In a recent email my friend Albert expressed some disquieting thoughts concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Vladimir Putin is one of the rare heroes in our world today,” he wrote. In a subsequent message he confidently asserted that “by permitting Russia’s neighbors to join NATO, America pushed Putin into invading Ukraine.” Albert seems quite convinced that this justifies the killing of civilians and the devastation of Ukraine’s infrastructure.

Albert’s words remind me of 83 year old Maria, our neighbor some years ago. When I asked about her flight from Ukraine, she said, “My husband and I and our two young children lived on a Collective Farm in southern Ukraine. One day the Communists came when he was on a grain harvesting crew. They accused him of stealing gas. That made no sense, since we didn’t own a car or machinery. Everything belonged to the farm. The next day they returned and took him away. I heard from other workers he had begged the Communists to let him say goodbye to his family. They refused and I never saw him again.”

“When the German Wehrmacht invaded,” she said, “they protected me against further persecution because I spoke German as well as Russian. They couldn’t hold their position though and when they retreated, they took my children and myself along to Germany. I was certain the Russians would punish me for talking with the enemy so we went willingly. Even today I wonder if my husband is alive.”

Like myself, Mary grew up in the Mennonite culture and faith. Our forebears had been invited by Catherine the Great to settle in Ukraine because they were known to be proficient in agriculture. She promised them freedom to practise their faith, speak German, and the right to not serve in the military. In time these commitments were forgotten or ignored. Being pacifists, my grandparents, and many other Mennonites emigrated to Canada in the 1870’s.

Not all Mennonites were given permission to leave and in time they endured great persecution for their beliefs. This increased when Lenin and Stalin achieved power. Possibly this personal connection raises my anxiety level as I observe Vladimir Putin’s current unprovoked attack and harsh strategies in Ukraine. For me they are eerily reminiscent of the Bolshevik reign of terror which started in Lenin’s time and was accelerated under Stalin.

Stalin wanted Ukraine’s rich grain fields to feed the Red Army. To achieve this he sent crews to the farms with orders to seize any food they could discover. If a peasant possessed a cow, horse or farm implements, these were taken. They also removed anything of value in the homes, even food in pots on the stove, and in some instances, entire meals already on the table.

Peasants were compelled to relinquish their holdings, mostly small, and join collective farms. Many refused, especially the more affluent ones, known as kulaks. Often men were arrested and summarily shot while their families watched. In some instances children were undressed and thrown out into the cold. Children and adults starved. In “Red Famine” historian and journalist Anne Applebaum states, “It was a political famine designed to depopulate Ukraine to make room for Russian settlers.” Stalin denied there was a problem.

Peasants, intellectuals, academics, activists and entire villages were sent to remote inhospitable regions. Thousands were shipped in cattle cars to the Gulag, Russia’s infamous prison system. Here many died in the cold and wretched living conditions. According to Robert Conquest in “The Harvest of Sorrows”, approximately 14.5 million Ukrainians and Russians died during these terrifying years. A lot of Mennonites suffered this fate.

Now Vladimir Putin, like Stalin, seems committed to killing civilians to make space for Russians. Also like Stalin, he claims the goal is to liberate Ukraine from Nazis. At the outset, while massing troops along the border, he said he would not invade. His entire military venture since then has been based on fabrications.

It seems Vladimir Putin is employing strategies based on Stalin’s playbook. His troops are raping, maiming, and killing civilians, destroying the country’s infrastructure and using propaganda to create fear and chaos. Inspite of this, Albert apparently sees a halo around Putin’s head. Ukrainians, though, are not deceived. They remember the Hammer and Sickle years and want nothing to do with Putin’s “liberation”.

 

 

As strongly urged by our government, Linda and I received the two initial shots of the Covid-19 vaccine in spring, 2021. We were given passports that opened doors to restaurants, gyms, movie theatres and just about any other place we wished to enter. To the extent possible, we observed health department guidelines, including social distancing, masking and washing hands. Living in Hedley, where the virus was kept largely at bay, we felt pretty safe. However, inspite of assurances by our Prime Minister, the WHO, and a variety of powerful entities that the vaccines are safe and effective, I wondered why we and many fellow citizens still felt uneasy.

