Simply tell us the truth

THE EDITOR, Madam:

In mid-September, there was great media ballyhoo when the European Union (EU) offered Canada an associate membership of that 27-nation alliance. Prime Minister Mark Carney was pictured with EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen, both grinning from ear to ear like Cheshire Cats from Alice in Wonderland.

A poll was taken suggesting that 70% of Canadians thought it was a good move, even though no other country ever had associate membership, and the PM provided no details of what would be entailed. Expectations of parliamentary debate and further governmental meetings between Canada and the EU have yet to materialise, but recent events in Europe should make us wonder if it’s really such a great idea to have closer ties with a continent in such turmoil.

Several days of rioting throughout France began with high-school students in Paris decrying lack of educational funding, then quickly spread nationwide. Renters in Spain were sparked into huge protests when an 87-year-old lady was forcibly evicted from a Madrid apartment she had lived in for 70 years after her rent increased fivefold. Italy experienced student protests about poor conditions, which soon morphed into huge and violent protests concerning the cost of living, fuel prices and low wages in all major cities coast to coast. There is similar unrest in Belgium, Albania, Greece and other countries of the EU.

Governments in Canada and the EU have myriad problems dealing with President Donald Trump’s authoritarian style, despite PM Carney’s often repeated election campaign pledges last year that he was the only one equipped to handle the volatile occupant in the White House. The world has witnessed many derogatory and erroneous statements emanating from the Oval Office, directed at various countries and their leaders, while there have also been just as many swift reversals and U-turns as threats are made and frequently withdrawn on apparent whims.

We all smile at times when US foreign policy appears to resemble a big fat orange goldfish jumping out of its bowl and flip-flopping all over that famous Resolute Desk. There is so much chaos and disorder in those corridors of power through which leaders slither in political capitals around the globe that we, the great unwashed, must ponder if we will one day be clever enough or lucky enough to elect politicians who can simply tell us the truth.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada