1 January 2017

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada - a question of truth!

Yesterday, the Prime Minister gave his recorded New Year’s speech for 2017, while the shortened, official printed version appears on the PM’s online government pages.

The speech (including the video) is the subject of a brief CBC announcement and summary (Jan 1, 2017) followed by a discussion of Trudeau’s speech, his policies, and claim that he will “always stand against the politics of fear and division, and focus on what brings us together – that is my New Year’s resolution to you.”

What could be more divisive than to state one will stand against the politics of fear and division. Why is the word fear so often used when the subject is perceived discrimination?

Do people or groups discriminate because of irrational fear, because I think that’s what Trudeau is implying, that some Canadians object to some immigrants and refugees because of some irrational fear.

Following the statement announcing the PM’s speech are comments from Canadians, probably, presenting their views.
The speech (including the video) is the subject of a brief CBC announcement and summary (Jan 1, 2017) followed by comments by readers about Trudeau’s speech, his policies, and claim that he will “always stand against the politics of fear and division, and focus on what brings us together – that is my New Year’s resolution to you.”

What could be more divisive than to state one will stand against the politics of fear and division. And why is the word fear so often used when the subject is perceived discrimination?

Do people or groups discriminate because of irrational fear, because I think that’s what Trudeau is implying, that some Canadians object to some immigrants and refugees because of some irrational fear.

Following the statement announcing the PM’s speech are comments from Canadians, probably, presenting their views. Some of the PM’s remarks were so specific that they could only contribute towards divisiveness among Canadians who, if their main concern in life happened to be omitted, might only feel antagonism towards the attention paid towards transgender individuals, for instance, or the increase in benefits of the middle class.

One important omission, in my view, is any mention of the healthcare system, and in particular, how older Canadians are dealing with that in their own lives. Associated with that might be the concerns of the disabled, as many older Canadians will be headed towards that category in due course. When people feel they have been treated unjustly and decide to speak out against the injustice, does that make us bad Canadians?

If I, as a senior, decide to speak out about my experiences trying to get answers from a certain specialist (his appointment-taker/secretary, actually) and none are forthcoming, does it make me divisive, or is the divisiveness caused by the specialist who refuses to discuss my symptoms, tells me my feeling of disequilibrium is actually low blood pressure, or tries to place the reason for it on a condition there is no evidence for, and then, when I do not agree with his interpretation of my feeling, only reluctantly he tells me he can send me for a caloric stimulation test? Or perhaps the divisiveness is caused by the a-t/secretary who refuses to answer my questions about what test I am being sent for and what tests overall does the clinic conduct, so that I then approach Patient Relations to try to find out, to no avail. Everyone involved simply clams up, leaving me with no information, no appointment, nothing.

My main point, however, is simply that one cannot mention all groups and concerns in one New Year’s statement, so there cannot help but be a certain amount of divisiveness. 
List of References

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada to mark the New Year 
Ottawa, Ontario
Dec 31, 2016
retrieved Jan 1, 2017

Prime Minister Trudeau delivers a message on New Year's Eve
Dec 31, 2016 
retrieved Jan 1, 2017

Trudeau takes stand against 'fear and division' in New Year's message
The Canadian Press
CBC News
Jan 01, 2017 5:42 AM ET Last Updated: Jan 01, 2017 5:42 AM ET


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