The Next Phase of Protest

If you study history at all one of the things you learn is that the periodization used, short-hand terms to label eras, are created almost universally after the fact. Living in one of those historical moments can be abundantly clear or far more murky. With the incidents in Dallas, Baton Rouge and elsewhere there is a real sense that the confrontation between civil rights advocates and the state is intensifying. This is not exclusively an American phenomenon. The growing activism of the organizations like Black Lives Matters Toronto illustrates that there are continent-wide concerns.

An already iconic photo of the Black Lives Matter protest in Baton Rouge, LA

As I reflect back on the evolution of civil rights groups over the last decade or so it is hard not feel like we have entered into a new era. Women's, transgender, and racialized minority right advocates have exploded in their presence in the popular consciousness and also their base of support. A cohort of North Americans have come to the conclusion that there is a significant power imbalance in society that needs to be addressed. Before the modern era I feel as though these debates were highly limited to the university seminar, dinner parties and within persecuted communities themselves. Clearly my social circle is not representative of North America as a whole but Black Lives Matter protests receive (inter)national attention now and response from the audience rather than passive indifference.

A photo from a recent protest that went viral critiquing the response of police

One of the big criticisms I recall hearing about the Millennial and Gen-X generations is that they were apathetic and disinterested in society beyond themselves. We were generation Me and the concerns of others were beyond our interest. Activism is back on the streets. While Black Lives Matters is often the focus, I think it's easy to see how Idle No More and allied movements signaled a sea change this decade.

It would be lazy and inaccurate to suggest that we're back to the 1960s, though this time and that time certainly offers some parallels. Too direct an examination reveals how much one is trying to stick a square peg into a round hole. The stakes are different, the conditions are different. These protests have unveiled the elements of the systemic racism visible and sexual minorities continue to experience in North America. Perhaps a combination of the election and disappointments of a liberal president and the escalating militarization of police has led to an explosion over this conflict. The photos are very different today from the 1960s, but no less inspiring on one hand and haunting on the other.  

Photo from an Idle No More protest in London, ON in 2012

So, where is this all going? With violent conflict between protestors, radicals and police/the state escalating the protest movement could grow even larger, or stifle it in its infancy. Other sectors of the continent are also experiencing change as the Republican Party embraces (however reluctantly) an openly racist candidate. It should come to no surprise to frequent readers of this blog that my sympathies are with these new civil rights movements. I do not condone any violence associated with them, but it is easy to understand the anger. It's an anger fueled by decades of neglect, apathy and abuse from others in society and the state. Social media and mass communications may fill in where prominent leaders did in the past.

History doesn't repeat itself, but it can often rhyme. With the bizarre American presidential election coming up, the growing social movements across North America and other changes in society, technology and culture I cannot help but wonder if 2016 is a year that will be well remembered as a key moment in an era, like 1964 or 1968. Only time will tell.

Pushing Against the Sea and Fighting for Change

The twelfth century ruler of England, Denmark and Norway, King Cnut, stepped out onto the beach and commanded the waves not to rise. But the tide rolled in and wet his feet and in that moment he proved to his flattering courtiers that kings cannot bend the elements and the power of God. Though the story is perhaps apocryphal it is illustrative of not just of the limitations of our rulers, but the power of human beings to shape events.

I am writing this because lately I feel like I have lost a bit of hope that change can occur. The power of incumbency over interesting and dynamic challengers, the broad populace’s disengagement and apathy, and our political institutions’ inability to deal with a myriad of complex issues in sophisticated ways is... uninspiring.

To me, and I’m sure others, the idea of making positive change can seem so insurmountable. Perhaps most distressing is that it isn’t just global issues that seem out of reach, but international issues, national issues and sometimes even local issues. How much can we each do to make a difference that counts? I accept the position that each of us making changes can have cumulative effects that will improve our communities but sometimes it’s not about cutting down on water waste or recycling, it’s about urban design, or making our economy fairer or helping to lift people out of bad circumstances.