I first became conscious of the unease when Linda and I met with friends in an Aldergrove restaurant shortly after receiving the passports. A waitress approached with her electronic gadget to record our information. I wondered if this was just to verify that we had received the vaccinations, or was it possibly the precursor of a government surveillance system. The latter has been suggested by some astute political observers. Almost certainly the passports contained a wealth of information about us. Would the government discontinue the passport system if, and when, we achieved victory over the virus? Or is it, as some believe, designed to induce blind obedience when we are given more onerous directives in the future?

An email from Ike, my conspiracy minded friend, was interesting but not helpful. He contended the vaccines are a “Mark of the Beast,” written about by John, an early follower of Jesus. The reference to “the Mark” is in the Biblical book of Revelation, written by the apostle when the Romans banished him to the inhospitable island of Patmos. Ike could not explain how the Revelation prophecy shed light on current developments.

Knowing there have been life ending viruses in the past, I didn’t regret having accepted the initial shots. Even so, I realized I needed to be wary of information offered by contrarian conspiracy minded zealots online. At the same time, I was disturbed by the relentless and uncompromising support by many in the media. For over a year almost every time I turned on the CBC 8 am news, I heard enthusiastic endorsements of vaccines, lockdowns, masking and other restrictive measures. As I became aware of the influence of an abundance of advertising dollars received by major media from pharmaceutical companies, I decided a potent dose of skepticism was required.

I began scrounging for alternative sources of information and learned that some pretty discerning individuals, including respected scientists, journalists and doctors were experiencing a profound disquiet concerning the vaccines and government policies. Some believe the pandemic and the vaccines are part of an insidious, global scheme by a cabal of billionaires and governments to control the people and wealth of the entire world. I recall in my mid teens reading about several highly secretive, politically powerful groups striving diligently behind the scenes to achieve such control. Do they now have the wealth, connections, technology and circumstances needed to achieve their ends?

Robert Kennedy, Jr., son of the late U.S. Attorney General, suggests that government technocrats, billionaire oligarchs, big Pharma, and others in high places love pandemics. “Catastrophic crises,” he contends, “create opportunities of convenience to increase power and wealth.” He reminds us that using crises and chaos to inflame public terror has served as the central strategy by totalitarian systems for millennia.

At the Nuremberg trials, Herman Goring, Hitler’s Luftwaffe commander boasted, “the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is convince them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for exposing their country to greater danger.” Germany was a highly civilized nation with a rich culture. Even so, when the Nazis raised the spectre of threats from Jews, Gypsies and Communists, many educated Germans tolerated, and some participated in, atrocities.

The current pandemic has given huge influence to the World Economic Forum (WEF), a powerful player on the world scene. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a prominent member of this exclusive group. Its members have plans that, if successful, will impact every human. In a November, 2014 Forbes article, Ida Auken, a member of the WEF Leadershship Strategy Team wrote, “Welcome to the year 2030. I don’t own a car, a house, appliances or clothes. Occasionally I’m annoyed because I have no privacy. Nowhere I can go and not be registered. Somewhere everything I do, think and dream of is recorded. I just hope no one will use it against me. But all in all, it’s a good life.”

In “Covid 19: The Great Reset,” Klaus Schwab (founder of the WEF) and Thierry Malleret share their unsettling plans for shaping our lives in the future,

Wherever the truth lies, it’s a time to be informed and vigilant.

It’s evident Donald Trump never learned the lesson of Sisyphus, mythological Greek king of Ephyra. The gods placed a curse on the king for his much lying and deceitfulness. As punishment they required him to repeatedly roll a huge boulder up a mountain, only to have it always tumble back down just before it attained the pinnacle. This was to be his fate for all eternity.

Although it’s based on myth, I feel the account is worth taking note of in our time because powerful individuals around the globe are resorting to fabrications to create a pervasive toxic culture. We see this in Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, several African states and elsewhere. While in the White House, Trump wove a web of lies that ensnared many leaders in the Republican Party, as well as numerous rank and file party members.

