{"id":5446,"date":"2014-09-30T08:48:09","date_gmt":"2014-09-30T12:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bygeorgejournal.ca\/?p=5446"},"modified":"2014-09-30T09:04:25","modified_gmt":"2014-09-30T13:04:25","slug":"thinking-about-canadas-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bygeorgejournal.ca\/?p=5446","title":{"rendered":"Thinking about Canada’s Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CanadianFlag\"<\/p>\n

Every now and then, it is helpful to contemplate where a country may be heading and, in doing so, create an opportunity to make things better for its citizenry.<\/p>\n

Recently McGill University brought together some of Canada\u2019s leading thinkers for a Canada Remix symposium, an event that delved into the country\u2019s current state of affairs and what today\u2019s realities may mean for the future of Canada. Addressing the Remix audience was the likes of Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, G&M chief political writer John Ibbitson, renowned artist Ken Lum, former Ontario Premier Bob Rae and Inuit leader Mary Simon<\/p>\n

Canadian business magnate, Charles Bronfman, set the stage for the discussion of Canada this way:<\/p>\n

It is a tribute to Canadians past and present that the challenges we face are those of a democratic and prosperous society. It is important that we understand our history. (I hope that the Heritage Minutes have helped do that.) And it is important that we continually challenge ourselves to do better. We need to be constructive and critical in the examination of Canada and Canadians.<\/em><\/p>\n

Countries need stories and myths \u2014 about heroes and rebels, decisions and developments, missteps and accomplishments. We have lots of these, some well-known and others obscure. But we also need access to knowledge, and information with which to test our beliefs and assumptions about our past, present and future.<\/em><\/p>\n

In a special column for the Montreal Gazette, \u201cDoes Quebec still matter?\u201d<\/em>, Celine Cooper summarizes the symposium\u2019s key points and makes the observation: \u201cQuebec\u2019s place in Canada wasn\u2019t a talking point at the Canada Remix symposium at McGill, raising an interesting question.” She writes:<\/p>\n

First, Canada matters. Being Canadian \u2014 as artist Ken Lum said that day \u2014 is still something worth pursuing.<\/em><\/p>\n

Second, Canada lacks dynamic leadership and big ideas. I couldn\u2019t agree more.<\/em><\/p>\n

But the theme that I found curiously absent, an omission that I found particularly puzzling given that we were all seated in the heart of downtown Montreal, was the issue of Quebec.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cooper\u2019s comments are worth a read:
\nhttp:\/\/www.canada.com\/Does+Quebec+still+matter\/10239296\/story.html<\/a><\/p>\n

While contemplating Canada\u2019s future prospects, here are a few more interesting links:<\/p>\n