Those who read Listen Up! on a regular basis will know that I have written more than once about my concern related to cancel culture. I have not changed my opinion about that.
Growing populism in Canada and much of the Western world has elevated the pace of change in our society.
Much of it relates to individual freedom, the call for fewer restrictions on our lives, and the ability to plot our own course without interference. Many Canadians can embrace those things. But other changes brought about by the rise of populism in recent years are more concerning. We are less inclined to listen to those whose views differ from ours, and it is more difficult for people to speak their minds without fear of retribution.
In recent days, a guest editorial writer in the Toronto Star, Catherine Corriveau, said in part, “Our democratic foundation is cracking. The double dichotomy of winning over government and confrontation over compromise has shifted our public discourse from a marketplace of ideas to a battlefield.” She goes on to say, “It not only breeds cynicism and disillusionment, it undermines the public trust that is essential for healthy democratic governance.”
I think all of that is true. But in this day and age, and perhaps as a result of this, there is a movement to redefine our history through cancel culture or “alternate facts.” Some believe that the standards of today are those on which we should judge the standards of the past. I disagree.
Cancel culture has resulted in the tearing down of statues, renaming roads and some communities, desecrating our monuments, and tarnishing the reputation of many of our forefathers.
One of our forefathers, in particular, Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, as a result of cancel culture and “alternative facts,” is largely known today as the architect of the horror of residential schools for Indigenous Canadians. That is simply wrong.
Did Macdonald have his warts? Of course, he did. Name me a prime minister who didn’t. Was he a little too fond of imbibing the wobbly pop? Apparently. Did he govern according to the standards and morals of the time he lived in, rather than the standards of today, more than a century and a half later? Without question.
Sir John A. Macdonald was Canada’s primary founding father and its first Prime Minister. He built the foundation on which our country stands today, including uniting Canada by building a coast-to-coast railroad. That is his legacy, not the legacy related to residential schools promoted through cancel culture and “alternate facts.”
Macdonald did not create residential schools for Indigenous Canadians. They were established well prior to him becoming Prime Minister. Further, during his entire tenure in that office, attendance at residential schools for Indigenous Canadians was voluntary and not obligatory. These are facts that all the cancel culture in the world cannot change.
To place the blame for the horror of residential schools solely at the feet of Sir John A. Macdonald is not just inaccurate but also unfair to Indigenous Canadians who endured the negative and controlling aspects of these institutions throughout the tenures of many prime ministers, both Conservative and Liberal, right up until the time of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. It is interesting to note that most, if not all, of their statues remain standing.
Cancel culture and “alternate facts” have, in my view, irrevocably tarnished the reputation of Canada’s first Prime Minister. There have been many other examples in recent years, and I continue to believe that cancel culture is harmful both to our history and to our future as Canadians.
Imagine my surprise and discomfort, therefore, when a recent conversation with a good friend reminded me that I, too, may have been guilty of cancel culture.
Many will remember that in June of 2010, what was then known as the annual G8 Summit for international leaders was held at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was in Huntsville for these meetings.
Subsequently, as part of the recognition that this event was held in Huntsville, a small park was created to display the flags of the eight countries that participated in this meeting, including the flag of Russia. They all flew proudly for a few years. But then Russia, now with Vladimir Putin back as President, undertook a number of cruel initiatives, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014 for which it was kicked out of the G8 and, as well, ultimately a unilateral invasion of Ukraine.
There was much debate in Huntsville as to whether the Russian flag should remain flying. If my memory serves me correctly, it went up and down a few times until the atrocities in Ukraine became overwhelming. Now, it is down for the foreseeable future, an empty flagpole among seven flags proudly flying.
I was fully supportive of that.
But my friend pointed out to me the other day that the removal of the Russian flag was another example of cancel culture. The flags in the park were there to indicate that all of these countries were here as part of the G8 Summit. Russia was a part of that, and to deny its presence is to deny the facts.
This hit home to me because as much as I believe that cancel culture and the denial of facts are very harmful, it also distresses me to see the flag of a despotic and invasion-prone country proudly flying in our town.
I have learned a lesson here.
If we really believe that cancel culture is wrong and harmful to our society, as I do, then we cannot have it both ways. I now believe that the Russian flag should go back up. However, I also believe we can send a real message by only raising it to half-mast. In that way, we can recognize the fact that Russia was part of the G8 Summit here and, at the same time, reflect our mourning and concern over their unwarranted war against Ukraine and what that could mean to their further territorial ambitions to invade other countries.
