I’m originally from Squamish, B.C., where locals are known to say, “I am straight out of Squampton.” I spent years in academia as a teacher, research scientist, and physician in both British Columbia and Ontario. Yet, wherever I go there is now a pervasive culture of identity politics. I would have preferred to be left alone. But this leftist authoritarian ideology not only denies reality, but also interferes with basic medical science and the education of my and your children.
Where is the courage to have individual freedom of inquiry that can lead to advancement of our civilization? From the ancient Greeks, with the first democracy, through to the Enlightenment, advances were only possible by such freedom of the individual. Citizenship of ancient times was based on obligations of citizens towards the community rather than rights given to its members by some sort of court or government.
Spare a thought for the neglected Canadian citizenship. Where is the view to be adults and to be left alone from government? Where is the view of self-reliance—not a reliance on a nanny state from cradle to grave? For Canada to mature, citizens must be just as concerned about their duties. Are we to be wards of the state? In a democracy, Canadians are supposed to tell the government what to do—not the other way around.
Plato said, “In politics, we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or state. When we are ill … we do not ask for the handsomest physician or the most eloquent one.”
- Canadian citizens must have a common ethos of responsibility, expertise, and identity. This is similar to the ethos that Canadian soldiers develop. Insist on Canadian military service being done by our own citizens, not permanent residents.
- Canadian citizenship must respect other citizens’ freedoms of life, liberty, property, religion, speech, and assembly. Individual citizens should be able to act freely while respecting the rights of others. In this way, Canadian citizenship must be based upon civil nationalism and not ethnic nationalism.
- Phase out dual nationality—focus on being a Canadian citizen first. It is neither healthy nor wise to be a Canadian citizen, yet to have one’s heart elsewhere. It is in the interest of Canada—especially for senior government officials—that they be solely Canadian nationals. To be a Canadian of convenience is to not take one’s duties seriously.
- Phase in dual citizenship to be Canadian and global. Only after we get our own act together might we think clearly as global citizens. Even then, democratic accountability must be as local as possible to each citizen of Canada.
- Canada must have one citizenship and one democratic rule of law that applies to every citizen. A true Canadian citizenship of rights and duties does not depend on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or any other such divisive identity politics. Merit, character, and work ethic must be the values to uphold.
- Functional democracy requires informed and knowledgeable citizens. Thus, Canadians need to learn more about their own country and world to be effective citizens. This includes learning basic literacy, numeracy, Canadian history, heritage, language, and civics in our schools.
We must strive for a truly sustainable Canadian citizenship of freedom. Otherwise, we will be trapped in the groupthink of the authoritarian leftist and forsake the unique, creative individual.