The Canadian Dissident

During this year's federal election campaign, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet sparked outrage by suggesting that Canada is “an artificial country with very little meaning.”  Despite the media and political backlash, Blanchet is right. Every country in the world is an artificial, man-made construct. However, Canada is especially artificial.  Canadians are not united by geography, climate, politics, values, religion, or language. This has always been true, since 1867 when Québec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into one country. The original four provinces had different histories, different ethnicities, and different political aspirations. Canada has always existed as a pragmatic compromise.  The only thing that Canadians from coast to coast to coast have in common is that we are all living on land taken by force from Indigenous nations. The Indigenous nations of the land are diverse and not confined to the arbitrary borders of Canada. Desp...

The dust has settled from the federal election, and unfortunately Canadians voted for more of the same. More inflation, more deficits, more debt, more unaffordable housing, more centralized government. Canada needs significant change to empower communities, small businesses, and low-income families. Our current economic system rewards capital more than work. Our current government enriches politicians, bureaucrats, government contractors, and multinational corporations at the expense of everyone else.  Canada is also running the risk of devolving into a two-party system.  85% of the vote went to the Liberal and Conservative parties. A two-party system will not serve working class Canadians and will not enact meaningful change.  With the rising cost of living, many Canadians are being left behind. Low-income workers should be the government's top priority. Too many Canadians work full-time but still struggle to pay the bills. Here are 6 policies that would make life signif...

All the major parties, with the exception of the Bloc Québécois, are now promising to cut federal income taxes for low-income Canadians, by varying amounts. The Liberals have proposed a very small cut for the lowest income tax bracket, while the Greens want to eliminate income tax for Canadians earning up to $40,000 a year. You can compare all the party positions here:  Conservative Party: Reduce the tax rate on the lowest income bracket (up to $57,375) from 15% to 12.75%.  Source: party website   Liberal Party: Reduce the tax rate on the lowest income bracket (up to $57,375) from 15% to 14%. Source: Financial Post NDP: Raise the basic personal amount (tax-free income) to $19,500.  Source: party website   Green Party: Raise the basic personal amount (tax-free income) to $40,000.  Source: party website People's Party: “Cut personal income taxes… after the deficit has been eliminated, over the course of several budgets, as the fiscal room is found to allow it...

Due to the Trudeau government's misguided attempts at internet regulation, Canadians can no longer share links to news articles on Facebook and Instagram. Google has announced they will follow suit in blocking news for Canadian users. Michael Geist, an expert in internet law, wrote , "It is difficult to overstate the harm that Bill C-18 will create for the media sector in Canada, with enormous losses that will run into the hundreds of millions of dollars." Who knew that government regulation of the internet could backfire? (Almost everyone) It is bizarre that Canadian users now have to find ways around government restrictions in order to share news, but here we are. Here are 5 ways it is still possible to share news stories on Facebook. 1. Share a screenshot This is not ideal, because few people will take the time to find the article and read it. However, if the headline is accurate and you're in a hurry, this does work. 2. Link via the Internet Archive   The Internet...