The Dawn of a New Canada - Essay Example

The Dawn of a New Canada Canada has unfortunately reached a present stance that has impacted the overall appearance for her when it comes to how sheis viewed throughout the rest of the world. “With the advent of an increased pace of globalization during the past decade, in particular the regional trade liberalization initiatives of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and the Single European Act, a lively and important debate has been initiated regarding the consequences of liberalization of economic relations among countries,” Adding that, “One group sees globalization as a process which brings only material benefits to all participants, while a more critical group argues the consequences are either increased unemployment or increased inequalities in the distribution of income. Data regarding recent economic performance in North America and the European Union suggest the validity of the latter position. Given this unsatisfactory aspect of economic performance the discussion comes back to the question of whether it is globalization that is the causal factor or something else,” (Kresl p.1). The economic performance of a country plays an instrumental role in how it is viewed by other world powers. The problem itself boils down to the practice of the rich becoming far richer, while the less than fortunate still find it rather difficult to reach out from beyond what may be their current standing in life and society, despite the social programs in place to aid those whom are less fortunate. While some can attribute many different reasons as to why a country would be in such a position, Kresl in addressing this writes that, “Daniel Cohen provides support when he states that "it is manifestly absurd and demagogic to characterize as a failure of globalization what is in reality the difficulty industrialized countries have in resolving their internal conflicts over redistribution of the gains from globalization,” (Kresl p.1). While it may seem easy to throw the label of globalization to blame for all national woes, as Cohen points out and the apparent agreement of Kresl, what has been categorized as a failure of the globalization practice, is actually a case of where the failure itself truly lies within the borders of the industrial strength power as it comes to the inability of them as it comes to the equal distribution of national wealth. As to how this would come into play for Canada, “Canada, due to its history, complexity and intermediate size, is perhaps the most interesting and challenging case for one to study in this regard. Traditionally, Canadians have had a strong sense of national identity and have put in place a set of social cohesion policies - health care, unemployment payments, regional equalization schemes, etc., that are far more comprehensive and supportive than are those of their southern neighbor, the United States. Concurrent with trade liberalization agreements with the United States and with Mexico this national identity seems to be becoming less secure. A second contributory factor is the process of decentralization through which powers and the public policy initiative are devolving, de jure or de facto, from Ottawa to provincial governments, fed by the desire of many Québécois to seek independence and by governments in the other provinces asserting their policy authority, and by the acquiescence of Ottawa. One can argue that if this process continues, the ability of the national government to introduce and to maintain social cohesion policies will be diminished and Canadians may end up with what most of them have long seen as the society they do not want - that of the individualistic, competitive, polarized society of the United States. Perhaps as a portend of things to come, Weller and Manga examine the "dismantling" of Canadas system of Medicare and see this as an anti-egalitarian attack on the systems fundamental ethic, that of equitability and universality. They link this directly to the consequences of globalization - the financial market driven policy to reduce government expenditures and "the increasing influence of American market ways,” (Kresl p.1). To analyze the essence of this quote, it is that as most are aware of, those who reside in Canada have a commonly held feeling that they do not wish to adopt the societal policies of their neighbor to the South. Instead, they wish to remain as individualistic and true to their own ideals as long as they so humanly can. It is that desire to remain individualistic, rather than to adopt a style which would be best described as conformist. Unfortunately, as the authors details it, there has been, on the part of the Canadian government, actions performed which have resulted in the country adopting an attitude which, not being of self-reliance or exhorting its own dominance as a country, but one that appears to one whose similar to the small boy in Oliver Twist who said to the master, “Please sir, can I have some more?” Globalization is a continuing factor that impacts every country throughout the world. In an individual way, each country faces a continuous fight to form some kind of identity of its own to be considered as powerful. Cultural and national pride are both very dominant factors as it comes to how a people wish their country to be viewed, but in an era of competitive politics, at the end of the day the only thing that really matters to the politicos in charge is the all mighty dollar and the political prestige that comes with higher office. In compared to the United States, who can be very easily viewed as a nation that cares more about products and services as the symbol of their own national pride, the Canadians have tried for years to maintain a sense that, instead of $$, what they wish to see as important is keeping within their own moral compass and not concerning themselves with the flow of money and corruption that flows outside of its borders, but has in a lot of ways, infiltrated the nation as well. Nations are more than entitled to fight for their individual integrity and worth as it comes to its place in the world. Each country brings to the table that which, more than likely, is a sign of uniqueness