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Canada

The Destructive Game of Political Hate: How Politicians Benefit from Dividing Canadians

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

In today's world, politics has become increasingly polarized. There is a disturbing trend in Canada where politicians from all parties are increasingly inciting their supporters to hate the other party's supporters. As a result, politicians divert attention from their inadequacies and lack of accountability by turning Canadians against one another. We will investigate this divisive strategy and its consequences and suggest ways Canadians may push back against this harmful narrative.

The Strategy:

It is not a new strategy to pit citizens against one another, but it has gained momentum in recent years. All political parties use this tactic to create strong loyalty and commitment among their supporters. By portraying the opposition as an enemy, they foster a sense of camaraderie among their supporters. Unfortunately, passion for one's party can blind voters to the flaws of their politicians, making it difficult for them to be held accountable.

The Consequences:

This political divide has far-reaching and detrimental consequences for Canadian society. As citizens become more firmly ensconced in their political beliefs, the chasm between parties widens, resulting in a decline in political discourse and increased animosity. As a result, there is a climate of hate and mistrust in this environment, making it difficult to engage in constructive discussions concerning the country's critical issues.

Furthermore, this hateful rhetoric distracts Canadians from the actual work (or lack thereof) being done by politicians. Amid citizen disagreements, politicians can pass controversial policies without public scrutiny. Without accountability, cronyism, corruption, and ineffective governance flourish.

Pushing Back:

Canadians must strive for unity and a common understanding to challenge this destructive narrative. Here are some suggestions on how to accomplish this:

  1. Open and respectful dialogue: Seek out individuals with differing viewpoints and engage in respectful dialogue with them. The importance of listening actively, having an open mind, and considering the merits of different perspectives cannot be overstated.

  2. Focus on issues, not parties: Rather than blindly supporting a particular party, critically evaluate the policies and actions of politicians. Politicians should be held accountable for their actions, regardless of their party affiliation.

  3. Reject hateful rhetoric: Do not participate in or condone hateful rhetoric against supporters of other parties. Call out politicians who incite division and animosity and encourage others to do the same.

  4. Promote unity and understanding: Emphasize common goals and values to bridge the political divide. Politicians should focus on issues that unite Canadians rather than those that divide them.

Conclusion:

Canadians must recognize the harm caused by this divisive political strategy and take steps to counteract it. We can build a stronger, more cohesive nation by encouraging unity, promoting understanding, and holding politicians accountable for their actions. Each of us must participate in the solution and work together to improve our society.

This article represents my personal opinion and perspective on the current state of Canadian politics. It is not intended to defame, malign, or cause harm to any individual or political party.

Keywords: #PolarizedPolitics #CanadianPolitics #DivisiveStrategies #PoliticalAccountability #Unity #RespectfulDialogue #RejectHate #PromoteUnderstanding #HoldPoliticiansAccountable #BridgeDivides #CommonGoals #CriticalThinking #OpenMinds #ConstructiveDiscussions #PoliticalDiscourse #ChallengingNarratives #BipartisanEfforts #PoliticalDivide #Cronyism #Corruption #IneffectiveGovernance #ActiveListening #CommonValues #UniteCanadians #PoliticalAnimosity #PushBack #ResponsibleCitizenship

Understanding the Role of the Canadian Ethics Commissioner: Power and Responsibilities Explained

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

It is the responsibility of the Canadian Ethics Commissioner, an independent officer of Parliament, to ensure that federal public officeholders and public officeholders in certain other organizations adhere to the Conflict-of-Interest Act and the Conflict-of-Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.

The Ethics Commissioner's role is to provide confidential advice and guidance to public officeholders on avoiding conflicts of interest and investigating alleged violations of the conflict of interest rules. Also, the Ethics Commissioner may make recommendations to the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Commons, or other officials regarding possible violations of the rules and make public reports on investigations and findings.

Even though the Ethics Commissioner has the authority to investigate and make recommendations, they cannot enforce their decisions or impose penalties on public officeholders who violate conflict of interest rules. In response to the Commissioner's findings, other bodies, such as the courts or Parliament, are responsible for taking action.

As a whole, the Canadian Ethics Commissioner's role is to promote transparency and accountability in the government by ensuring that public officeholders act in the public interest and avoid conflicts of interest. The Commissioner does not have direct enforcement powers, but their findings can have significant political and reputational ramifications for those holding public office.

A recent investigation:

The Canadian Ethics Commissioner recently investigated the conduct of former Minister of Finance Bill Morneau. Morneau was found not to have repaid travel expenses paid by WE Charity for trips he and his family took to Kenya and Ecuador in 2017. We Charity, which had been awarded a government contract to administer a student grant program, had close ties to Morneau.

Morneau was investigated by the Ethics Commissioner and found to have violated the Conflict of Interest Act by not recusing himself from discussions regarding the WE Charity contract and not disclosing his affiliation with the organization. In addition, Morneau failed to disclose the gift of travel expenses from WE Charity, violating the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.

