So... What's Next...

 

Hi!

We made it! Monday was the day, and we made it through!

I know there will be some who read this who will be upset at the outcome of our election. But my feeling is this.

You wanted change. You got it. Yes, it's the same party, but a completely different human as Prime Minister. So many seemed to have a personal problem with our last one, so this should be good news.

This guy has a PhD in economics and comes highly recommended by past employers. He's lived a life that walks the path of compassion, kindness, humanity, and strength. He's uniquely qualified for the times we are headed into. 

He's not trying to disappear swaths of our communities. He believes we all should have the same rights. He is well-versed in international trade. He talks about the things that are at the core of our issues and has a plan to make things better. A plan. Not platitudes, not slogans, not bumper stickers, not f*ck (insert name here) flags, but actual plans that are well thought out and make sense. 

Look, we all know our country isn't perfect, but I truly believe the guy sitting, today, in the PM's chair, has, out of the choices we were presented, the best shot at getting us through these turbulent times.

Our country is also not nearly as broken as some would like you to think. If you look up stats of where we are positioned on the world stage in all kinds of categories, economic, education, health care, standard of living, happiness, we rank pretty highly.

Do we need to make minimum wage a livable one? Absolutely!

Should every senior citizen get a pension that makes sense for the times? Absolutely!

Should everybody who needs their eyes and/or teeth fixed be able to have that looked after, regardless of income? Absolutely!

Should daycare costs be so that you can actually afford to work? Absolutely!

Should teachers stop having to pay out of pocket for things needed to make education successful? Absolutely!

Should every single individual in our country have access to clean water? Absolute no-brainer there!

Should mental health doctors, therapists, and other treatments be covered by our healthcare plan? Absolutely!

Should we have more psychiatrists and therapists in every stinkin' Province and Territory? Absolutely!

Should we have more doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers... period? Absolutely!

Should there be more, and better programs and infrastructure for all of our citizens, young and old, who require accommodations outside of the "norm"? Absolutely!

Should billionaires, millionaires, and giant corporations pay their fair share in taxes to help pay for all of these things? Absolutely!

There are a tonne more, but I think you get my drift. Like I said, our country is far from perfect.

So, what's next?

My thought is this...

We aren't going to fix anything by trying to break the country apart. 

For one, the land isn't ours. If you want to leave, you can, nobody is forced to live here, for sure. But the land belongs to the indigenous peoples who have signed treaties wherein they so graciously agree to share the land with us. Treaties that NEVER expire. These treaties have rules. Absconding with the land goes against all of them. 

So, if you wish to leave, you can. The land... stays with Canada.

We have to set aside this 'us against them' thing.

All that ever does is rip things apart. 

Every part of this country brings something unique and valuable to the tapestry that is our collective culture. All but a very precious few of us are immigrants, no more than a few generations deep. None of us are any better than anyone else.

What you do for a living isn't any more or less valuable than the people across the street, across town, across the Province or Territory, or across the country. 

We need every diverse skillset, talent, and ability we can cultivate.

To be better than we are today, we need to give our kids something to strive for. Give them room to dream. Lift them out of the doomsday talk where all they hear and feel is negativity.

The world is shifting. We are reinforcing strong bonds with friends and allies, creating new pathways toward prosperity, taking the scenic tour around our neighbours to the south, where the stepdad of the household keeps trying to throw his garbage over the fence and move the property line.

It's gotta be tough to be the "get off my lawn" dude while simultaneously trying to claim other people's property, and wanting to charge gold card admission into your creepy house of horrors, but it seems to be the goal. 

Anyway.....

Let's do our best to step out of this divisiveness. We can work together toward common goals, if we just allow it to happen.

Let's make sure every single person that calls Canada home feels lifted, feels embraced, and wears every single right and liberty easily, with dignity and confidence. 

Let's defend our beautifully diverse country, and her values of kindness and inclusivity.

Oh, and 'get off my lawn' dude, never mistake our kindness for weakness.

Elbows Up!