Ignorance might be bliss because soon as you start to recognize the greater causes of our socio-cultural and economic issues the challenges become so much more daunting. I have been going down this mental path lately because I have been thinking about the issues confronting the Northwest Territories. A couple of weeks ago I participated in a budget consultation with the territorial government with members of the community of Fort Smith. Minister Michael Miltenberger (MLA – Thebacha) painted a somewhat bleak future for the Northwest Territories: the territory is too dependent upon government, the big mines only have a few years left, the territory has overwhelming infrastructure problems/needs, climate change is having a growing impact and the traditional way of life is facing extinction. How to approach these problems and put the territory on a positive path is a difficult set of questions to address.

But it’s not just the North. I could say similar things about my hometown in Ontario: how does the city sustain itself and transform out of being ‘just a suburb’, how will it pay for extensive infrastructure costs, can transit be developed to serve the city, will the people allow the city to evolve and become more urban, will Canadian multiculturalism evolve and develop to ensure everyone feels welcome, how will we reduce growing poverty in the city, will affordability ensure no one gets pushed out or gets excluded? These are just some of the issues confronting one city none of which a single person can do much about, at least so it seems. I am confident a similar list could be made for nearly every community in Canada, big or small, regardless of geography.

What I am trying to articulate is the conflict between the desire to make change against the frustration of the status quo (or decline) and pessimism that things can change. One of the few things that gives me hope is that I see evidence here and there of people who are making a meaningful difference: people I know who have stood for office, people who are activists, people who are journalists, people who are writers and thinkers and advocates. I see them and I believe the work they are doing is doing good and I want to take part. Ultimately I suppose that’s what fueled this blog as a project but I find more and more that I want to make a bigger contribution and I am not sure how to do that, whether it’s working for an organization whose mission I believe in, starting my own business/organization, becoming more involved in my community, or getting more involved in politics – or some combination. Frustration is natural, change is not uniform nor in a single direction, I’m just trying to find the right place to push against the water. 

Will Turnout Go Down in Ontario? – Fed Up, Angry Voters

When this election was called I had a pet theory that turnout would rise from the abysmal 49% because Dalton McGuinty (OLP – Ottawa South) would no longer be a factor and his unpopularity would not continue to weigh down the Liberal Party. I tend to be the most politically engaged of my family and friends. They often ask me about political matters and they provide me a personal focus group for life in my home province. I have noticed a disturbing trend.

Part of my interest in politics and government came from my parents. They are not particularly political but passed on the responsibility to vote and stay informed. For the first time that I can remember they are not sure if they can vote, as are other members of my family. It’s one thing to talk about the apathy of young voters who have never been engaged in the process, but when established tax-paying adults like my parents who care about their broader community entertain the idea of stepping away it suggests something has gone terribly wrong.

Members of my peer group are expressing similar sentiments. In 2011 they were willing to plug their noses and vote, but now... many of them seem less sure. Even the engaged in my life are pushing back.

Why?

From the group I spoke to here’s some of the explanations I am able to put up with.

Too Much Scandal

The Liberal scandals weigh heavily on the political psyche of the province of Ontario. The multiple billions spent on ill-advised decisions and politically-motivated schemes has sapped much of the good will for the Liberals, but from the political process in general. My social circle is full of natural Liberal voters, which is to say centrists and progressives. Teachers in particular have been friendly to the Liberal government (until recent years).

Lack of Alternatives

When I speak to people I first hear deep concern, frustration and anger about the scandals. Next I hear complaints about the alternatives. The talking point I hear most is the 100,000 jobs to be cut from the civil service, which disturbs and alarms them. The commitment by the Progressive Conservatives and their leader Tim Hudak (PCPO – Niagara West-Glanbrook) is just a symbol of the budget cutting intentions of that party. Arguably Ontario may need some cuts to deal with the disturbingly large deficit, but with many friends with families working in the greater civil service they are fearful. Not to mention the Harris years loom as a boogieman for many in Ontario, just as Bob Rae has. However, those who fear the Tories seem less able to morally justify returning the Liberals to power.

The ONDP has been a tough sell for many in Ontario since the Bob Rae years. My activist friends fear the ONDP have traded in their principles for populism – warranted or not. A handful of diehards I know are quietly sitting the election out. The NDP has a limited presence in many ridings in Ontario. Even if they were to do very well many seats are still likely out of reach for the party.

