I was born and raised in Canada in the 50′s and 60′s when for the most part Canada was very much pro-England and still part of the U.S./Great Britain approach to freedom, democracy, participating in military actions with these countries, etc. I watched with alarm the sudden upheaval of the very French/Liberal dominated Eastern Canada (with the majority of the population and hence the voting power) into the mainstream of Canadian national politics, a la Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau and company. In very short order the flag was changed from the Canadian Red Ensign (borrowed from the British)to the the current Maple Leaf, the unification of three very distinct, proud and effective armed services into the “Canadian Armed Forces” and the legislating of French as the second official language of Canada. Within a space of 20 years the Canada of WWII had become a very liberal, European style socialist country to be governed by and for Quebec. Quebec for years has wanted their own way, seperate and distinct from “English” Canada, while at the same time retaining all the benefits of Canada as a whole. I lived in Western Canada, primarily Alberta. Alberta is the U.S. of the Great White North (my thanks to Bob and Doug McKenzie). It is a very pro-business, pro-free enterprise, pro-American Province. Alberta and in particular Calgary literally swept past other cities and provinces in growth and business. Free-enterprise minded Canadians and Canadian businesses set up shop in Calgary almost overnight. To the west of Alberta was the People’s Republic of B.C. Always notorious for being extremely socialist and Union driven, B.C., while not embracing the new “French” version of Canada, did grab hold of federal socialism like a Godsend. B.C. and folks born and raised in B.C. are just plain “different.” It is therfore not surprising to me at all that a tribunal of this type sits in B.C. with a heritage of liberalism and socialism. B.C. is also heavily populated by “East Indians” to use a very general and probaly “racist” term (I’m showing my age here). I served in the Canadian “Forces” in an “Army” regiment and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and personally saw the transformation of Canada into what it has now become. I opted for emigration to the U.S. and dearly love this country where I now live as a very proud American. As one commentor above stated, Canadian liberals and socialists have hung their identity as Canadians by being non-American and being pro-British only in terms of tradition. Many Canadians can’t help but compare themselves to America and look for any area in which they can be non-American, even at the cost of a bankrupt medicare system, an excellent but stripped beyond the bare bones military and the embracing of any social/liberal cause they can. If it’s American it’s not for us, they say. Alberta is the last bastion of the old free-enterprise, pro-American Canadian Provinces and culture. Canada, sad to say, you have continued to live down to my expectations and while I love the Canada I grew up in and served in uniform, I weep for what you have become. Some sort of realistic common sense has got to sweep in and right that Canadian ship. By the way, I didn’t abandon Canada, I emigrated to the U.S. and became American because I love this country.
