Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Across Canada, debates about diversity have been subsumed by the “anti-woke” backlash. The term “woke” — once a call to remain alert to injustice — has been stripped of its historical meaning and used instead to cast diversity as a liability. In this climate, diversity is often misrepresented as a threat to academic excellence, democratic stability and economic prosperity. Yet, evidence from across disciplines demonstrates the opposite. When cultivated thoughtfully, diversity expands perspectives for solving complex problems; strengthens dialogue across difference; and bolsters democracy against authoritarian drift. This is not a time for retreat ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

The university has long been a battleground of competing visions — a place where ideas clash, convictions are tested, and truth is pursued through disciplined inquiry. But over the past four decades, since at least the publication of Allan Bloom’s The Closing of the American Mind in 1987, critics from across the ideological spectrum have sounded the alarm over the academy’s slow drift away from truth. For Bloom, this was no mere academic concern; it signaled nothing less than a civilizational crisis. At stake was not simply the structure of the curriculum, but the very essence of the university — its calling to shape minds capable of judgment, hearts oriented toward moral seriousness, and communities bound together by an unyielding fidelity to truth ... CLICK HERE for the full story

As the B.C. Conservative party heads into a major meeting this weekend, leader John Rustad insists the party is united despite a public disagreement on residential schools and five MLAs breaking with their party to vote against an NDP motion opposing proposed Trump tariffs. “ At the end of the day we said we would have free votes and we would be supporting people to be able to have free speech, and that’s what this looks like ,” Rustad said Tuesday morning. “ What family in this province doesn’t have issues and divisions in it? The question is what is it that unites us, not what is it that divides us, in terms of these issues " ... CLICK HERE for the full story

It seems that at Peel District School Board, there are no documented policies / procedures to select Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ( DEI) consultants.    Instead, the consultants themselves originate proposals to provide ‘training’ on topics that they believe are necessary.    CLICK HERE for the latest article from Darshan Maharaja:  

One of my favourite things to show visitors to the B.C. legislature are the “class photos” of every parliament that are hung in the second-floor corridors, as they illustrate the changing demographic makeup of our elected representatives. The photos, which date back to 1952, show that for well more than 35 years the legislature chamber was the domain of proverbially older white men, dressed in dark suits (and invariably short or non-existent hair!). Few women and even fewer people of colour are present in them. Things slowly began to change in the 1990s and have really picked up momentum in the last decade or so. The current “class of 2020” photo has not taken its place in the corridor just yet (there literally is a shortage of wall space), but it shows a makeup of a B.C. legislature that was perhaps unimaginable even back in the 1980s. Of the 87 MLAs, almost 40 are women and more than a quarter are from ethnic or First Nations communities. When I point out these changes to visitors, t...

An academic expert on inclusive politics says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's move last month to introduce more diversity into his cabinet won't have much effect unless it goes beyond surface-level representation ... CLICK HERE to read the full story

Commentary reference : Is this the end for Labour? It would be too easy to pin the blame for the election calamity on Corby The article noted above was written by Paul Embery, a firefighter, trade union activist, pro-Brexit campaigner and 'Blue Labour' thinker and related to politics in the UK but has some lessons that are applicable to Canadian politics. Essentially the battle for power in the United Kingdom (UK) had been between Conservatives and Labour while we struggle with a Conservative vs Liberal battle. As happened in the UK, the political party power struggle has left citizens/electors out in the cold. Political parties manipulate us, appealing to our emotions rather than dealing with realities. Our standards and values are ignored. It is appalling that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would publicly declare that Canada “has no culture”. “Government leaders are amazing. So often it seems they are the last to know what the people want.” - A...

One of the most self-serving and useless concepts political parties have thrust on us is the notion that they invented diversity. We are, first and always Canadians. Colour, ethnicity, gender, language, marital status, race and religion are not what identifies us. Single people have family, friends and acquaintances so are part of a family, a community, a province and a nation. Everyone fits in in one way or another. The notion that we were not a diverse people during our formative years is ridiculous. Even a cursory examination of our history indicates our diversity; we are humans and follow natural instincts of forgotten millennia. Males and females seek out one another and thousands of books have been written about lovers who were kept apart by tribal traditions. Thousand more books have been written about lovers who defied traditions and lived long lives together supporting one another. We have accepted lovers of the same sex. Same sex attraction is as o...

Justin Trudeau Says Politicians Should Work On Their Social Media Skills -- He said some leaders are dividing people with technology. Jordan Press   ~~   Canadian Press / Huff Post   ~~   11/12/2018 PARIS — Politicians working to harness the power of social media to connect with voters need to figure out how to do so positively in the face of leaders using those platforms to undermine democracy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. Without mentioning anyone by name at an event in Paris on Monday morning, Trudeau suggested there are politicians who are trying to use platforms like Twitter to foster polarization and controversy in the electorate. The medium is not without its benefits, Trudeau said, pointing to the ease of putting out a tweet of condolence or support being easier, more direct and resonating more with citizens than issuing a press statement carried by traditional media. That same ease and directness that Trudeau sa...

Diversity wars … part 1 Justin Trudeau’s ruminations about ‘diversity’ is incomprehensible; I don’t think he has any idea of what cultural diversity is. I grew up in a community that was diverse, with many families speaking different languages at home. They came from different cultures, had different customs, and attended different churches. We struggled to adapt, and adopted English as a common language for communications. With the exception of those of British heritage, we were all in the same boat. We were mostly farmers and fishermen. We were independent and self-sufficient and understood that made us vulnerable. Accidents, illness and misfortune have no favourites. Anyone can face difficulties that are hard to overcome. We built churches, community halls, hospitals and schools that served us all. People donated labour, materials, and expertise. It did not matter where you were from or what language you spoke at home, or which church you attend...