The Greens are a minor party. As much as I would like to see them represented in Queen’s Park they are long-shots in a riding and virtually impossible elsewhere.

Weak Policy

Policy matters. Vision matters. In 2011 Ontario experienced a campaign about virtually nothing. The policy debate this time around has revolved around the PC’s “One Million Jobs Plan” and various criticisms surrounding its numbers. The Liberals and NDP have revealed their own policy documents but as of yet there are no stand out policy issues that can be grasped. The Liberal’s proposed pension plan and the NDP’s school activities program are not exactly the type of things that drive people to the polling booths.

Candidates that Fail to Appeal

I often wonder how parties find the candidates for election. I participated once in the process as a member of a riding association, but hunting for candidates for the ONDP in Brampton is far different than the other parties, I am sure. I’ve spoken to friends and families in three different ridings. Looking at the candidates left them... wanting. When parties chose candidates to appeal to a particular ethnic group or special interest that you are not a member of the appeal seems hollow. And what if you do not believe in the quality of the candidate? Even the leaders could fall into this. If voters feel like they are being bought off with tax credits or other gimmicks and there is no trust there... well, why vote for them?

Summary

This election seems to be about trust and to a lesser degree about Ontario’s economy. Parties focus on the latter because it is what people say they want, but they do not trust parties to implement their promises, and, perhaps more damning, that it will make a difference. Ultimately I think my friends and family will end up voting. They will plug their noses and cast a ballot after determining which party/candidate they find the least objectionable. However if voters just like them decide not to cast their ballots in their thousands, I can hardly say that I could blame them.

I’d love to hear from you readers if you intend to vote.

Edit: I am hearing from friends that they are considering casting a vote for the Green Party. They want to vote and are very frustrated with the major parties. People are hungry for alternatives.

Democracy from the Bottom-Up

People get motivated to get involved in politics for a multitude of different reasons. However the scope and scale of the issues that attract some to engage in the democratic process may shape how those citizens feel about the effectiveness of their participation. Perhaps the “big issues” which garner so much attention, and federal politics more generally, is really the worst way to engage citizens.

Back in school I remember being taught about S.M.A.R.T. goals – goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reasonable and Timely. The acronym varies slightly, but the point is the same. Are the goals that you set for yourself actually achievable or overly ambitious, or amorphous? Getting involved in politics is a similar process, especially when attracted by an issue. Countless politicians become engaged because they took part in some issue and this helped them to become a community leader. Normally these issues are concrete and locally-oriented. So many national and international issues of importance are not. An activist motivated to do something about Russian intervention in the Ukraine or poverty is unlikely to create real change. The problem is too big, or not specific, realistic or timely.

It’s easy to imagine how idealistic people with a hunger to tackle the “big” problems feel so disempowered and disengaged from the world of government, policy and politics. Media naturally focuses on broad issues of a federal nature and overlooks more local problems, but the truth is citizens have far more power to change local issues than international or national ones.

Dave Meslin, a Toronto-based activist, highlights this issue quite concretely. He has run many campaigns that have had a tangible impact on the life of local people with immediate results. Neighbourhood improvement through guerrilla gardening or tearing down fences has immediate improvements that campaigning for an abstract solution simply does not. But Meslin’s success has been translated into larger political successes, like the push for ranked-ballots in Toronto, which is currently before the provincial legislature. If it succeeds it will be the most important victory for electoral reform in decades in Canada. Change was much easier by focusing on the small-scale democracy of the city rather than contending with a national political system.

Sometimes it is about winning small victories in a big cause. The various issues confronting Aboriginal communities in Canada can feel overwhelming. By addressing smaller aspects of the problem activists may be more likely to get results instead of tackling the overall issue. Gary Meratsy (LPC – Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, SK) wanted to serve his First Nation constituents. He focused on the issue of residential schools and according to Tragedy in the Commons was instrumental in getting the federal government to apologize. Meratsy did not solve the crisis facing Aboriginal communities but he did a great deal of good.