I was especially disappointed when I heard former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani promoting Trump’s deceptive assertions. Giuliani had won the respect and admiration of Americans with his calm leadership when the twin towers were destroyed by terrorists. His book, Leadership, impressed me greatly. Now he is facing a $1.3 billion lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Machines for claiming the company had deliberately rigged its machines to ensure Joe Biden would win. It is well known that in spite of recounts and denials by election officials and judges, millions of American citizens still choose to have their minds entangled in the former president’s web of deceit.

I recently heard a Syrian writer interviewed on CBC speaking about the disheartening experiences of people in his country. He said “the point of writing is not to change the world. It is to keep truth alive.” Fortunately, there have always been leaders who struggled for truth and justice. In the 1980’s Lech Walesa, an electrician in the shipyards of Gdansk, Poland and leader of the Solidarity movement, made decisions that were in the interest of his people, not himself.

The Polish Communist Party arrested and threw Walesa in prison several times. They attempted to tarnish his image of absolute integrity by offering him a nice house and a good job if he gave up his struggle against the government’s heavy handed rule. In the face of overtures, prison sentences and death threats, Walesa and his family chose to continue living in cramped quarters under constant surveillance, knowing danger lurked incessantly in the shadows. To retain power, the communists killed even priests who supported the Solidarity movement.

From the beginning of time, there has been a continuous tug of war between the forces of deception and the forces of truth. Ambitious, ruthless individuals are eager to undermine democracy wherever it exists, even in America, until recent years considered by many to be its greatest defender.

George Orwell said “a society becomes totalitarian when its ruling class has lost its function but succeeds in clinging to power by force or fraud.” Donald Trump confidently assured his followers he would be the first U.S. president to serve more than two terms. It was by fraud that he came eerily close to winning the 2020 election. Having observed his various devious ploys to overturn the election results, it seems quite safe to assume he planned to consolidate power and rule indefinitely. His laudatory comments about dictators elsewhere suggest he envied them and was keen to emulate them.

It’s easy to be lulled into thinking the Canadian system of government is too robust and entrenched to be rocked. In “The Cellist of Sarajevo”, Dragon, one of the characters offers a comment we probably should take note of. He says, ”Civilization needs to be built, recreated constantly. It vanishes far more rapidly than we ever would have thought.”

A British researcher (whose name I’ve lost) said, “we need to know what we believe, and live by those principles. Otherwise outside forces will manipulate us.” With some in the media asking if there will be a federal election in spring, this is a good time to give consideration to the truths and values that undergird our way of life. It’s a good time to listen carefully to the words of those who want to govern, and to observe what they do.

Fortunately enough of our neighbors to the south became aware their president, like Sisyphus, was seducing them with an insidious web of deceit. We need to be alert so it doesn’t happen in Canada.

I have long thought of America’s Statue of Liberty as a beacon of hope for people around the globe. To me it suggests America is a nation where government leaders value honesty and truth. Where those who govern live by a high standard and do not deceive the people. From the very beginning, the words of U.S. presidents, senators, state governors, big city mayors, business leaders and others have supported this lofty vision. Until recent years, it has been a source of hope and inspiration for many.

Observing the U.S. president over the past four years, and the recent election, I’ve concluded that the symbolism of the statue has been seriously tarnished. By clever use of social media, Donald Trump has convinced a huge swath of the U.S. public that the nation’s electoral system, institutions, media, and political opponents have been corrupted. He has championed the idea that the media are guilty of propagating fake news, while he himself is unabashedly spreading falsehoods. And he has persuaded top Republican Party leaders and numerous influential individuals to fall in step behind him. With his many tweets and harangues, he has convinced his followers to believe the worst about their country.

Hoping for a more objective perspective, I turned to a foreign source. Writing in the November 3 Jerusalem Post, Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman observed that “trolls have provoked and inflamed discourse, and technology has made it possible to control the actions, and maybe even the minds of potential voters in America.”

