By Joan Janzen
Let’s start off with a bit of humour. To the guy who stole my anti-depressant medication: I hope you’re happy now.
Everyone benefits from happiness and everyone needs hope. Though much of our attention is focussed on our neighbouring country, it’s obvious that Canadians desperately need to have hope while living right here at home. Even small gestures have the ability to generate much hope and gratitude.
For example, the city of Swift Current painted poppies on the downtown streets in honour of Remembrance Day and all our brave heroes. It was not only a decorative addition to their streets, but also a beautiful tribute!
On the other hand, a national grocery store chain banned its employees from wearing poppies while on the job. The U.S.-based Whole Foods Market said poppies were not allowed under its recently updated uniform policy, which affected employees, at its 14 locations across Canada.
Why didn’t the company believe a poppy would compliment their uniforms consisting of an apron, vest, hat and name badge? The explanation given was that wearing a poppy was supporting a cause, and if the grocery store chain allowed this one particular cause, then it would open up the door so that they would have to allow other causes.
An employee at one of these stores in Ottawa was not satisfied with this response, even though the company allowed other concessions such as giving an $8,000 donation to the poppy campaign and allowing store employees to observe the traditional moment of silence at 11 a.m. on November 11. The disgruntled employee still couldn’t believe she wasn’t allowed to do this one simple token of appreciation and gratitude.
As a result, during question period, MPs voted unanimously to call on all employers to allow staff to wear poppies from November 5th to 11th, and Premier Doug Ford said he would make it illegal for businesses in Ontario to prohibit employees from wearing poppies. It creates hope in the hearts of Canadians when our representatives defend our freedoms.
However not everything condoned by government generates hope. Recently a large federal public service union paid a 2.8 percent increase retroactive to 2018. Conservative MP for Edmonton West, Kelly McCauley asked “Why would you give an increase far above what the private sector was giving to unionized employees?”
Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos replied, “First, respect for the work of public servants. Second, respect for the capacity of taxpayers to pay for the important work of the public service.” This reply was given in spite of the trillion dollar federal debt. This response from a government official did not generate hope in the hearts of those in the private sector.
The National Citizens Coalition, a group that is dedicated to standing up for Canadian taxpayers, is staying focused on Canada and its recovery. It has launched an ad campaign promoting “Choosing hope over fear”.
The group advocates that Canadians have much to be hopeful about. Our kids are back in school. Sports seasons are a success. Our businesses are operating safely. And the group is dedicated to getting our freedoms back, improving consumer and investor confidence, and improving mental health. In other words they’re working to generate hope in the hearts of Canadians. It’s also interesting that their motto is “More freedom through less government”.
There’s a saying that goes like this: “When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.”
You can contact me at joanjanzen@yahoo.com
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