Perhaps the greatest crime of our politics is that it makes people feel powerless. We are governed, we are not governing. Citizens may find greater comfort in confronting smaller, more local and concrete issues in their lives rather than the abstract ones that dominate headlines. Democracy at its core needs to be centred on the community; with reengagement on that level I hope that a trickle-up effect may improve our civic life elsewhere.  

Rise of the Anti-Hero and Decline of Politics

It should come as very little surprise that shows such as House of Cards (BBC and Netflix) and Game of Thrones, and its antecedent novels are very popular among political junkies. If one looks at the most celebrated television shows in the last few years, especially those that offer interpretations of politics one gets a pretty disturbing trend. A question arises at some point if art is imitating life, or if life is mirroring art.

Frank Underwood (House of Cards), Enoch Thompson (Boardwalk Empire), Tom Kane (Boss), Rick and the Governor (The Walking Dead), Tyrion Lannister (along with most of the other cast) (Game of Thrones) are among some of the few immensely popular anti-heroes who populate popular culture in the realm of politics. The darker, or grayer, media of the present demands flawed protagonists. Some argue that is more realistic, that politicians are people and perhaps their desire for power makes them more flawed than most.

There are many more examples which demonstrate the sort of insidious nature of politics. The Wire, also a HBO program, revels in the deeply corrupt world of Baltimore politics, and the extent to which politics is broken and is unfixable. Borgen a Danish property creates a vipers’ nest out of their politics. Best Laid Plans, an adaptation of the novel of the same name, satires Canadian politics as an unprincipled farce unworthy of decent people. In fact, the premise of the story is that a decent person can only win accidentally.

The modern culture seems enamoured with the anti-hero: Don Draper, Tywin Lannister, Tony Soprano, Walter White, among others, are our cultural icons. All of these horrendous figures, in their own way, illustrate a key message about power and politics. The implicit message of many of these shows is that honest, moral people are weak and ultimately fail, those who will lie, cheat and steal will ultimately win over the honourable. To a certain extent I believe we have internalized this belief. Any politician is immediately suspect and assumed to be corrupt, which is validated in virtually all media.

Television programs, such as The West Wing, whose antagonists let alone protagonists were rarely immoral would probably be laughed at as ridiculously optimistic portrayals, or perhaps more scathingly, unrealistic today. That being the case there are very few “good” figures in contemporary fiction that can be lauded. Parks and Recreation and its main character Leslie Knope are clear idealists, but the show is based around the ineffectiveness, petty corruption, and farce of local politics. As much as Parks and Rec may inspire, it equally damns.

If as a culture we romanticize our anti-heroes, accept and love their flaws and presume that is the normal order of things it should come as no surprise when allegations of corruption or personal weakness come to the surface and that these revelations would have little tangible impact on his/her support. It is commonly said that politicians are held to a higher standard, but I am not certain that is true anymore. If the most prominent figures in popular culture are adulterers, drug dealers, and criminals is it surprising that people are willing to overlook the trespasses of their real-life leaders?

Politicians should not be viewed as perfect, but there is something worrying if the standard slips so low that we are merely choosing between various corrupt snake-oil salesmen. More worrying is the relationship this creates between the public and those who aspire to politics. Anyone who declared an interest to their family and friends to run would be met with concern. What if your values align itself with a party in disgrace, like the federal Conservatives, or Ontario’s Liberals, or any party in Quebec, really? When I have expressed an interest in running one day my mother has said she will support me but, “please don’t become corrupt. Try to do some good.”

Politics has never been less corrupt than the present. The level of financial disclosure, reporting, and regulation has never been higher yet we are more convinced than ever that every politician is out to line his/her own pockets. We possess a remarkably cynical view of politics today and it should be no wonder that few people want to volunteer their time or stand for election in the formal political arena.

As good as our anti-heroes are, maybe they are bad for us overall.

To Serve One Another

I have journeyed home to Ontario for the holidays. After about eighteen hours of taxis, airports, planes, more airports, bigger planes, and car ride home I safely made it back to the province of my birth. I find when you travel like this your brain condenses time. Back in Fort Smith I could feel the four months I had spent there, but soon as I got back to Brampton the time collapsed and it feels like some sort of strange dream. Before departing I was repeatedly reminded by my coworkers that I do have to return.