that is identified only with them. With that being said, it can be understood that there are more than likely at least some in the civilian level of Canada who feel that their national values and pride have been sold to the highest bidder as a means of the fast paced competition with their neighbors, especially the one that most describe, “The world’s only living super power.” Money and power rule the world, as do the leaders who are elected or born into power over the countries which they say they lead. It is the power of money and the desire for more power that washes away the individualistic nature that has long been attributed to the people of Canada. Their hopes of maintaining a sense of nationality that is true to their belief structure has given way to a mad rush for monetary superiority and a completive nature that goes against everything they claim are their core values as a nation. In writing about what a nation means to be, Kresl says that, “The nation has been defined by one scholar as "a named human population sharing an historic territory, common myths and historical memories, a mass, public culture, a common economy and common legal rights and duties for all members,” (Kresl p.1). For Canadians, that which binds the average citizens are the memories of their culture, a sense of pride for how long they have spent fighting to ensure that their country would not be seen as a figurative clone of another, but one that is strong and powerful in its own right and devoid of partaking in the greed and backhandedness that so many other countries partake in. Citizens themselves fail to have the same desire or motivation for the greed and self-promotion that falls within the hallowed halls of their governmental system. Essentially, Canada’s crisis of national culture is also hindered by the deterioration of its health care system. Despite saying that the system is stronger and more user friendly than that of the United States, the system itself is falling into the same trap for which it claims they have been able to avoid. From an article back in 2004, the author quotes Prime Minister Paul Martin as saying that, "Few would dispute the prevailing reality of our time: people in this country are increasingly anxious about their ability to get in to see the right health professional at the right time," (“Canada” p.1). Despite the claims of a quicker medical system, “As the politicians bicker, Canadians spend more time waiting in line. A study by the right-wing Fraser Institute this month said that average waiting time for treatment in 2003 rose to 17.7 weeks from 16.5 weeks in 2002,” Adding that, "This grim portrait is the legacy of a medical system offering low expectations cloaked in lofty rhetoric," the study said, criticizing the fact that governments and not doctors are responsible for allocating resources,” (“Canada” p.1). Over the years, as the Canadian government has formed its identity among other ways as having a medical system which they felt set themselves apart from others, to see the deterioration of the system to the extent that wait periods are increasing despite the financial cost, would raise great concern as to the current state of Canadian affairs within their borders and how the country elects to interact with the rest of the world. Like any other country, Canada too is faced with issues that, if left unresolved, can overtime break apart the inner fibers of the country. Often times, politics and those who partake in it can take away from what it is that the people themselves claim to want. The elected officials are elected to protect the values and the future of the country, but often times, even in the case of Canada, find that values and pride give way to a desire to take a route that leads to greedy globalization that, at the end of the day, is more than likely not within the belief system which is held by the national electorate. For Canada to retain its true identity that its people for centuries have long sense held dear, the political structure, in their quest for governmental stability, has to retain in its mindset that values and pride are integral to the national pride which so many Canadians have held dear for so long. Appearances crucial for a country to best put forward the image which they desire to be seen by others as it comes to their goals, their beliefs and their value structure. Just as politicians appear to want their country to have an image of fairness but strength, the citizens desire to have their country have the appearance of maintaining values without forsaking them for shallow reasons. It is not only the citizens who are struggling with the status of their health care system that they have formed against the Canadian identity, but also the doctors as well. "When I started work 30 years ago it took three weeks to get a patient into a specialists office. Now it can take six months. There is a lot of inhumanity built into the system," one unhappy family doctor told Reuters,” (“Canada” p.1). In going with the idea that health care plays into the visual picture that the rest of the world is supposed to get from looking to Canada, it appears to be heading down a path of amplifying an already shaken national identity which needs assistance, not hindrance. Due to this bureaucratic red tape, Canadians are instead flooding emergency rooms and forgoing having a regular doctor, which in that case, does not pain a pretty picture for the national medical structure. Going farther into the 21st century, it becomes even more apparent that nations are in dire need of finding their cultural identity and placing their time into maintaining it. Often times, nations that bind themselves towards an appearance of culture and value end up losing that. References Kresl, Peter K. “Globalization”. Source: Bucknell University. Department: Economics. Lewisburg, PA, 17837. Email: kresel@bucknell.edu. Accessed online: 30 March 2008. URL: http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kresl/Bologna2.htm Ljunggren, David. “Canada’s Once-Proud Public Health System in Crisis.” Published: 14 September 2004. Source: Reuters. Accessed: 30 March 2008. URL: http://www.liberty-page.com/issues/healthcare/onceproud.html Read More