Canadians are heading into another long weekend and we hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy balmy weather as we ease into fall.
We have remarked often in the office lately about where the month of August went. The first half was quick and the latter half just disappeared.
Rolling into September the pressure will be on to get kids back to school and for many Canadians it will signal a return to work. Perhaps not in-office, but certainly once summer holidays end, business tends to pick up and expectations at work are more onerous.
Challenging as work can generally be, many industries are still suffering from shortages in the supply chain. Vehicles reliant on chips sit idle waiting for delivery. Raw materials seem in short supply depending on industry and perhaps the most troublesome aspect is people, as companies attempt to re-hire and grow their business. September will have a degree of stress for all.
Along with these concerns Canadians are also facing an election. Regardless of who gets in, there will be a retraction of aid as the government backs away from programs designed to keep the economy buoyant during the pandemic. At a clip of $424 million in new borrowing every day, spending will need to throttle down.
For this weekend though, lap it up, relax and enjoy the last days of summer.
Show some respect
Some seem surprised but it is a tale as old as time. Vandals are also out on the campaign trail.
Dozens of volunteers spend countless time and resources putting up election signs and helping run campaigns. It is as grassroots as democracy gets and we appreciate their local effort, regardless of party or philosophy.
Regrettably, every election though, calls come in about vandalism and mischief around signs. The offenders, if we had to guess, are not big on volunteering or getting involved in a positive way. No, their go-to is to sabotage the work of others, whether it be rude messages on signs or rendering them useless.
Candidates and volunteers suffering from this malaise on the roadsides should never take it personally. A weak mind comes at politics this way. Perpetrators however should re-think their actions, which could result in criminal charges if caught. That’s a pretty costly way to make a point.
There are many ways to challenge authority or encourage change rather than destroying the work of others. Volunteer for a party of your liking or write a letter to the editor even.
That leads to some musings on the recent hounding of Justin Trudeau at campaign events.
There is no place for hysteria at rallies, or coarse language that makes the average Canadian blush. Free speech has never been about cheapening the English language or using it to threaten others. Leaders of all parties have condemned the actions, recognizing that stifling discussion is never good for anyone running for office.
While frustrations abound in this precarious time, let’s keep the races in Wellington-Halton Hills and Perth-Wellington respectful and orderly.
