A few nights ago, my husband and son met a young man at the local hobby store. They first met him when he was 12 years old working at the same store. He is now 25. In chatting, he asked my son about school and he responded with “great, trying to make up my mind if to buy a car and commute or just work and try to rent close to campus.” The young man advised to stay close to school and get educated – forget the car. He then spoke about his three jobs, making minimum wage and working 90 hours a week to pay his rent, buy food and have a car. He spoke with such despair and angst that my husband has not been able to dismiss it.
I expect as an immigrant that I would earn less, work longer hours and maybe never get to the position I would have in my first home. I accept that. It is the price to pay for the great country my kids would grow up in. I never expected to see the Canadian dream wiped out of a young man that was born here. I know there could be several factors at play here, but I have also met other young people like him. He is not alone.
These are the experiences that plant the seeds of a populist movement. We cannot ignore the plight of many Canadians who see themselves without hope.
Niagara West-Glanbrook just elected a 19-year-old, home-schooled, first year Brock University student who lives with his parents to the position of MPP. While I admire his ambition, his skills are in question when compared to those he defeated. His website notes that “taxpayers know what is best…not the out of touch Toronto elites”…sound familiar?
Oosterhoff is pro-life, an opponent of sex education and has indicated that homosexuality is a sin by quoting religious literature on his social media. These views are diametrically opposed to those of his party…sound familiar?
Our politicians are failing on both sides to meet the needs of Canadians. We pride ourselves on diversity and accepting refuges but we need to look at those that are existing and not living and ask why in a first world country this is happening?
Oosterhoff was elected as people voted with emotion not logic. This is going to happen unless we all get involved.
Demand more from your politicians, – you deserve more than the status quo.
Find your inner ‘Barack’