Trump’s allies have demonstrated an uncanny knack for employing the internet to decimate voters’ confidence in his opponents. In one case a digital editor manipulated content to persuade viewers Joe Biden didn’t know what state he was in. In the video Biden greeted the crowd with “Hello Minnesota!” The editor changed the signs behind him from Minnesota to Tampa, Florida. This was to reinforce Trump’s depiction of Biden as “Sleepy Joe”. Before it was taken down, the video received over a million views and almost certainly planted doubt in the minds of some voters concerning Biden’s capacity to govern America.

Professor Michael Dahan of Sapir College in Israel, an astute observer of American politics says “infusing fake news into the public sphere is exactly like poisoning wells, because it affects public ability to reach conclusions on the basis of factual information.” He says further “to bypass social networks, Trump has used a sophisticated election application with a social media-like feed, full of attacks against Biden and others, without revealing who wrote the content or where it came from.” The ease of creating fake news today through digital tools compounds the challenge. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler of the Israel Democracy Institute believes “this is a transparent attempt to keep voters within the universe of alternative facts of the Trump campaign.”

Well, now this chapter in U.S. history is almost over, even if Donald Trump cannot yet grasp that he will no longer be president. Having watched this pretty dramatic episode unfold over four years from our side of the forty ninth parallel, I’m likely not the only one experiencing a sense of unease at the delicate nature of American democracy. This is the nation many of us look to as an example of what it means to live in freedom under a government that is elected to serve the people.

How is it possible that Republican Party mandarins have endorsed, seemingly with few questions, the decisions of a leader who lied to his people, praised ruthless foreign dictators, disdained longstanding global alliances, refused to disavow white supremacists, and cast doubt on the legality of the American electoral system? Equally puzzling is the willingness of some 70 million U.S. citizens to cast their precious ballot in support of his candidacy. Is there such a deep level of discontent in America that people chose to believe Trump’s distorted version of the truth?

Prior to the election several friends, keen observers of American politics, told me if they lived in the U.S. they’d vote for Trump. Possibly I would have voted for him too, if he was less volatile, less divisive, more truthful and committed to fostering reconciliation between disputing perspectives.

I very much hope Joe Biden will be able to help Americans again have faith in their democracy. A united, optimistic America will once more give citizens of the world reason to feel inspired when they look at the Statue of Liberty.

I don’t usually publish the writing of others. The following piece was submitted to me by Robert Billyard, a covid survivor I wrote about Aug. 23, 2020. He’s a longtime friend and an ardent campaigner for causes he deems worthy. It’s a thought provoking article. I’m including it because Robert is a valued friend. A.M.

New Times, New Wars by Robert Billyard

Peace movements must be relevant and specific to our times.

I fail to understand why we are focusing on the world wars of the 20th century when we should be focusing on the imminent dangers of war in the 21st century.

We are presently in the second cold war. A major confrontation looms large between China and the USA. The USA holds the world hostage to its bullying confrontational militarism that is a persistent threat and blocks any hope of world peace and harmony among nations. The US ignores international law and walks away from treaties with reckless abandon. It is willing to wage endless warfare and endless bullying to achieve its stated purpose of global domination.

War in the 21st century has become more complex, more hybrid and more covert – and in too many ways easily hidden from public view, aided and abetted by a mainstream media that is both propagandist and complicit in modern warfare.

We have awarded the war mongers tremendous power and control over our lives, and they have shown tremendous guile and megalomania in maintaining this control. We allow them to kill and connive in a shadow world sequestered from public and media scrutiny.

We must also acknowledge that in modern times the immorality of war has sunken to new lows. Gone are the pious high minded resolutions born of the Nuremberg trials after WW II. Now, there is a wanton disregard for civilian casualties (“collateral damage”). War is more and more by remote control where killing becomes more indiscriminate drone warfare. There is the lingering suspicion that the Coronavirus is actually a biological warfare agent. Now war criminals walk the street and slide into comfortable retirements.

Leadership today is too often based on deceit and duplicity. Where governments have their sovereignty and mandates usurped by vested interests and the veiled power that colonize them. Deceit, duplicity and secrecy become their essential survival skills. Scandals, as exercises in incompetence, reveal for us the real workings of government.

