Thursday July 1, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
Commentary by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
In the wake of a year-and-a-half of pandemic, intertwined with the gut punch of revelations about Indian Residential Schools, and punctuated in the past week by a death-knell heat wave, BC Premier John Horgan has issued a statement to recognize Canada Day.
The wording about a “belief in science” is interesting given what science proves with facts. Where there are facts, the act of ‘belief’ (as in having faith) is not required, it’s implicit.
The wording of being “recently reminded” about the trauma of Indigenous peoples through the residential school system is also a tad tame. Anyone who knows people of the local First Nations through direct interaction (as Horgan does), will know that the tensions have been boiling under the surface for a long time. As one local First Nations chief put it to Island Social Trends in recent months, but also in recent years: “This isn’t over yet.”
As for government “focus on helping people and communities” with regard to the extreme-heat fires in Lytton “and all communities facing dangerous fires”, where was the foresight that the weather-stats confirmed “hottest city in Canada” might likely be among the first of communities to effectively go up in flames.
The Horgan government is a compassionate one, and Horgan himself is given to pondering the bigger questions. But the latest round of government messaging and decision-making seems weak and too-late-to-the-table. As the premier himself implied, this comes on the long-exhausting heels of a long pandemic and the continuing overdose crisis. But still, that’s when the true resilience of a government should pull through for us … i.e. “whatever it takes”.
Here is the full text of Premier Horgan’s statement today on Canada Day:
“This year, Canada Day comes at a time when we have much to be grateful for and even more to reflect on.
“By looking out for one another, Canadians have pulled through one of the most challenging periods in our country’s history. Now, we can finally see the end of the pandemic and a return to normal life. With BC’s Restart carefully moving forward, it is safe to come back together with some of the friends and loved ones we have been missing.
“This turning point is possible because people here in British Columbia and across the country stepped up in a common purpose. Canadians did the right thing by following public health advice and guidance. We made extraordinary sacrifices to protect our families and communities. And now we are being immunized in record numbers, because we share a belief in science and an understanding that vaccines are safe and effective.
“While we have seen the best of who we are as Canadians during the pandemic, we have also been recently reminded of the intergenerational trauma inflicted by colonialism and the systemic racism that remains a lived reality for too many. It is clear we have much work to do to ensure we live up to the ideal of Canada and our shared values of fairness, kindness and generosity.
“On Canada Day, let us reflect on the whole of our history and, for future generations, face these harmful impacts head on.
“Let’s commit to meaningful actions of reconciliation and to moving forward in true partnership with Indigenous peoples. Let’s pledge to do more to welcome and include people who come here from all over the world, recognizing diversity as one of our great strengths. Let’s have the difficult conversations and do the hard work, because a more just and inclusive Canada is worth the effort.
“By working together, I know we can build a country where everyone feels they belong, and no one gets left behind.
“We are also standing with the people of Lytton and all communities facing dangerous fires. Our emergency services are doing everything they can to keep everyone safe, and our entire government is focused on helping people and communities at this critical moment.”
Today the BC Liberal Leader, Shirley Bond, issued a statement about Canada Day, saying the day must “undoubtedly be a time for much reflection”.