Cancel Culture, to me, is simply the diminishment or complete erasure of truth and fact. Truth and honesty are a big part of the foundation of a democratic society.
Sometimes it may hurt, but we should never forget that.
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler and South Muskoka Doppler.
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Thank you Hugh for reminding me of your acceptance of ranked voting. As a means of increasing voter turnout and interest and participation in the electoral process it seems to me a great start, and one that is easy to understand and does not involve more than one day in the polling booths.
We have to make our system more democratic, less divisive and more collaborative. And I know there are politicians who are truly motivated by the desire to make Canada better, rather than to achieve power to line their pockets and those of their friends.
Maybe if the electoral process had been reformed we would not have had Bob Ray elected with such a majority, a disaster for the Ontario NDP with virtually no experienced MPs and at the start of a recession.
Hi Leslie: You are correct. In that previous article I said that I personally had no problem with the status quo of first past the post for elections in Canada. I went on to say however that if there was to be electoral reform, a ranked ballot was a much better option than proportional representation, for the reasons I articulated in that article. I stand by that.
Leslie Hastie: “Democracy is being eroded.” I’d say Democracy is being ignored and circumvented. Politicians will crawl out of the woodwork at election time. Mouth promises and propose pending actions should they be elected. Some folk will puzzle it all out and believe they have made an ‘educated’ choice. They make an X and the winner is ecstatic that he/she has won. From there ’til 4 years hence, they are sequestered behind party policy and while yours’ may have been an ‘educated’ choice, it didn’t matter anyway. ‘Cause now we voters are just “an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis”, a la Big Bang Theory.
For that reason, most people now don’t spend time listening to the BS being pumped out by politicians. I don’t think that even old politicians can swallow the codswallop being regurgitated by the new. Todays politicians don’t care ’cause if they get elected, they may get a plum job, even though they may have no idea what the party policy is. That’s not important. Their job is to be there, be seen, be seated (unless instructed to stand) and for God sake…be quiet.
In Ontario we see that policy is rather circular. Sort of like the Premier. We are told something is part of policy. We get a bill to enforce the policy. Then, for a variety of reasons (some legal) that policy is dropped, even though it may have cost we taxpayers millions. No matter. Landslide victory, Elected dictatorship. Doug also invoked some sort of “strong mayor” policy that tells a good part of the population that their vote isn’t even needed.
Are we now assured (?)of another federal ‘landslide’ victory. And there are those who seem to be waiting with bated breath. Trudeau will be gone. The world will change. The sky will resume being in the sky. Because of the leadership of a person who seems to have no policy what-so-ever. But maybe it is better to refrain from lying than to lie? I think the man better get a good pair of pads because there is a Western premier who will kick him around like a hacky sack should he deny her anything. Maybe that alone will make it all worth watching.
And the “Not withstanding” clause is right there. Buckle up Canada.
The most important part of your article relates to the decline in democracy, the vitriol in politics and society, and absence of debate in Canada.
We have a system of government in which Doug Ford, for instance, with votes from only 18% of eligible voters received a huge majority at Queens Park at the last Ontario election.
So many electors feel their votes don’t count. What happens at the next federal election to the millions who do not want to vote for either Trudeau or Pollievre? They just don’t vote, and know their wishes for a society of their choosing cannot be met.
The first past the post system is not working. Democracy is being eroded.
In response to my article in the spring showing all the advantages of some form of proportional representation, you acknowledged a preference for the status quo. You gave no reason and I suspect that as we age we tend to prefer the status quo and change makes us anxious. If this is not the case for you, I would like you to tell us why you prefer the status quo and FPTP (without your pointing out as reason the outliers such as Israel who have PR, but instead recognizing all the many other countries which are served so well by PR.)
Let us have some intelligent debate on this critical issue, Hugh.
Thank you.
Compromise….Russian ( Communist ) flag 1/2 mast and above it , The Ukrainian Banner until the invaders withdraw and make reparations !
Hugh, I also believe the Russian flag should stay down. Removing the flag is an act of protest…if we were to remove the pole, rearrange the park and replace the plaque in order to pretend as through the Russian delegation was never here in 2010, that would be revising history. The term “cancel” … in the parlance of our time, doesn’t apply here…that’s reserved for specific events (speeches usually) that are cancelled due to public pressure…rightly or wrongly.
So that’s what cancel culture is! I honestly thought it was about cancelling events due to Covid. But you learn that it’s about pulling down statues of Winston Churchill and Robert E.Lee.
