Could be flowers in May but in the meantime, for many, it’s Mud season. Ah the joys of having livestock at this time of year. As the ground thaws and the frost rises out of it, fields become soggy, mud laden messes.
I remember, when we had our wee farm, I was bringing Beau in one day to get ready for the farrier to show up. With high rubber boots on, I trudged out into the field and put his halter on to begin leading him back to the barn. Somewhere in that pasture there’s a black rubber boot with a sock in it wherever it sank into the morass. I never did find it and I can’t begin to describe the joys of leading a horse through the swamp with one bare foot squilching loudly.
Aside from the unpredictable weather (rain, snow, sun, rain, wind, whatever…), this year April is also Federal Election month here in Canada. It’s an unusual election and one where the stakes are extremely high.
Of the two dominant parties, the Liberals have been in power for ten years. Justin Trudeau, leader of that party, was Prime Minister for most of that time until very recently. Although many criticize virtually everything the man did while in office, much of that criticism is unfounded and unfair. He did many good things for our nation, not the least of which was shepherding us through the Covid crisis with reasonable success.
Subject to a great deal of browbeating of late, he resigned and the party chose Mark Carney as its new leader and Prime Minister – at least until the election later this month.
Although there are party loyalists across the political spectrum, I believe that in this election, the stakes are too high for blind subservience based on generations of party loyalty. Everyone must examine what the issues are and who has the best qualifications to champion our country through the next several years of utter chaos, particularly from our neighbours south of the border.
We can’t lie down in the face of challenge. We must be open to examining the qualifications, experience and record of the leaders of each party. It’s important to ask what their plans are for the future of our country and what the ramifications of those plans are for the average citizen, not just wealthy or powerful people.
Before I am accused of being a party loyalist to the Liberals, I should point out that, throughout my adult life, I have voted for Liberal, Green and Conservative candidates at various times, depending on the circumstances. That said, this time around I have no doubt that I will support #MarkCarney and the #Liberal party.
Despite smear campaigns being thrown around, particularly on social media, mostly by the Conservative party, Carney offers the only hope that we, as a nation, have to survive the economic and political carnage that Trump and his cronies are trying to wreak upon the whole world. As of today, Carney has demonstrated that he IS the man to do that. His academic credentials are impecable and his experience in international affairs, particularly financial affairs, is unassailable.
The #ConservativeParty’s candidate for Prime Minister has demonstrated none of these qualities. He is singularly unqualified for the job and his and the party’s entire campaign consists of avoiding answering difficult questions, failing to allow the independent journalists to do their jobs, and focussing on uttering nothing by meaningless slogans designed to cause rifts among groups of people. Stirring up fear and hate and failing to produce any factual rationale, not to mention being tied to the philosophies of the current president of the USA, makes him absolutely the wrong choice.
So, let’s reach above petty squabbles and elect a government that can lead the nation effectively in these incredibly turbulent times!
I support #MarkCarney and the #Liberal party. I hope enough of you will do likewise!
Capturing Cherished Memories 