Feb 14, 2022

The Emergency Act – sounds ominous yet much less threatening than its predecessor the War Measures Act. It doesn’t matter what it’s named, it means much the same thing. 

The federal Government of Canada just implement it the Emergency Act to deal with the protesters that have occupied Ottawa and the border crossings for the last three weeks. Some people think it’s about time the government did something, others fear government overreach. It is unprecedented for the government to invoke such drastic measures to deal with protesters – Canadian protesters.  It does seem like they are using a sledgehammer to push in a tack. What would probably work better with gentle pushing instead they have decided to bring out the big guns.

The protesters have made their point and pushed the boundaries. They have created great inconvenience for many Canadians and done more damage to the economy then they could ever have helped save.

It’s time for it all to end.

 The mandates have served their purpose and the government needs to share a road map showing us that this will end. And when.

The natives are restless and even though the numbers are still in the minority if the government uses heavy-handed tactics that may change. What’s needed now is an end to rhetoric and some logical negotiation.

With our fearful leader, Justin Trudeau, this probably will not happen.

February 14th is supposed to be a day of love and unity. Unfortunately we seem to be lacking in both. I hope that cooler heads will prevail and our government and the protesters will stand down. Blocking borders and occupying cities is no more democratic than what the government has been doing for the last two years – in fact it is far less democratic. 

A country of law and order can not allow a group of citizens to use force and coercion to get their way. What started out as a peaceful protest has turned into something ugly. They have hijacked the Canadian flag and hijacked the narrative. They have also invited radicals and unsavoury characters to their cause. Extremism has manipulated their ranks…

But that doesn’t mean the Canadian government should bring about a legislative tool that is by definition used for a threat to Canadian sovereignty and safety. Two wrongs will never make a right.

The hardest thing about this conflict is the fact that both sides feel they are on the side of right.

They are both wrong.

The government needs to find a way to clearly communicate why the need for the mandates and when they will end. The protesters need to communicate what exactly they want and what it will take to get them to go home. 

Neither side seems prepared to do the right thing.

So all the silent majority of people sitting on the sidelines can do is wait. Wait for cooler heads and common sense to prevail.

Common sense has been lacking for the last two years.

In a few short months the sun will shine high in the sky.  With the warmth of summer we can hope for an end to all this division. 

When we come out of this winter of discontent I hope we can find a way forward. I hope we can find a way to unite as a country and as a world.