basically kept his views to himself but I knew they were Hillary supporters.
They moved back to the Ottawa area a couple years ago to be closer to their grandchildren. In a way, I was glad to see them move back to Canada.
Why don’t their representatives in Parliament have a no confidence vote and throw Trudeau out? They have the power to do so. Apparently, they agree with him. If so and they’re representing their constituents, Canada is lost. Stick a fork in her.
Like!
Canada is very very big it would be impossible , it would break up first
I think that a more feasible and effective approach would be for truckers and anyone in a position to supply or provide services to boycott DC or any other tyrannical cities/jurisdictions.
At this point, truckers should be able to pick their routes.
Well the PM is the son of Castro.
So it’s no surprise.
I think Castreau is at 16% approval. He’s not well liked.
It will be when our long-haired pot-headed hippie “anarchists” make pilgrimages up there to help the peasants cut sugar cane—or in this case, help the cops beat protesters up.
Australia is just as bad.
Right wing domestic terrorists really like that word freedom.
Beginning to look like the tyrants don’t care how we die, as long as we just die. Starvation, poisoning, incarceration, who cares?
Just shut up and obey, or die one way or another.
In the darkest days of communism, they were not as weasely as Canadian Karens
And some of those are being posted on buildings where a donor lives.
So much drivel.
Good ideas and thoughts are buried under heaps of drivel.
Yes, the United States is very different from the Commonwealth nations. We rebelled against GB. We need to keep remembering that.
I guess we could try that approach as plan B..... in case we can’t find the huge enema and crane we need for plan A.
But in all seriousness, yes, the boycott sounds like it would work. I wonder what percentage of truckers are on our side and wouldn’t cross the line for higher pay?
Some truckers and others would supply DC for higher pay. That’s ok too because that would mean higher prices for those in DC. The idea is for those working for the federal government more expensive and more difficult.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.