Say it

Angell drove up from Pittsburgh to spend a Canadian Thanksgiving weekend  across the border, in bucolic, boring Canada.

“I was nervous at the bridge,” she said, “and I’d written out ten reasons why I wanted to go to Canada, in case they started to quiz me.”

Angell said she was being careful not to say something like, ‘I don’t care for what’s going on in America right now,’ or, ‘I just need a break from all the political division and hatred at home.’ She feared that kind of comment – true as it may be – would get her detained while border agents opened her phone and tablet and poured through her social media, looking for unpatriotic or disturbing posts. Especially since she’s brown.

Maybe that was an extreme fear. But she had it. And this was one good reason she was talking to a random stranger about her emotions, as she petted Cody (who was busy slobbering on her shoe). Turns out Angell also has family in Brazil, so she’s feeling doubly stressed.

In the recent election there another Bolsonaro moved towards power, the eldest son of the former president (Jair Bolsonero) jailed for an anti-government coup when he lost the 2022 vote. He’s serving a 27-year sentence for a plot to assassinate the guy who beat him, orchestrating a bloody riot and assault on the capital and planning to overthrow the duly elected leader because he said the process had been rigged.

“I can’t believe what’s happening both my countries,” Angell said, stroking the Chow fur while wiping off her foot. “So I am here. And I wish I could stay.”

Word is that a total ban on non-Canadians buying real estate here will be allowed to expire in three months. No coincidence in that timing. And last December Ottawa changed the Citizenship Act, opening up a pathway for millions of Americans to become Canadians. Now whoever can prove they have a Canadian parent, grandparent or maple ancestor could become a citizen of this country. This dual-citizenship possibility has resulted in a deluge of applications.

In fact a current backlog of 36,000 applications has caused in a 33-month processing wait, a 300% increase in genealogical searches and already added 3,500 new citizens who were formerly trapped in America.

No coincidence there, either. This more generous offering has happened at the same time the Carney government has seriously restricted all other forms of immigration, including international students and temporary foreign workers.

Well, this Thanksgiving weekend in Alberta people are thinking about Canada. The unhinged premier called a referendum asking for a vote that could lead to the province declaring independence, becoming its very own Third World country. Danielle Smith did that to placate the misguided yahoos in her electoral base and retain power. It comes after a minority of people in Quebec gave the premiership to an avowed separatist, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, in a five-party election.

Neither province is going anywhere, of course. But the noise this causes should have everyone reflecting on the nature of our nation.

Canada is imperfect, but more perfect than most places. It consistently ranks among the top nations in global rankings of personal freedoms, health, family wealth and happiness. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects both and helps make this one of the most socially progressive, welcoming places on earth. We live on average four years longer than Americans (to 81.7 years), with a universal health care system and without the fear of family medical bankruptcy.

Canadian middle-class households are among the wealthiest in the world without the massive and widespread wealth inequality found in America or Russia. University education is far more accessible and affordable here. We score highly for happiness, social supports, generosity, low corruption and work-life balance as well as trust in institutions.

Sure, we have issues, challenges, problems and disappointments. Houses cost too much. We remain too dependent on an unreliable trading partner. The government can’t balance its books. There’s too much debt, growing political polarization and we still can’t get rid of Drake or Kevin O’Leary. Oh, and expectations. Entitlements. We’re drowning in both, as myopic, ungrateful or just willingly blind people discard the great in search of the perfect,

The sidewalk encounter with Angell was hardly unique. Where I’m living there is a constant torrent of Americans, almost all of whom freely admit they’re trying to escape the drama and stress of their homeland for a few days or weeks. So they come here. To a country that works, is hopeful, embracing and proudly slobbering.

Take a moment today. Say thank you.

About the picture: “This little snuggle bug is a pure bred ‘Tibbie’ that was born on Salt Spring Island,” writes Kim. “Mack has been featured on teh blog before, but this is so cute I had to send it.  He just got a new blanket from his grandma. Thank you Garth for all the updates and knowledge, we really enjoy your posts! Happy Thanksgiving!”

To be in touch or send a picture of your beast, email to ‘[email protected]’.

Source: https://www.greaterfool.ca/2026/10/12/say-it/