Doug Rogers

I believe most Canadians are united when it comes to our current challenges with Canada versus the United States. So, what are we as Canadians doing about it? What can we do at a grassroots level? How do we prevent the same situation the United States now finds itself in? How can we individually make a difference?

Here are 10 steps and/or solutions, that Canadians could consider to strengthen community engagement and counter polarization and extreme ideology.  Think about how you as an individual can participate and get involved on a local level. We need to prevent what is happening in the US, from happening here in Canada. Historically, Canada has shown to be more of a follower vs a leader on many policy fronts with the United States, so this needs our focus, understanding and action.

1. Encourage Civic and Political Education: Learn, and educate yourself to better understand how government and democracies work. Specifically, learn how the Canadian political system works and how Canada fits in with the global family of sovereign nations. This could help combat misinformation and empower citizens to make informed decisions. Understand the differences between Canada and United States and how each country operates in their own unique way.
2. Promote Local Involvement / Engagement: Grassroots initiatives like town halls, community projects, or volunteer programs can foster a sense of unity and shared purpose, bridging divides at a local level. Social media editorials and public discussions also promote a more inclusive atmosphere. Get involved & participate! Let’s not be bystanders as our country is threatened or pulled into the Trump or any other agenda.
3. Support Independent Media: Strengthening independent journalism can ensure access to balanced, fact-based reporting, which is crucial for informed public discourse. Learn to check the source before sending out possible misleading or false information. Read and accept the facts, but verify them to be sure. Be curious, ask questions and question everything. Don’t be afraid to admit if you’re wrong, have a changed opinion, or need to clarify something you’ve said or published on social media. It is an ongoing changing dialogue with changing points of view, but we must keep that dialogue going.
4. Facilitate Cross-Ideological Dialogue: Allow people with differing views to engage in respectful, constructive conversations. This could help reduce the “us vs. them” mentality. Let’s keep the conversation clean, meaningful and always listen to understand another’s point of view. Invite conversation and opposing views to better understand a debate, topic or policy. Keep it respectful. Remember, often it is the topic or policy, not the person you may be opposed to. Try to keep dialogue fact based vs emotionally triggered and learn to know the difference.
5. Strengthen Democratic Institutions: Promote changes that increase transparency, accountability, and accessibility in government, ensuring that institutions remain resilient against extreme ideologies, both left or right. Try to represent facts accurately and keep our elective officials accountable to their policies and decisions. Dispel false or misleading information and conspiracy theories and learn how to recognize each of these.
6. Encourage Voter Participation: Make voting more accessible and emphasize its importance. A more engaged electorate can dilute the influence of extreme factions. Should we have mandatory voting as Australia and other nations practice? Most importantly – be sure that you vote in all elections.
7. Celebrate Shared Values: Highlight the common goals and values that unite Canadians, such as fairness, inclusivity, and respect for diversity. Get to know your neighbours and celebrate each other’s heritage and culture.  Actively learn about and celebrate our differences.
8. Diversify our Economy: Celebrate and support Canadian businesses and organizations. Let’s remove any barriers inter-provincially to allow for easy, free trade within our own country. Buy local and support locally owned and operated stores and services. Let’s minimize our dependence on any other country and build up our made-in-Canada persona. While we do need the economic relationship with the United States, we can create backup measures to ensure our viability should anything happen the US or our relationship with the US. We need to build an economic safety net and have an emergency plan for economic survival.
9. Build a Strong Infrastructure: We need more emphasis on our sovereign infrastructure. We need to increase defense spending and build-up the necessary protections to keep our Canadian identity. With the north now opening up, viable shipping trade routes through Canadian waters need to be secure and controlled. Our weakest link is our northern border in the Arctic and we should not wait to build on that resource. While our attention is mostly focused on the front door with the United States, we need to ensure the backdoor is secured and locked. We need action on this front, not just words.
10. Keep being a Canadian! As individuals, we can remain true to our Canadian ideals, cultures, diversities and individualities. Whatever participation or engagement we have with others, locally or beyond our borders, we must remain calm, polite, respectful and act with decorum. Always take the high-road, while never losing the strength, resolve and determination that keeps Canada one of the best countries in the world.

These steps aren’t quick fixes, but they are things that we can do or support as individuals. They would continue to build a more resilient and engaged Canada. What are your thoughts?

Doug Rogers