The New Canada

I didn't think it would happen so fast. Have you heard the shit coming out of the mouths of the Prime Minister, his ministers and his underlings? The Dear Leader is standing up for the tar sands, whose good name apparently has been much maligned of late. Now 'radicals' and 'foreign money' are being blamed for the black eye given the tar sands internationally. Seriously, check the links. And the government even warns that they might bring down the Dear Economy, our sacred cow.

It all feels a bit 1930s to me. The outsider is to blame and defiles the purity of our land (and our dirty oil). Bad time to be an activist or to have an opinion that differs from that of the Dear Leader (and his oil buddies).

Here's a letter I just wrote to the Dear Leader, maybe you should too if this seems important (or better still do something that might actually teach him a lesson):

Prime Minister,

I'm very disturbed by your government's recent pronouncements about 'foreign money' and 'radical ideologies' opposing the tar sands. I have read comments from Conservative MPs and Minister Oliver that sent shivers down my spine. Honestly it is a tactic that was used in Nazi Germany, villifying the outsider, the other. It's pretty clear to me that your government is actively working to whip up sentiment against anyone labelled an environmentalist or even people who just want to have their say in a public process. How long before the offices of non-profits are broken into? How long before a nonviolent activist is beaten up? This is undemocratic and will only fuel a cycle of radicalization. You're on a dangerous path Prime Minister. We are going to hold you responsible. Stop the scaremongering and xenophobia right now.

And equally shamefully you are hoping to 'streamline' environmental approvals that always get approved anyway. So we need to speed up public comments and open houses because of foreign radicals. Your buddies in the oil industry are going to write you some big cheques for that one. I bet you are really happy, making a crisis and helping your oil buddies strike it rich. While the rest of us still make the same crappy wage and have to pay more for gas. Canadians aren't blind about your handouts to these corporations.

In the end there is something very wrong with the tar sands. People around the world, those 'foreigners' you speak of with such venom, know this too. We are on the wrong path. I don't expect you to see this dark path since you are blind with power but we can't keep going down this road.

Shame on you Mr. Harper!