Welcome to Canadian Thanksgiving 2021 aka Thanksgiving. We are thankful for:
- the federal election being over
- the promise of more truth and reconciliation with Indigenous people in Canada
- most Canadians being fully vaccinated
- Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig being in Canada and Meng Wanzhou not being in Canada
- the Toronto Blue Jays 2021 season, even if they didn't make the AL playoffs
- having a rather decent Canadian film for the Oscars
- a NHL season that opens for Canadian teams on Wednesday
- the border to be sort of open
- having 2 CFL games on Thanksgiving
CBC News has some advice for those holding Thanksgiving celebrations. An outdoors version, where possible, would be a nice option. This is an advantage to holding Thanksgiving in relatively warm temperatures.
We know military nurses went to work at an Edmonton hospital in part due to Alberta's woeful response to the 4th wave of COVID-19.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said all would-be travelers must be fully vaccinated by October 30 before boarding planes, trains, or marine vessels. There will be a "short transition phase" where travelers can show a negative COVID-19 molecular test result (in lieu of vaccination proof) until November 30.
Canadian Thanksgiving 2020: Trying to remain thankful
A few random tweets of note:
.@globalnews portray @JustinTrudeau trip as #vacation yet describe him as working thru the day. Be critical about his location (could have been at #residentialschool site). Don't make stuff up. The creepy stalker footage on the beach doesn't help. https://t.co/5pTVat1GfE
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) October 1, 2021
The Indigenous population of Canada should have been the focus on the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Global News decided to make it about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Political journalists don't like when politicians say they will be one place and then be somewhere else. They don't seem to care if the politician is hiding (Doug Ford, Jason Kenney) but that may depend on the colour of stripes.
The "vacation" label was effective if imprecise. The prime minister did participate in a ceremony Wednesday night and did spend the day speaking on the phone with residential school survivors.
The Global News anger was topped off by sending a reporter to hunt down the prime minister and his daughter walking on the beach in Tofino, BC.
We would find numerous errors in how Trudeau handled the situation. Trudeau himself acknowledged a "mistake." The issue isn't in Global News drawing attention; the lack of objectivity and extra creepiness were significant problems. We have noticed the Twitter hashtag #CdnMediaFailed.
Be consistent: use a competent focus to all political parties.
The Supreme Court of Canada upheld changes to an election DURING an election. A 5-4 vote, but chilling nevertheless. The people of #Toronto and #Canada deserved something better than a #ThirdWorld sense of democracy. https://t.co/mY7vyfsDwJ
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) October 1, 2021
Canada Supreme Court 5-4 decisions are much rarer than what happens in the United States. Our objection was the implementation of the Doug Ford law AND when it was implemented (during the election). The latter point was part of Toronto's objection: that the law violated certain unwritten constitutional principles, such as democracy.
From the Supreme Court of Canada synopsis on the case:
- Majority: Chief Justice Richard Wagner and Justice Russell Brown dismissed the appeal. They said the new law did not violate the freedom of expression of candidates and voters contrary to section 2(b) of the Charter. They also said unwritten constitutional principles cannot serve as the basis for invalidating legislation (Justices Michael Moldaver, Suzanne Côté, and Malcolm Rowe agreed.)
- Dissenting: Justice Rosalie Abella would have allowed the appeal. She said the timing of the new law violated section 2(b) of the Charter and was not justified, and that unwritten constitutional principles can in fact serve to invalidate legislation. (Justices Andromache Karakatsanis, Sheilah Martin, and Nicholas Kasirer agreed.)
Abella, who was appointed to the Court by Paul Martin, retired on Canada Day. Though Trudeau appointed Wagner to chief justice, Stephen Harper appointed Wagner, Brown, Moldaver, and Côté to the Court. Rowe was the only one in the majority who was appointed by Trudeau.
In the minority, Trudeau appointed Martin and Kasirer while Harper appointed Karakatsanis.
Trudeau can appoint a successor to Moldaver in 14 months.
Toronto city election damaged by Doug Ford bully move to threaten notwithstanding clause
There was plenty of confusion during the Toronto election cycle as a result of the new law. Changing the rules in the middle of the election causes confusion. Sadly, there isn't an argument about Ontario doing this to Toronto. There was no reason for the change other than the petty nature of Ford, who used to serve on the Toronto City Council.
One of millions of examples why #Canada and #UnitedStates should have more of a #Schengen situation. @Jackie_Redmond https://t.co/DDNPoob4ky
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) October 1, 2021
The pandemic is one of the millions of reasons why the border should be more open. We've focused on countless border issues heightened during the pandemic: Northwest Angle, Point Roberts, and Haskell Free Library & Opera House to name a few.
Les Oiseaux Ivres is Canada's selection to the Oscars for Best International Feature Film
2021 Toronto Blue Jays have a lot to celebrate, just not the playoffs
Canada observes the initial National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig finally on their way home
Justin Trudeau, Liberals win a third government with back-to-back minority governments
Football and Thanksgiving have been a consistent tradition in the United States and Canada. Imagine if the NFL tried to remove games on Thanksgiving Day. The league now has 3 games on the holiday.
The CFL did take games off of Thanksgiving 2019 when there were 0 games that year. Most years had 2 games. A few years had a single game. In earlier times, some years had 3 or 4 games on the holiday.
The Thanksgiving games aired on CBC until TSN took over the full contract in 2008.
Canadians can watch the NFL Thanksgiving games. ESPN hasn't put a single Thanksgiving game in the TV contract, even though the day is also a holiday in the United States. The last time a U.S. outlet showed a live CFL game on Thanksgiving was 2009.
Opening Day for fully vaccinated Americans to cross into Canada with caveats
August 9 is the date fully vaccinated Americans can cross into Canada with some fine print
Hoping next year will have much more travel between Canada and the United States. Will be more thankful when that happens.
photo credit: me
Twitter captures: @canadian_xing
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