The deputies validated on February 21 the use of the law on emergency measures, in force since February 15, at the request of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who wants to avoid any new blockage by demonstrators. For the conservative daily National Post, these events and the pandemic have changed Canada and the image it sends.
“Canada is a complacent country, affirms the National Post. Blessed with a large land area, small population, rich resources and natural defenses, we have a bad habit of congratulating ourselves on our good fortune.”
For as long as I can remember, it has been so, writes columnist Kelly McParland. There was indeed one “major disruption” when separatist forces in Quebec attempted to break up the country, surprising the other nine provinces. But this threat ended up evaporating with time and circumstances, “allowing us once once more to take refuge in a kind of quiet self-esteem, satisfied with the many assurances we give ourselves regarding our decency, our civility, our tolerance and our devotion to diversity”.
Neither peaceful nor orderly
The events of the past three weeks may have shaken this view, continues the journalist, who lists the evils which, according to him, afflict the country: broken down institutions, overwhelmed hospitals, police forces struggling to keep order, borders that cannot remain open, a ruling class more devoted to division and denigration than to pragmatism or cooperation:
It has produced a palpable anger that bears no resemblance to the profile of the placid and polite Canadian.”
In sum, McParland J., “for a long time Canada has not been peaceful, orderly or well-governed”.
The fact that more Canadians voted for the Conservatives in the September 20, 2021 election and that 400 trucks were enough to bring Ottawa to a standstill for weeks shows, according to the columnist, that there is a belief in a different world: “The malcontents have always been there, but something – blame Donald Trump if you will, or the pandemic, or impatience with obvious injustices – has encouraged a determination to be heard, while the internet and social media has empowered them to challenge the beliefs we have so long comforted ourselves with.”
And, although Canada has changed, laments the National Post in conclusion, “It is painfully obvious that our political leadership is lagging behind. None of the country’s three main parties seem to understand what is happening around them, let alone adapt to them, focusing instead on the immediate gain they can make from the ongoing unrest.”
Source
Despite the losses it continues to sustain, the National Post has succeeded in establishing itself in the Canadian media landscape. It is resolutely conservative, while covering original and biting angles. Founded in 1998 by Conrad Black
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