The COVID-19 Pandemic is far from over. However, it’s been with us long enough to clearly expose fault lines, inequities, and deficiencies in virtually every sector of society.
As a result, many have now concluded there is a need for a ‘new normal’ rather than returning to the status quo.
But what should the new normal look like? What lessons have we learned- or should we have learned from the pandemic?
We really need to respond to those challenges and change how we’re doing things. The normal has to be different.
We need to build back better, do things differently, respond to the health changes that have arisen since the pandemic.
The housing crisis must be addressed and conditions improved for low-wage workers.
In short, we need to rebuild a society that’s more equitable, sustainable, and just.
Considering recent comments by Charlie Angus-NDP on the deaths of 215 First Nation children at St.Anne’s residential school, and his belief that religious institutions, orders, and government that allowed these crimes to occur have never been accountable and that forensic investigations at all sites are critical.
The atrocities must be further pursued, and investigated with the appropriate closure and respect, from those culpable. Those 215 affected must have their dignity and deaths acknowledged for all that they endured before their final eternal rest.
Moreover in our modern, present world the need for acknowledging one public school system for all, a system that welcomes children of all beliefs and cultures, and that teaches a reasoned and equitable approach to live in harmony in this world. It is critical, with legislated representation from the previous four boards.
Given how much has been done by those who are closest to knowing and keeping ‘Children First’, it is becoming more difficult to rationalize the need for a chairperson, needless trustees and board administrations, and financial officers when we rarely heard from them before the pandemic and even less since then on their accountability, which seems much more than we are paying for, or that they may deserve, for so little input.
Finally, a government that we can believe and trust to determine all sectors of our society that have been affected for too long. We need less interest in unilateral decisions that promote their collective and individual photo opportunities pretty much exclusively to get re-elected by giving away money as if it was their own.
Although we have much to be thankful for, we owe it to all who have been affected in any way by the pandemic and their families, particularly those who have died for all of us.
We all must be much more involved in the process of voting for those, much like our volunteers, who in many ways have done so much more than those we elected who haven’t, don’t, or won’t stop hiding around distractions of their own making as opposed to the real focus, which is at least doing your best, not the least, given their promises and election which now appear meaningless in too many ways.
Have we forgotten, Give us a Place to Stand, our
Give us a place to stand and a place to grow and call this land-ONTARIO, a place to stand a place to grow-ONTARI-AIRI-IOOO.
