Living and working in other corners of the world has been a fabulous experience. An interesting aspect of that has been listening to the views of so many people about how highly Canada is rated. This was notable in several countries in Asia, Africa and South/Central America, in fact almost everywhere – except in Canada. (Mind you our experiences predate the ‘do-nothing’ performance of Canadian representatives in the climate change conference in Denmark where we were the laughing stock of other delegates!)

Doug Skeates One overseas experience in particular stands out. A colleague, an American student on a Peace Corps assignment, noted meetings attended between officials of USAid. and Thailand discussing American aid proposals. He noted the obvious fact that American policies favoured U.S. interests first and foremost. As an example he mentioned aid for the Thai rice industry. With foreign support Thailand was able to almost double its export of rice. In the meantime agricultural subsidy policies vastly increased rice production of American farms resulting in drastically reduced global prices meaning no increase in revenue for Thai farmers while those in the U.S. benefited greatly from the subsidies provided. He also noted that Canadian aid was seen as being provided with no strings attached.

Canada was regarded as a land of opportunity, hence a choice country for potential immigration. Not only were Canadian policies attractive but the makeup of populations in Canadian cities was seen as welcoming. Past migrations ensured a welcoming base as the large numbers of British in Victoria, Asians in Vancouver, Polish and Ukrainian people in the prairies, German descendants in Winnipeg, ex-Finnish people in Thunder Bay, Pakistanis, Greeks and Italians in Toronto and of course the large Francophone population in Quebec. Many of Scottish background tend to predominate in the Maritimes.

The large scale influx of Asian ‘boat people’ refugees accepted by Canada is well known around the world. This was a government/ people cooperative effort of Joe Clark and Flora MacDonald which resulted in over 60,000 refugees being welcomed into Canadian communities. In the aftermath of the New York atrocity 911 there are many Americans from U.S. bound aircraft who will never forget the hospitality they experienced when stranded in Newfoundland homes as no aircraft were allowed in American airspace. Canada’s reputation as a peace loving nation skyrocketed during Lester Pearson days when Canadian troops were assigned to maintaining world peace in different parts of the world.

Very few Canadians have experienced the essence of life in Canada. I am constantly amazed at the size and emptiness of this land outside of our cities. We have the luxury of space. Population studies indicate that we have about 3 people per square kilometer – and they live in Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal and Vancouver. It has been a real blessing to have lived in northern Ontario and experienced something of the lives of our aboriginal people. There is a culture out there which is basically unknown to most of the citizens of this country.

As previously noted there is a tendency for Canadians to just accept the many benefits provided as a matter of course. Most of us are unaware of how fortunate we are to live here, bringing up our families in relative peace and harmony. It would do all of us a world of good to attend the closing ceremonies of a citizenship court. There is a great deal of inspiration to be derived as folk who have escaped from hardships all over the world declare allegiance to their new land and receive their citizen certificates. It is especially humbling to listen to the fervour expressed at the singing of our national anthem.

I have been particularly blessed to take Scout groups to such events. The future of our country lies in the young lives we are responsible for raising. Hopefully there will be many in the next generation feeling the same sense of pride and loyalty expressed by newcomers. As Canada Day looms up it would behoove all of us to experience the difficulties faced by so many from around the world and their feeling of joy and relief at being accepted as belonging in this remarkable land of freedom.