I didn’t vote for him.
I couldn’t even if I wanted to because my right to vote was taken away.
I have recently and rapidly become ashamed of my country and what it has become. Especially approaching the election. I was disheartened, enraged, embarrassed, and even ashamed of my country. I have been an expat for 14 years, I have often joked and jested about my homeland, but it has always been just that. I refused to even consider giving up my citizenship, not because the Canadian passport is ‘better’, which is of course a factor. But because deep down, Canada will always be a part of me and my home, no matter where I go, where I live, where my new home may be. Canada is part of me, part of who I am, shaped me, and ultimately a huge part of my identity.
In the short time since the election, I have been nervously watching to see what our new Prime Minister would do. He’s a politician, and … well they can be a shady bunch. He’s done a number of things that may well, come lets be honest they are, publicity stunts. But at the same time, he’s doing them. And let’s consider, all people in the lime light do things to get your attention but what are they doing? Regardless of why, what are they doing?
He ran a clean and positive campaign.
Meeting people in the morning after the election in the metro to shake hands and say thank you.
He used google hangouts, to reach out and chat with school children across the country about issues and their concerns.
Continually talking about, and making real moves toward, transparency in the government.
He promised a cabinet that was gender equal… and then he actually did it. 0.0
Speaking of the cabinet… I’ve heard some grumbling about how, it should be based on qualifications not getting the job for being a woman. <- ok holy fuck off.. because all the men in the previous cabinets were the best candidate? Like there aren’t any freaking qualified women in government? Really.? HUFF
When he was asked why he made a gender equal cabinet, his answers was simple “because it’s 2015”.
But seriously look at this..
In case you haven’t seen this floating around
https://www.facebook.com/alanaphillips?pnref=story
These are some of the cabinet members…
We have a Minister of Environment and CLIMATE CHANGE.
We have a Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and REFUGEES.
Our Prime Minister is a sci-fi geek.
Our Minister of Health is an actual Doctor.
Our Minister of Families, Children and Social Development is a poverty economist.
Our Minister of Science is an actual Scientist (oh, and she has a Nobel Prize).
Our Minister of Status of Women is an actual woman!
Our Minister of Veterans Affairs is a quadriplegic because he was shot in a drive-by shooting.
Our Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour is a Professional Geologist.
Our Minister of Democratic Institutions is a Muslim refugee.
Our Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities is a Paralympian Athlete.
Our Minister of Defence is a badass war hero, Afghanistan combat vet, and police officer.
OUR MINISTER OF TRANSPORT IS A GODDAMN ASTRONAUT.
Half of our Ministers are women.
Half of our Ministers are men!
Two of our Ministers are people of First Nations (Kwakwaka’wakw, Inuit)
Three of our Ministers were born outside of Canada (India, Afghanistan)
Two of our Ministers are Sikh.
At least one of our Ministers is Muslim.
At least two of our Ministers are Atheist.
One of our Ministers is battling breast cancer. frown emoticon
One of our Ministers is in a wheelchair.
One of our Ministers is blind.
One of our Ministers is openly gay.
One of our Ministers is openly ginger.
Also, Hon. Navdeep Bains has a perfect twirly moustache.
Justin, if these are signs of what is to come, how you plan to run our country. I breathe a sigh of relief. I didn’t vote for you, but you’ve given me my Canada back, or at least have started to. I am proud of my country again. And I had a little hitch in my breath, my heart skipped a beat when I read his open letter to the country. If nothing else, thank you for giving me hope.
Magdalicious ... A life better lived 
Is this the beginning or the end of your interest in politics? 🙂
Shrug.. dunno
Will said my girl. Casey at three this girl told her grandpa that she was going to be the prime-minister of Canada. He told her she better be a lawyer as that was what you had to do and she spent the next 17 years with that as her life plan. So from the time she was 3 years old she had a interest in changing her country to be a better place. Mommy loves you
I bet she did. She likes to act like she don’t care about this stuff but I know better. That’s probably why she likes me. I try to do enough world changing for the both of us (and then some! lol) She should still be Prime Minister. I’m certain she’d love for me to be the first male spouse… 😉
yes I am all for that