The peace movement is endowed with the most powerful weapon there is – the truth. And it must start using this weapon effectively. It must start going after politicians who monger war and pander to it. It must go after NATO and show it for what it is -a weapons cartel and extortion ring in service to a rogue super power.

The peace movement should be in solidarity with the plight of Julian Assange for his torture and persecution is a travesty of justice and a fundamental attack on the freedom of the press. It is a further indictment of the media and journalism just how little support he has received from colleagues so willing to remain silent in this blatant attempt to silence the truth.

As the world becomes more integrated, change, trends and tyrannies jump national borders with the greatest of ease. A tyranny very obvious to the so called west is what can be termed elite betrayal. Governments in the west become more self-serving, secretive and duplicitous. True democracy becomes a luxury no longer affordable and in too many ways government’s true loyalty is to the corporate and economic elites that control them. Governments have become contemptuous of the populations they are elected to serve.

Their service to war and militarism is unconditional. We fight the empire’s wars, buy unneeded and over priced weaponry and support the endless profiteering of corporate parasitism.

When was the last time you heard a politician make a convincing pitch for peace in our times? They are all on the bandwagon of war, war and more war as they serve their warmongering masters.

The peace movement must get with the times, start naming names, being specific, relevant, forceful, and most importantly speak the truth and insist on it. In other words, the present status quo must be challenged in convincing terms.

After a memorial service recently, I chatted with two brothers I have known many years. George, the older, more sophisticated one, enjoyed considerable success running programs at CBC Television, then selling real estate, and currently as owner of several highly lucrative enterprises. Harry is a muscular, no nonsense home builder. They wanted to talk about Donald Trump, and I was astonished to learn both are committed, no holds barred admirers.

I can somewhat understand why marginalized people place their hope in Trump. They believe the politicians and institutions of America are not serving them well. They had been waiting for a strong disruptive leader who would kick Washington in the solar plexus. Donald Trump was the “messiah” they had been longing for. In “The Age of Voter Rage,” pollster Nik Nanos suggests that “for those on the margins, Trump was a vehicle to punish the establishment.”

For me, George and Harry’s motivation is an enigma. I find it equally mystifying that numerous American evangelicals have eagerly flocked to Trump. They virtually worship him, even though fact checking prior to the 2016 election revealed only 4 percent of his statements were true. (Hillary Clinton fared somewhat better at 25 percent).

Nanos believes at the heart of what is happening in some democracies, including Britain and France, is a hearty dose of anti-establishment sentiment. During the Brexit upheaval in Britain, for example, Boris Johnson and other “Leave” proponents claimed the country was sending 350 million pounds to the EU weekly. In the week before the referendum, polls showed 47 percent of voters accepted this contention as true. After the vote this claim was proven to be false. Many voters had disbelieved what was true and embraced what was not true.

Nanos says “when citizens become enraged they are more willing to be led by their emotions and to take risks.” He says further “Trump stoked the negative emotions of citizens and rode their anger to the presidency. Fake news is entering the mainstream and a key source of information for an increasing number of citizens.”

Several weeks ago I listened to a CBC radio interview with an American Trump supporter. Her words revealed a total naivete concerning Trump’s promises and accomplishments. When the CBC host pointed out that her information was incorrect, she blithely continued her poorly informed praise.

I’m very aware not all Canadians share my sense of dismay at the acrimony, discord and bitterness flowing so freely in America. More than a handful of Canadians apparently approve of Donald Trump’s numerous abrasive tweets, his refusal to condemn white supremacy groups like the Proud Boys, and his utter disdain for those who disagree with his policies. Like my friends, George and Harry, some of his admirers are well positioned in our society. They drive Mercedes and live in gated communities. I ask myself, do they understand what is happening in America, or are they mesmerized by this president because he is unconventional and delights in creating havoc in the political system?

