Learning What to Protest or How Not to Waste Time

It would appear to be fashionable for those involved in the oil business to scream at anyone who will listen that the Liberal Party and specifically Justin Trudeau are not doing enough to get Albertan oil to the various markets. There are demonstrations, truck convoys and threats/promises to bring the protest to Ottawa. The outrage and concern of the families who are dependent upon oil flowing freely across the plains and over the mountains is real. Whether or not they are angry at the right person or institution is another question. It is tempting to suggest the protests only provide a bit of news with lots of lovely pictures of ordinary Canadians - something especially useful when there is not a lot of other news happening in the dark days of the holiday season.

It is perhaps inappropriate to be so cynical during the above mentioned season which is, at least on paper, suppose to be about love, hope and peace. I, however, cannot help but wonder who is suggesting to those protesters that the only enemy are the Liberals in Ottawa. I would think that any person capable of rational thought would wonder - who benefits from the protests? Does anyone really think that a relatively small number of protesters are going to be able to convince the Federal Government to ignore the rulings of the Supreme Court and build the pipeline? Does anyone want to live in a country where the government ignores the ruling of the Supreme Court?

I disagreed with the Liberal Government's decision to buy the pipeline - a decision they made so that they could ensure that the pipeline would be built. The purchase was a sizeable commitment to get the oil to market. It is, in fact, one of the few things that any federal government has done to make certain that the pipeline got built. The cynic in me cannot help but be curious as to why five years ago, as the pipeline approval process dragged on, the same protesters were not out demanding that the Conservative government do something? That same cynic would also wonder if the directed attacks on Trudeau are more about the provincial election in Alberta next year or the federal election a few months later. While all of the protesting is going on - why is no one asking what any of the Conservative governments-in-waiting would do to change the situation? No one is asking those questions because of who may be facilitating/directing/shaping the protests.

How Canada deals with the resources buried in the ground (or that which grows above the ground e.g. trees) is a legitimate discussion for all Canadians. It may be one of the most fundamental conversations in the next decade or two. We must find a way to balance the need to generate an economy that can support the needs of all Canadians with the need to be far more cautious (and far-sighted) as to how we protect the environment. It is a complex discussion full of competing needs and dangerous, non-productive side arguments - laying blame for political reasons is one of those side arguments. It is not useful. It is, in fact, dangerous.


As individual Canadians, we must become responsible for thinking for ourselves. We cannot afford to accept, without critical thought, the opinions and direction of others. Protest is a legitimate response to poor government decisions. But it us, the individual, who needs to decide what we will protest and why. It is perhaps an over-used but true thought - we really can't trust those who want to political power to tell us what is right or wrong.