*to work with the provinces to agree a new energy policy
*to institute electoral reform and make sure no more election rigging is possible
*to reform the Anti-terrorism Act Bill C-51
*to cancel the CF-18 fighter jets, and use the funds on a more appropriate defense plane
*(read between lines) to continue to work with the United States to defend North America under NORAD, and contribute to regional security within NATO (i.e., no more Iraqs), and to control Canadian territory, building icebreakers, arctic and offshore patrol ships (i.e., a truly national defense policy).
Justin's letter to his diplomats told them to rely on their judgment and insight, to play a critical role in a "new era" for Canada's international engagement. "It's a breath of fresh air and a completely new style"an inspiring expression of trust and confidence in us," one Canadian ambassador told Canadian Press .
Justin's Cabinet is truly revolutionary, with half being women, three Sikhs, a Muslim Afghan woman (30-year-old Afghan Maryam Monsef is Minister of Democratic Institutions), and a native Canadian. In answer to a question "Why 50% women?" he explained "It's 2015," with an insouciant shrug reminiscent of his legendary father. The same date applies to the new multiethnic Parliament, which includes an unprecedented 10 Muslims.
His self-assurance lets him sweep away skeletons which had gathered in the ogre's lair, like the unnatural law to eradicate certain plants. In 2013, Trudeau boldly told a Kelowna BC crowd, "I'm actually not in favour of decriminalizing cannabis. I'm in favour of legalizing it. Tax it, regulate. It's one of the only ways to keep it out of the hands of our kids because the current war on drugs, the current model is not working. We have to use evidence and science to make sure we're moving forward on that."
He calmly confessed about that the last time he had used marijuana"in 2010, after he had become a Member of Parliament: "We had a few good friends over for a dinner party, our kids were at their grandmother's for the night, and one of our friends lit a joint and passed it around. I had a puff." He pointed to Colorado and Washington state as models.
Suddenly the cold fog was lifting from the people's eyes. The ogre's warnings of Armageddon from shadowy terrorists and laid-back hippies no longer instilled fear.
Canada's elephant
How will relations with the elephant sleeping next to Canada (as Justin's legendary father once quipped) fare? That is a conundrum, as Harper's friend George Bush retired just a few years into Harper's reign in 2008, to be replaced by a less warmongering, less environmental irresponsible Obama. However, Bush's momentum held, and Harper was able to ignore the wish of Canadians to withdraw from ongoing US wars.
He received no thanks from Obama, who on the contrary looked like he was reneging on Harper's fervent wish to ship toxic Canadian oil across the continent. In 2012, Harper vowed that the Keystone pipeline would proceed "before I left office", that he wouldn't "take no for an answer", a startling gauntlet to throw at a US president's feet.
His words proved perversely prescient, as Obama finally squelched the pipelines just 48 hours after Harper was thrown out. Harper had tried to micromanage everything, muzzling MPs and diplomats, but like the wizard of Oz, he proved to be all noise, with no substance, his power as insubstantial as the paper ballots that sealed his fate on election day. Now transformed into a mouse, he was finally smothered in the elephant's bed like his ill-fated predecessor Diefenbaker, who the elephant helped squash in 1963.
So Canada's image is burnished under the dragon slayer, and the noisy warmongers are silent, a welcome change in style. But what chance has Justin of influencing the systemic problem underlying the continuing slaughter in the Middle East, in the first place by "Canada's friend Israel" as Dion politely called it.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
