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Aren’t we all pleased that the federal election is over? The continual vitriol on social media, television, and in news coverage has not been healthy for this country of ours. The prime minister with a renewed mandate, Mark Carney, seems like a decent, intelligent man. I appreciate how calm and respectful he is while engaging with the Canadian public. “Let’s put an end to the division and anger of the past. We are all Canadian,” Carney said on election day. Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience. Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Sign In or Create an Account
Then he spoke to those who hadn’t voted for him, saying he intends to govern for all Canadians “no matter where you live, no matter what language you speak, no matter how you voted.” While acknowledging that “millions of our fellow citizens preferred a different outcome,” he said, “Let’s put an end to the division and anger of the past. We are all Canadian and my government will work for and with everyone.” That is the route to go, the best path forward, yet the ‘Blue provinces’ are going to be hard to win over. According to CBC coverage, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reacted to the election results by taking a swipe at the just elected Liberal government and promising to protect her province against “future hostile acts” from Ottawa. Give the man a chance. Still, we all have to work toward more open and less outright nasty governance. As Carney said in his acceptance speech, “Humility underscores the importance of governing as a team in cabinet and in caucus and working constructively with all parties across Parliament.”Pope offered hope
There is a right and a wrong way to lead and the timing of Pope Francis’ demise made this point powerfully. I’m no Catholic, but the late Pope lived his belief system. “In the face of unjust and painful situations, faith brings us the light which scatters the darkness.” The story about the pontiff calling the priest at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City every evening for 18 months was so poignant. Father Gabriel Romanelli had received a call at 8 p.m. since the war began. Pope Francis called to check on how those seeking refuge inside Gaza’s lone Catholic church were coping with the disastrous war. The priest told CBC News correspondent Adrienne Arsenault that children in the church would run over to listen in when he would take the Pope’s calls. He said they would cheer “The Pope! Viva Papa!” (Long live the Pope!) and ask for his blessing. Each Nov. 17, which is the church’s World Day of the Poor, the pontiff would hold a lunch for 1,300 people from around Rome who were in need of assistance. The late Pope Francis believed in showing solidarity with the most disadvantaged. He said we can all ask ourselves these questions: “Do I go without something in order to give it to the poor? When I give alms, do I touch the hand of the poor person and look him or her in the eyes? Brothers and sisters, let us not forget that the poor cannot wait.” I like to think that another famous man, Jimmy Carter, demonstrated an equally strong belief system. Carter, who died late in 2024 at the age of 100, also acted as a Christian. After his term as president ended in 1981 and for the remainder of his long life, he used his energy to make the lives of his fellow humans better. Carter volunteered in a hands-on way with Habitat for Humanity, but he must have been only too well aware that his standing as a former U.S. president could bring a focus to good causes. His style was not attending gala fundraisers, but literally picking up a hammer and nails.Optimism for future
We live in a world that can have shockingly brutal outcomes. The random deaths of 11 Filipino Canadians in Vancouver on April 27 was deeply shocking. Senseless violence and disregard for human life leaves one shaken and concerned.Surely Canadians need to practise caring in our actions and concerns. My prayer is that the tone of politics in this land will shift after the recent election and co-operation can be fostered. The raw example of our neighbours south of the border is not one to emulate. Nobody said it better than the late NDP leader Jack Layton. “My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”
