The Canadian Dissident

If there's one thing that defines Canadian culture, it's that we always define and evaluate ourselves in contrast to the United States. This has been a constant theme throughout Canadian history. Rejection of the United States was even one of the biggest reasons for the creation of Canada in 1867. The United States is not a great benchmark, given the country's long history of imperialism, militarism, racism, extreme inequality, and violence that continues to this day. Compared to the rest of the world, the U.S.  is an outlier in many ways. For example, the U.S. has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world and spends far more on the military than any other country (more than China, India, and Russia combined).  An unfortunate result of our fixation on the United States is we have become adept at ignoring our own country's problems. “At least we're not as bad as the States,” we tell ourselves.  We rightfully condemn Trump’s violent crackdown on immigration....

The dust has settled from the federal election, and unfortunately Canadians voted for more of the same. More inflation, more deficits, more debt, more unaffordable housing, more centralized government. Canada needs significant change to empower communities, small businesses, and low-income families. Our current economic system rewards capital more than work. Our current government enriches politicians, bureaucrats, government contractors, and multinational corporations at the expense of everyone else.  Canada is also running the risk of devolving into a two-party system.  85% of the vote went to the Liberal and Conservative parties. A two-party system will not serve working class Canadians and will not enact meaningful change.  With the rising cost of living, many Canadians are being left behind. Low-income workers should be the government's top priority. Too many Canadians work full-time but still struggle to pay the bills. Here are 6 policies that would make life signif...

2022 was a momentous year for Canada, with political turmoil, provincial elections in Ontario and Quebec, new premiers in BC and Alberta, and the lifting of covid-19 restrictions that had been in effect across the country for over two years. In January the Truckers for Freedom Convoy headed for Ottawa, and by February it was no longer possible to deny that millions of Canadians were fed up with the government's long-standing covid-19 restrictions. Vaccine mandates and other restrictions were gradually lifted  province by province , with the federal government eventually following the provinces' lead at long last. The return to normal life is arguably the biggest story of the year, but it was quickly overshadowed by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February. Millions of Ukrainians fled the country, including over 100,000 who arrived in Canada this year. The Canadian government has pledged  over $1 billion of military aid to Ukraine. The war has also highlig...

This summer, covid-19 cases rapidly declined across the country (even in the absence of lockdowns) and it appeared that Canadians had finally won the "war" against the virus. Unfortunately, winter had other plans. By now there's no denying that covid-19, like other coronaviruses, is seasonal and here to stay.  It has always been impossible to vaccinate 100% of the Canadian population, because there will always be people with contraindications (allergies and other medical conditions) and people with moral/religious objections. Booster shots make full coverage even more implausible, as many Canadians don't want to get a new vaccine every 6 months. Even if every single Canadian was vaccinated, the virus would continue to circulate among other countries that lack the resources, infrastructure, and personnel necessary to vaccinate everyone. Furthermore, even if every human being on the planet was vaccinated, the virus would continue to circulate and mutate in animals. Covi...

Before this year, vaccines were mostly apolitical objects. The vast majority of people viewed getting vaccinated as a morally right thing to do, to protect both yourself and those around you. There has always been a small anti-vaxxer minority, but before 2021 they were inconsequential in both public health and politics. Then in early 2021 murmurs began in the political world, mostly from the left, proposing vaccine mandates, including so-called "vaccine passports." The concept was roundly rejected by leaders as discriminatory, unnecessary, divisive, and counter-productive. In January Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argued against vaccine passports, calling them "extreme measures that could have real divisive impacts on community and country." In April the Biden administration also argued against vaccine passports.  The World Health Organization, which has consistently opposed travel restrictions throughout the pandemic , also voiced their opposition to vaccine passp...

Earlier this year there were over 25,000 active cases of covid-19 in Alberta alone. Now there are fewer than 14,000 active cases in the whole country. Well over 70% of Canadians aged 12+ are now vaccinated against covid-19, making a "fourth wave" of any significance very unlikely.  As covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths rapidly decline across Canada, it's time to take the blinders off and recognize that there's more to public health than just one disease. While public health officials and politicians were laser-focused on covid-19, Canadians' mental health deteriorated and opioid overdoses skyrocketed. Public health laws have resulted in widespread social isolation, which is an exacerbating factor for mental illness. This has led to an alarming increase in the number of children admitted to hospital for substance abuse and attempted suicide. Social isolation has also fanned the flames of the opioid crisis. In BC and Alberta more people died  of drug over...

Long before covid-19 hit the country, hospitals across Canada were often stretched past their limits. Our healthcare system has long been underfunded, underequipped, and unprepared to deal with surges. In 2011 , hospitals in Ontario and Manitoba were overwhelmed by a surge of flu cases. Surgeries were cancelled as hospitals ran out of room for patients.  In 2013 , hospitals all across Canada were overwhelmed by surges of flu and norovirus. Surgeries in Alberta were cancelled as hospitals operated over capacity. In 2014 , Ontario hospitals were overwhelmed by another surge of flu patients. In 2016 , Ontario hospitals were overwhelmed again. Hospitals in Hamilton were forced to operate over capacity for months and the city ran out of ambulances. In 2017  numerous hospitals across Ontario were overwhelmed, as documented by extensive news coverage. Surgeries were cancelled and hospitals were  forced  to stuff patients into lounges, offices, and storage rooms. The On...