I think Canadians have more faith in our institutions, particularly the courts, to remain apolitical.
Speak for yourself. Also consider that an estimated 9% of all Canadians live abroad (mostly in the US and Europe), including up to 25% of professionals in certain industries (doctors, for example, and I'm sure tech is up there too).
Lots of Canadians don't have faith in our institutions. Unfortunately, moving away is easier than changing the docile Canadian mentality and is a better individual choice.
Edit - and for comparison purposes around 1.7% of Americans live abroad.
I was speaking for myself, as I see it, as are you. Note that I was one of the 9% living abroad for ~3 years.
> the docile Canadian mentality
I rather disagree with this supposed generalization
> moving away is [..] a better individual choice
Yes, for those who are more professionally desirable (doctors, tech, other professionals as you mention), moving to the US in particular is the "better individual choice", in that you can earn a better living. I certainly could, but I prefer to live here with my fellow docile Canadians.
I'm one of that 9% and I can tell you that you couldn't be further from the truth.
Most Canadians I imagine live abroad for economic reasons. But that in itself is a failure of our institutions; an economy is a reflection of the set of rules created by the government.
Anyhow, some examples:
- Police, it's obvious they can't do their jobs. Between inability to clear protests, all our cities being taken over by crackheads, it's failed.
- Courts: basically catch and release. Murder regularly gets plead down to manslaughter with pathetic sentences
- Municipalities: make starting a physical business damn near impossible. Tons of red tape and random fees, then you get taxed to hell because homeowners can't possibly pay for their share...
- Healthcare: it's a joke. Worst of any country in our income bracket yet Canadians inexplicably think it's not shit.
- Bank of Canada: literally went out and said they're propping up house prices
- Feds: literally said they are bringing in immigrants to reduce wage inflation ie. Prevent wage growth. Trudeau senior capped wage increases for awhile while in power...
Tons more examples of failed institutions in this country...
So tell me, why don't you live in Canada?
I'll be back ... None of the issues you listed stand out at all to someone born in Canada but who has lived in 5 countries (mix of very rich, middle income and poor). Ok, I admit the housing price situation bothers me.
But in this case they're freezing bank accounts without even going through the courts.
And the emergencies act is being challenged in court, which will determine if this is lawful.
Banks are private entities. They freeze accounts engaged in illegal activities regularly. The US does too - here's one random citation. [1]
[1] https://www.kqed.org/news/11899955/when-banks-turned-their-b...
The difference is that in liberal democracies, the executive branches has to convince a court before they can act. eg. getting a warrant before doing a search, or getting a conviction before imprisoning someone. The approach of "shoot first, you can sue us in court later" makes a mockery of this.
>Banks are private entities. They freeze accounts engaged in illegal activities regularly. The US does too - here's one random citation. [1]
They're both bad. This is just slightly worse because the government is directing businesses into targeting their political enemies.
Uh no, not really. I'm going to presume you're comparing with the US. Do you forget that the US kidnapped, imprisoned and murdered random people, including American citizens without any judicial oversight? Not to mention sweeping surveillance with laughable pretense of judicial oversight ( FISA courts)?
Executive branches have lots of power, and that power is controlled via checks and balances, the judicial and legislative branches ( in many countries the executive branch' power comes from the legislative and is directly beholden to it ( where PMs are sitting MPs)).
What stood out the most about these protests, vs most other large protests in recent Canadian history, is how many warnings the participants received. They were told time and time and time again by every party involved that their conduct was illegal - from the police as well as from municipal, provincial, and federal level. They were even given a court injunction against certain specific actions (horn honking), which was largely ignored after the first 24 hrs. They were engaged in illegal activities for weeks before this action was taken.
They are fully welcome to protest peacefully, on foot, in front of parliament like everyone else.
Much like how taking someone's car, even if you plan to give it back one day, maybe, if you think they deserve it, is still theft.
Because banks do it under duress, it's really the government that is doing this, not the bank itself.
The courts now get to play a role. https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/kenney-to-launch-l...
I would like to protect our constitutional rights, but I feel that Canada is too far gone.
Our prime minister called the protesters racists, declare emergency act, froze bank accounts of people who donated.
I am thinking about moving out.
If I had access to my laptop I'd locate the video (self-filmed) where Pat King discusses this exact topic. Someone may be able to find this for us.
Edit: found with great difficulty on my phone - https://mobile.twitter.com/VestsCanada/status/11779958944085...
Ultimately the true test for the existence of guaranteed rights is if those who you and the majority of people absolutely hate and despise have their rights guaranteed and protected in the same way and with the same vehemence as those of the average Joe.
A right lives and dies by our willingness to protect it for those who we hate.
If they were planning an attack on a group of people based on their race it would qualify, but that’s far from this.
You can be against immigration (to protect your culture, the gains of your country) without being against individual of any race.
