Where I live the land is flowing with milk and honey. We are one of the most envied regions of one of the most envied countries in the world. We are the world's second biggest country for landmass even if we have the population of a small country. Our climate is dreadful with legendary winters that can span up to eight months or longer depending on how far north you go. Here, on the south Pacific coast we usually don't see frost till sometime in November. Snow, when it occurs at all might appear once or twice in December and January, rarely lasting longer than a couple of days. Spring always begins before March, sometimes in late January.
It is a long spring to a short winter and to me it is the most wonderful season here because it is so gradual and so majestic, like the unfolding of a Mahler symphony. People often complain that it is often chilly and wet into June but I think this is a bit exaggerated. Our summers are mild, sunny and festive. If the winters were a bit warmer I think this would be a perfect climate for many people.
This is also a scandalously expensive city with homelessness and, for a developed nation, much visible poverty. We are run by governments that put consumer needs and market forces first although a lot of noise is made about human rights and the environment. Even many of our working poor have to line up at food banks every month and some can't even afford a simple room or apartment and have to live in shelters or on the sofas of friends and relatives.
I heard today on the news that to great fanfare they are phasing out some of the old "antiquated" liquor laws that for some make Vancouver a "No Fun" city. These people are the same ones who are convinced that all you have to do to guarantee a world class city is to add alcohol and stir. It appears that the more they do this we are going to have all the more late noise, public drunkenness and public urination (mostly by drunken male middle class douchebags) but not a sudden renaissance of culture, learning and international prestige.
If anything really sticks in my craw about my lovely city of Vancouver, this beautiful province of British Columbia, and the majestic nation of Canada, it will be found in these three simple words: No Moral Leadership. Our federal Conservative government, while slashing programs for poor and vulnerable Canadians seems intent on branding this country as a great military power with a glorious military history while making us ever more open to foreign investment, or should I say, complete take over by multinational corporations. Our provincial government, the BC Liberals is particularly egregious and absolutely morally bankrupt. They introduced legislation rolling back social assistance programs while nearly tripling our homeless population, then spinning lies about our beautiful climate being the cause of homelessness since this allegedly attracts them from across the country. However, when one considers that the ciphers for homelessness are every bit as high in other provinces also blessed by governments that have no moral compass, then I am tempted to ask if maybe Edmonton or Montreal might also be magnets for some of Vancouver's homeless as they roam the country in search of... a white Christmas? And then there is Vision Vancouver, again the dominant party in Vancouver City Hall. It is for only two reasons that I did my tiny part to help vote Gregor Robertson (aka Mayor Moonbeam) into a third consecutive term as mayor. Despite his love affair with development corporations he has a heart for the homeless and has spear headed the construction of a number of housing sites for homeless and at risk citizens who live in Vancouver. I also did not want Kirk LaPointe, the NPA candidate to come anywhere city hall. His policies would have favoured only the most self-interested and greedy parties in this city and our homeless citizens would have been the big losers (I only mean this in context) had he won as mayor.
We have absolutely nothing for moral leadership anywhere in this country. This needs to change. Now.
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