Probably the majority of Canadians are troubled at seeing our valued neighbours in such a state of bitter divisiveness and rancor. We have long considered America a powerful bulwark against forces seeking to undermine democratic institutions around the globe, including in Canada. It’s disturbing that Donald Trump has at times expressed admiration for the practises of dictators and seems to have adopted their “play book.” Equally unsettling is his refusal to say he will accept a peaceful transfer of power if he is not the choice of voters in the coming election.

Is there a danger the disruption in American politics will spill over into Canada, and possibly impact even the interior of BC? We tend to feel quite assured that our political leaders will not stray too far from democratic values. In spite of this confidence, I do sometimes wonder how our system of government would hold up if a charismatic, power hungry Prime Minister was determined to stay in office after being rejected at the polls. Certainly party bosses could strip their leader of power, but would they have the will and integrity if it meant they would no longer form government? In America Republican leaders have demonstrated an unwillingness and inability to hold Trump in check.

Nik Nanos says “expecting politicians to self correct is delusional. Citizens need to learn to differentiate between fact and fake news. And they must hold the government accountable.”

Prior to the 2016 U.S. election, I felt certain Americans were too politically savvy to vote for a candidate who didn’t attempt to hide his contempt for women, minorities, the media, truth, and pretty much everyone who disagreed with him. Also, he pouted when criticized. When the reality of Donald Trump’s election set in, I was amazed and somewhat disheartened. Our most powerful ally would now be governed by an individual whose primary preoccupation seemed to be money and himself. When party leaders chose to defend him during the impeachment process, I concluded that American politics have become extraordinarily convoluted, with deep rifts.

Now, with another election looming in less than 100 days, and knowing something of Donald Trump via his many tweets and threats, I wanted to reach for a greater understanding of what the Trump phenomenon has to say about U.S. politics and culture. What the American President tweets and does (or does not do), can adversely impact the entire world, even reaching into the interior of British Columbia.

Changing demographics appear to play a significant role in Donald Trump’s success. In 1965 whites made up 84 per cent of America’s population. Surveys of population trends indicate that in 25 to 30 years they will be a minority. Yale professor Amy Chua has some insights I find helpful in understanding Trump’s success in attracting a loyal voter base. In Tribal Politics she says, “Strong evidence suggests white anxiety about being displaced, outnumbered and discriminated against has fueled recent conservative politics in America.” A post 2016 election survey by the Public Religion Institute, reported in the Atlantic, found that 52 per cent of Trump voters feel the country has changed so much they often feel like strangers in their own country.

Other studies tell a similar story. A Wall Street Journal post election analysis found that Donald Trump had especially strong support in areas most unsettled by rapid demographic change through the influx of non-white immigrants.

Over the past four years Trump has repeatedly ranted against Mexicans and Muslims, as well as other non-white immigrant groups. He understands intuitively that many Americans feel threatened and has cleverly and unabashedly seized on this angst. Political scientist Michael Tesler suggests that as a candidate, and subsequently, Trump has encouraged the perception that whites are treated unfairly relative to minorities. By repeatedly claiming the media are propagating “fake news,” the President has successfully distorted reality in the minds of many Americans, thereby motivating his voter base to see the world in a way that enhances his election prospects.

Certainly there are disquieting underlying causes for the discontent being expressed by Americans of all races. “The key to understanding extremism in America and elsewhere,” Professor Chua says, “is not in poverty, but in group inequality. It has driven a wedge between whites with an abundance of opportunities and those who have little prospect of advancement.” She also cites race as a major underlying cause of friction in the U.S.

Donald Trump may have learned a few lessons by observing terrorist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda. Professor Chua says, “Most successful extremist groups offer their members precisely what existing societal institutions do not, a tribe, a sense of belonging and purpose. ”

The President has conveyed his personal sense of paranoia to a considerable segment of white Americans. He has persuaded them they are victims. That those who oppose him are their enemy. He has rallied them to a cause. He came on the scene originally with the bold declaration he would make America great again. But his leadership in combating the Covid 19 pandemic has been inept and lacklustre. By emphasizing law and order rather than a reasoned approach, he is eroding America’s confidence and strength.

