How can we make progress in Canada when our leaders are more interested in copying what happens in US news, rather than acting in the interests of Canada.
A recent Angus Reid survey broke down opinions on the police in Canada’s major cities.
In Calgary, 35% were considered ‘True Blue,’ 22% were considered ‘Silent Supporters,’ 21% were considered ‘ambivalent observers,’ and 22% were considered ‘defunders.’
In fact, Calgary was one of the most pro-police cities in the country.
In all cities – including Toronto – support for defunding the police never reached higher than 39%.
Yet, we have just witnessed the Calgary City Council ignore the clear opinions of Calgarians, and voted to defund the police:
“Our council bowed to extremists.
Illogical and irrational extremists.
Defunding our police makes no senses. Managing budgets always makes sense.
But council’s record there is weak – given tax increases.
#DefendPolice”
Our council bowed to extremists.
Illogical and irrational extremists.
Defunding our police makes no senses. Managing budgets always makes sense.
But council’s record there is weak – given tax increases. #DefendPolice https://t.co/F2Wj4KGTEy
— * W. Brett Wilson * (@WBrettWilson) November 9, 2020
In response to this foolish move by the Calgary City Council, Save Calgary has been pushing back:
“City Council voted to defund the police this week – do you know how your Councillor voted? Here’s the breakdown of which politicians are putting our neighbourhoods at risk. But there’s still time to defend the police! Later this month,
1/2 #yyccc #yyc”
City Council voted to defund the police this week – do you know how your Councillor voted? Here's the breakdown of which politicians are putting our neighbourhoods at risk. But there's still time to defend the police! Later this month,
1/2 #yyccc #yyc pic.twitter.com/I7E1ZzhUTY— Save Calgary (@SaveCalgary) November 7, 2020
“2/2
City Council will vote on next year’s budget. Let’s tell them that cutting $20 million from the police is WRONG for Calgary!Sign our Defend the Police petition here: http://SaveCalgary.com/defendthepolice
#yyccc #yyc”
2/2
City Council will vote on next year's budget. Let's tell them that cutting $20 million from the police is WRONG for Calgary!Sign our Defend the Police petition here: https://t.co/AHKO1yeB1t#yyccc #yyc
— Save Calgary (@SaveCalgary) November 7, 2020
Besides being a foolish and potentially dangerous move, this is also yet another example of our ‘leaders’ copying US politics, rather than focusing on what is actually taking place in Canada.
As you surely remember, nobody in Canada was talking about defunding the police, until those stories started popping up in the US media.
Rather than acknowledge that Canada and the US are different nations, many politicians in Canada just started copying what the US was doing.
With that kind of thinking, we will never be able to accurately focus on what is really happening in Canada, and we won’t be able to solve our unique challenges.
Instead of copying a defund the police message from the US, Canadian leaders should be focused on defending the police and fighting crime to keep our cities and communities safe.
Spencer Fernando
Photo – Twitter
