Canada is the envy of many nations for many reasons. But lately, our wealth and prosperity have become guilty pleasures for Canadians.
It is difficult to enjoy prosperity when there is hardship and heartbreak all around. Five dollar lattés turn bittersweet when you realize that your neighbours don’t even have drinking water.
By the same token, support of a loving family becomes even more precious when we know of friends and acquaintances who have never had a secure family life, nor have their parents or their grandparents.
More and more this is the situation our country is facing. A series of events dating back hundreds of years has once again revealed a national embarrassment that irks and befuddles all thinking Canadians.
It has re-emerged because of two recent First Nations protests.
The Idle No More movement has blockaded international bridges and railways from coast to coast and has gained world-wide attention.
Idle No More began as a personal protest by four women in Saskatchewan and grew through social media as it inspired protests of support everywhere.
One of the aims is to spark a national discussion and that is taking place. Unfortunately the same tired old clichés and accusations are being heard from all sides.
In spite of all the media attention this movement has no firm agenda, no recognized leaders and no spokesperson. It is compared to the Occupy movement of a year ago, which soon fizzled out from its lack of identity.
Meanwhile on Victoria Island, within sight of Parliament, Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence continues a hunger strike to convince the prime minister that they should talk. The meeting takes place on Jan. 11.
Once the meeting date was announced it became clear that the PM had no intention of approaching this meeting with good will.
Almost immediately, an alarming audit of Attawapiskat was leaked to the press.
It was clearly done to discredit Chief Spence and disrespect the process. Anybody who has watched Stephen Harper operate in the past would find it hard to believe otherwise.
Nevertheless, the meeting will proceed in spite of obvious mistrust and mistruths.
Here’s how I think it should unfold. Let’s call it a traditional Canadian standoff.
First, as a sign of respect for the process the PM should fast for 24 hours before his meeting with Chief Spence. That way they will both be hungry – for something.
They should be comfortably seated when a basket of warm, freshly baked muffins is placed between them along with a couple of double-doubles. The aroma alone will make them drool for success.
The deal is, nobody gets a bite or a sip until something meaningful is accomplished. The challenge is to achieve results before the coffee gets cold or if that’s not practical, perhaps before the buns go stale.
Even if they aren’t motivated by the refreshments there are plenty of other reasons for these two leaders to succeed.
Across our country Canadian families are being destroyed, Canadian values are being forgotten and Canadian lives are being squandered.
What a great opportunity to demonstrate to the nation and to the world that we are leaders in human compassion and good will. That would be a proud legacy for any politician.
If they fail to move the process forward they can split up the muffins and go their separate ways while Canada patiently waits for true leadership to emerge. A cold double-double can be their guilty pleasure as they walk away.
At least then all Canadians will know that neither of these two politicians has the vision, courage and determination needed to accomplish this task.