Does the Trump phenomenon hold any critical lessons for Canadians? A good beginning might be to resist blaming others when difficult issues confront us. Politicians are desperate to get elected and when mistakes are made, will try to convince us their opponents are the culprits. By asking penetrating questions we are less likely to be deluded when politicians say what they believe we want to hear.

Amy Chua believes approaching each other with compassion, rather than suspicion, is the only way Americans will be able to heal the economic, social and racial rifts dividing the nation. For us it’s important to observe our neighbours next door. We may learn some valuable lessons.

The clever “curve ball” thrown to Parliamentarians by voters in the recent election appears to be fostering some sorely needed pondering in our nation’s capital. Local MP Dan Albas reflected the thoughts being expressed by a number of Parliamentarians when he said, “Hopefully, with a minority government, front and backbench MP’s will be better able to work together across party lines to see more results being achieved and fewer photo ops for political purposes.” A lot of Canadians have waited too long to hear these words.

Dan’s thoughts about the election and its aftermath came during a dialogue with members of the coffee group that gathers at 6:30 a.m. at the Hedley Seniors’ Centre each morning. Although he’d left Kelowna at about 4:30 a.m., he appeared surprisingly fresh and alert. Members of the group asked a number of wide ranging, probing questions, many related to urgent national issues. For us it was a mini-seminar on Canadian politics. His responses helped us understand that at times seemingly reasonable ideas may not work because of unseen, complicating factors.

When concern was expressed about plastics in our oceans and landfills, Dan said, “there is a goal to recycle all plastics by 2040. We do need to be aware that decisions we make often have unanticipated ramifications and we then have to deal with them. For example, we don’t want a plan that will drive up the cost of groceries so high that people can’t afford to eat.”

Turning to the issue of homelessness and food, he said, “I’d like unused food to be donated to homeless shelters. We shouldn’t become so bureaucratic that we can’t do things like this.”

In response to a question concerning immigration he replied, “the Immigration Board is small and overwhelmed. It does a fairly good job but it’s not perfect. It doesn’t have authority to hold a terrorist, but it can hold a drug trafficker.” Then he added a personal note. “There’s nothing more disheartening than to sit with a mother whose daughter is being deported.”

When the subject of tax cuts was raised, Ken Houle said, “I don’t want my taxes cut. I want them to be used well.” Dan agreed. “We need balance in everything,” he observed. “The cuts put in place by the last government benefited primarily people with above average incomes.”

When there was a lull in the conversation, I asked about Andrew Scheer’s leadership qualities and vision. “During the campaign,” I said, “there was a huge outcry concerning the environment. A lot of people demanded action. Scheer seemed not to hear this, or he simply ignored it. He appeared fixated on striking down the carbon tax, although many experts believe it is an essential step in responding to climate change. Did he not understand he would likely lose a lot of votes by turning his back on the environment?”

Dan volunteered that while door knocking during the campaign, a number of people had seemed quite “underwhelmed” by all leaders. He mentioned that the Conservative leader had produced a 60 page document which discussed 5 issues he considered crucial. These did not receive sustained attention in the media.

When he was asked if members who had supported other candidates in the Conservative Party leadership race had been punished, he said, “I voted for Maxine Bernier because I liked his support for inter-provincial trade. I probably should have given more weight to other factors. However, Andrew Scheer didn’t punish me or anyone who voted for another candidate. He selected the most capable individuals for his Shadow Cabinet.”

Dan Albas has served in Ottawa since the 2011 election, sufficient time for some politicians to become jaded. I didn’t sense this about him, but he did express concern that “some people are beginning to not believe anything.” Rather than sink to such a state of thinking about politics, he suggests we ask a lot of questions of our government. “Even a good idea should pass scrutiny of the Opposition and the public. For example, we should ask a lot of questions before we allow aerial surveillance of the ALR.”

Before leaving he repeated his view of the outcome of the election. “I believe Canadians elected a minority government,” he said, “because they want to see greater cooperation and compromise in Ottawa.” If enough Members genuinely agree, we may have less fractious debates in the new parliament. I think of it as the “curve ball effect”.