As a result of the investigation, Morneau resigned as Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament. In addition to its political implications, the Ethics Commissioner's findings led to a loss of public trust in the government due to the controversy surrounding the WE Charity contract and Morneau's conduct.

Counter argument:

While the Ethics Commissioner's findings may have led to a loss of public trust in the government, it is important to note that Morneau resigned voluntarily and was not removed from his position by the Prime Minister or the Liberal Party. Additionally, the Ethics Commissioner's report did not find that Morneau acted illegally or that he had broken any laws.

Keywords: Canadian Ethics Commissioner, role, power, responsibilities.

What is the Notwithstanding clause

GeneralEdward Kiledjian


The Notwithstanding clause is a section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows the federal parliament and provincial legislatures to override certain sections. The clause was added to the constitution in 1982 as a compromise between those who wanted to entrench the charter and those concerned about its potential to infringe upon provincial governments' rights.

The Notwithstanding clause has been used sparingly since it was added to the constitution, but both federal and provincial governments have invoked it on occasion. The most notable instance of its use was in Quebec, where the province used the clause to override a Supreme Court ruling that had struck down a law banning English-only commercial signs.

The use of the Notwithstanding clause is not without its critics, who argue that it undermines the rule of law and gives too much power to legislators. However, its proponents say that it is necessary to protect the rights of minority groups and provincial governments in a federation.

The Notwithstanding clause is limited because it can only be used to override certain charter sections. Specifically, it can be used to override sections 2 (fundamental freedoms), 7 (life, liberty and security of the person), and 15 (equality rights). It cannot be used to override other sections of the charter, such as section 1 (the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society).

In addition, the Notwithstanding clause can only be used by provincial legislatures concerning matters within their jurisdiction. However, the federal parliament can use the Notwithstanding clause concerning any matter over which it has jurisdiction, including issues that fall within the exclusive authority of the provinces.

Finally, the Notwithstanding clause can only be used for five years. After five years, the legislature must re-enact the legislation if it wishes to continue overriding the charter.

Keywords: Notwithstanding clause, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, federal parliament, provincial legislatures, constitutional law, Canada.

Description: The Notwithstanding clause is a section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows the federal parliament and provincial legislatures to override certain sections. The clause was added to the constitution in 1982 as a compromise between those who wanted to entrench the charter and those concerned about the potential for it to infringe upon provincial governments' rights.

Who was Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau was born in Montreal, Quebec, on October 18, 1919. His father, Charles-Émile Trudeau, was a successful businessman and his mother, Grace Elliott, was an heiress. The Trudeau family got their money from Montreal's timber and fur trade businesses.

Trudeau was educated at the prestigious Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. He then studied law at the Université de Montréal and political science at Harvard University.

Trudeau's relationship with Lester B Pearson began when they were both young men working in Ottawa. Trudeau was a civil servant, and Pearson was a diplomat. They bonded over their love of politics and hatred of the day's Conservative government.

In 1965, Pearson was elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and became prime minister. Trudeau became his close adviser and friend.

Trudeau became the party's leader in 1968; he won on the third ballot and became the Prime Minister of Canada in 1968.

As a minister, Trudeau was responsible for sweeping changes to Canada's criminal code, including decriminalizing homosexuality and abortion.

During his time as Prime Minister, Trudeau helped to solidify Canada's status as an independent nation. He also put forth policies that aimed to improve the lives of all Canadians, regardless of their background or station in life.

Some of Trudeau's significant achievements include the creation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the official recognition of both English and French as Canada's official languages, and the implementation of a universal healthcare system.

Trudeau was also embroiled in several controversies during his time as Prime Minister. These include the 1970 October Crisis, in which he invoked the War Measures Act to deal with a separatist terrorist group, and the 1980 National Energy Program, which aimed to increase government control over the energy sector but ended up alienating many Western Canadians.

Despite these controversies, Trudeau is considered one of the most influential Prime Ministers in Canadian history. He served for over 15 years, and his legacy continues to shape the country today.

Freedom Mobile removes insurance coverage for lost or stolen phones

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

Freedom Mobile's phone protection plan is removing coverage for lost or stolen phones. In exchange, they are reducing the monthly fee by $1 (down to $9). This change was first noticed on Reddit by user Alphalee and you can read messages from upset customers (obviously).

This change will come into effect on August 2nd, 2018. Repair service is now listed at $99 (was unlimited in the past).  It looks like this is an attempt to limit fraud and reduce insurance costs for Freedom Mobile. Their coverage seems to be underwritten by Asurion (same provider used by Telus, Bell, Virgin Mobile and Koodo.

The existing Mobile Freedom coverage still protect's devices from accidental damage (such as a broken screen or liquid damage).