As a rule I’d call that revisionism and it’s been going on a long long time.
In wartime uncomfortable and horrific events have been either covered up or exploited for propaganda. As Goebbels did by positioning Stalingrad as a supreme moment of national sacrifice. But Canadians are good at doing this too.
On ‘the flag’ I confess to visiting the Ukraine SSR many years ago so with mixed feelings I’d lower it and put up the sign to explain the reason.
Flying a Russian flag at half mast honours the death of a prominent Russian.
Like a Russian general killed in the invasion of Ukraine, for example.
How it could possibly be interpreted any other way is beyond comprehension.
Absolutely not.
The Russian flag stays down.
Hugh Mackenzie: Did you really change your opinion over the years? I found that information I gathered along the way became part of the whole; part of who I am and what I believe. The older one becomes the more those opinions are set and the greater one’s ability to defend them. Sometimes it’s fun to argue one side of a subject one day and change it tomorrow. Nothing like being pro and con.
It’s taken a long time to put me together and I won’t be changed by some yokels who believe that tearing down a statue or renaming a street is a culturally modifying move. It is said that circumstances will alter cases, and without one having a sound personal opinion, they may be leading a rather to and fro sort of life.
As for the Russian flag, I don’t miss it. And don’t beat yourself up, because I sure as hell won’t think less of you for how you felt. Circumstances and putin have made it less than what it was. The blurb about the Nazi flag was just a waste of pixels. My opinion.
To mention there is racism, sexism, elitism in Canada! No kidding! Canada is populated by people. That is how some people get their jollies. Someone is always willing to bully somebody else. They don’t seem to be able to find constructive stuff to occupy their time.
I started out as a Conservative and have clung tenaciously to that ideology. There were some bad patches, but you learn to persevere. One bad patch was Bob Ray. Sounded good. Seemed logical. And the opinion slipped for one single X. That went south in a hurry. Lesson learned; ‘another brick in the wall’. In the end the man discovered he’d been a Liberal all along. Talk about sting!
And now, how can I be a Conservative with what that party offers as a leader? There are people just not worth adjusting an opinion for. But a Conservative I am. Pretty miffed, but what are you gonna do. Another bad patch because I can’t vote for the man. Principles. Turmoil.
Where’s cancel culture when I really need it? Again. My opinion.
What I take from this editorial is that Hugh admits changing his opinion over the years. ( I’m not judging those opinions )
I, myself, wonder if I have shifted from left (at 20 years old ) to more to right ( at 70 + years old )
I do, however, try to view issues from both sides, and often switch back and forth, depending on the issue.
During discussions with grandkids, I try to show where both sides are coming from, without tainting them, in general.
Hm. interesting. doubt that Vladimir Putin would care if his flag is down or half-mast in Huntsville.Sir John A also unaffected by his statues. They live(d) their lives and acted and thought as they chose. Facts and truth can be manipulated and spun to support whatever flag is being waved. However my concern is that persons alive now suffer actual degrees of erasure of their dignity and barriers to their access to opportunities, and safe, affordable living spaces and even clean water, unlike many of us privileged Canadians in Muskoka. There is undeniable racism, sexism, elitism etc in Canada. This hurts us all.Social media and commentary columns like this do not provide arenas for thoughtful conversation and exchange. So the silos and “tribalism” become entrenched even between friends and neighbours.No one likes to be hit with a huge black cancellation mark crossing them out verbally or otherwise for their opinions, experiences and feelings or whatever their last name may be. It is not that we can no longer talk to each other but that we do not seem to be able to listen and understand what others may be saying.We need to find solutions together.
Absolutely not. The Russian flag stays down.
It’s distressing to see “the flag of a despotic and invasion-prone country proudly flying in our town.” And is also disrespectful to Ukrainian Canadians. Even at half mast.
Would Hugh be in favour if anyone put a Nazi flag up at half mast? Just so we don’t forget they existed before the war? Also ridiculous.
The fact is history can’t be cancelled. Whether or not a flag or a statue is up or down. It’s never been easier to find out historical facts and put them in context.
Hugh.,
I agree with almost everything you say in this article; I do not agree with flying the Russian flag at half mast. Half mast should be reserved for mourning to honour and pay respect for a person who is deceased in honour of their accomplishments not their failings. Fly the Russian flag with the rest and put a descriptive sign at the site explaining why the flag is flying and why Russia is no longer in the G8.