Values

This is a good time for Canadians to apply the five values outlined in Timothy Snyder’s On Freedom and see where we stand.

Sovereignty: We started as a land mass inhabited by indigenous people who had been there for hundreds of years. Explorers reached us hundreds of years later and settlers set up colonies, largely French and English. We were a British Dominion for many years but ultimately became independent with our own constitution. While we are now a multicultural country we maintain our French and English traditions with two official languages and our own culural identity.

Unpredictability: Another country that doesn’t know us very well assumed that we were willing to be their vassal. Imagine what happened when we suddenly walked away from a trade negotiation that didn’t address our own needs - and even hit back, knowing that we would also be hurt in the process. And are OK with that.

Mobility: People are free to go where the wish within the country - and free to avoid going to countries that they don’t like or buying their stuff. We are not tied to jobs that we don’t like because losing their benefits is too costly. The majority of our health costs are covered in a system that is far from perfect but neither turns us into communists. Public universities provide good education without graduates having overwhelming debt.

Factuality: We have a free press that calls those in power to account. Our national broadcasting network is paid for by the govenment, but is not afraid to question government policies all the time. Daily papers, alas, are dwindling but at least one has regional editions. Fact checking happens. At least one paper publishes its mistakes. Investigative journalism is still alive.

Solidarity: Canadians are generally a modest people and one of the ongoing jokes is that they apologize to the people who bump into them. But that one has been tested lately. We have put it to bed. Change it to the Moose that Roared. We are probably the only country in the world whose prime minister is the author of a book entitled - VALUES.