Fight censorship!

I just got home from having lunch with a friend. She came into the restaurant raring to talk. She’s a regular panelist on a couple of CBC radio programs. She’d spent the morning trying to negotiate the next panel opportunity. She was more than a bit exasperated.

The topic the panelists were being asked to weigh in on had something to do with their thoughts on why Canadians are feeling jumpy, grumpy, a bit scared – but please don’t talk about politics!

I’d say the majority of Canadians are steeped in the mess happening in the US and more than a bit concerned that we could be next. 

And while we’re not paying as much attention to Canadian politics, we’re keeping half-an-eye on what’s going on and a bit uneasy about the economy and social issues here at home. As much as anything, it’s politics driving the uncertainty we’re all feeling.

Poilievre is back in the House of Commons playing his broken record again, sounding just the same as he did before the election in, when was it, past March (no, I just looked it up – April 23/2025) – feels like years ago! 

I can’t believe anybody is listening to him, paying him any attention. He’s at it again, tearing down, making no effort to be constructive. He’s still doing his best trump imitation. 

And the fact that PP is back in the House of Commons, still campaigning in an election he lost both as potential PM, as well as his seat in his Ottawa riding, is having a chilling effect on the CBC.

Since PP introduced his defund the CBC campaign even before the election campaign itself, the CBC has tried instituting policy to limit political discussion on its talk shows. A couple of the program hosts have joked about censorship. This was the first time I understood what’s actually going on.

So I’m not just wearing my paperclip in solidarity with Americans fighting to preserve most of their constitutional rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of religion,…. 

I am wearing my paperclip to remind people here in Canada our freedom of speech is also under attack. I’m wearing it to protest censorship right here in Canada!

Hell, if the CBC can be forced to self-censor, quietly gagging program panelists before there has been any discussion of defunding the CBC in Parliament, then we all need to be proudly wearing paperclips!

Better dig one out and get wearing it.

Today.