Here is a short list of the things I have missed about Ontario (besides from the obvious stuff): take-out Thai food, naan and hummus, fast internet, speed limits between 40 and 90 km/h, fully paved roads, temperatures above -20 (it was 0 when I landed and I started sweating).

Given that today is Christmas Eve I wanted to take a moment to encourage my readers to consider those around you and the work many people do every day to make our modern lives possible. The afternoon after I returned to Ontario the ice storm arrived. For many hours straight rain fell from the sky and quickly froze to whatever surface it found. When I went to bed around midnight I heard the first branches breaking as the weight of the ice shattered limbs of stressed trees. The neighbourhood I grew up in is a mature neighbourhood with many trees well over 20 meters tall. Some are dying, or rotten, or just old and the storm overtaxed them and virtually every property in my area is affected.

The power went out not long after. The next morning, devoid of anything to do, and still suffering from time difference, I wandered my childhood neighbourhood and joined in the efforts to clear debris from the road. Neighbours helped each other where they could, but in many cases heavy machinery was needed that brute muscle power could not deal with.

It should come as no surprise that the devastation was great, but government workers and private individuals/companies pitched in to ease the burden to make things normal in time for Christmas. I know people are upset and worried, especially if their homes are still without power, but there are too many who have not given thought to the people trying to make this happen. Power in some neighbourhoods will not be restored until Thursday, or so is said, but that means that power workers will be working day and night over Christmas. People forget that it is another person who makes the service work. The public utilities would much prefer to be home or with family and friends than fixing power lines and transformers.

The storm offers a stark contrast, but the same is true with most services. My flights home were delayed. I was impressed not to hear people complain, but stoically and agreeably work with the airlines to get things moving. Having worked in retail, or entertainment over the holidays meant providing people a service they wanted at the expense of your own time. People are frustrated and stressed, but that is no reason to forget you are dealing with a human being and everyone is doing their best to deal with constraints imposed by supply/demand, companies, weather or the million other random circumstances of life.

To borrow a line from The West Wing we should endeavour to be better servants to one another. We should try to find ways to make the lives of others easier and perhaps more meaningful, and have greater compassion and empathy for those whose lives we touch. Most of us now work in the service industry, which means we routinely deal with people. It would be a wonderful gift, or resolution if we worked to be more patient, caring and understanding to one another, especially those who work to serve us. We are not alone and I think we would find great comfort in the community of our circumstances rather than the outrage of our personal suffering.

Brampton couple walk hand-in-hand after the ice storm.

The Threat of Illiberal Democracy

Apologies for not posting a Worth Reading last week. I was on the road for work and my hotel’s internet was less than optimal. My personal laptop was not exactly eager to cooperate with their wireless system. By the time I got home Friday evening I did not feel the motivation to write, and so here we are.

Back in university I wrote a paper about the August Putsch in 1991 in the Soviet Union. I argued that the traditional interpretation of Boris Yeltsin as a democratic champion was terribly flawed, and that the years immediately following his rule did not reflect what we would typify as a liberal democracy.

In the spectrum between liberal democracy and totalitarian dictatorship there is a great deal of variation. Much of that middle spectrum can be called illiberal democracy. In the initial definitions this was seemingly democratic states who restricted the freedoms of their citizens. Russia is a good example of this, and Singapore is sometimes held up as part of this phenomenon. Basically the government intrudes into the lives and freedoms of the citizenry. However, is it possible that illiberal democracy could form from citizens’ disinterest in the state?

I think the threats to modern liberal democracy are manifold and as opposed to the state encroaching in our freedoms we have a disengaged populace who is allowing institutions to decay and fail on their own. The government is the easiest one to begin with. Decreasing voter turnout, declining participation in formal politics, increased ignorance and apathy towards our politics means that political leaders are given a freer hand in abusing our system.

Prorogation is an obvious example here. Putting aside Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s (CPC – Calgary Southwest, AB) tenure in office, there is evidence elsewhere that the conventions that used to govern our system are in absolute freefall. British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly sat 36 of 576 days, is this really evidence of a healthy, vibrant democracy? If you heard that about somewhere else, what would you think? If that comment was about Zimbabwe you would dismiss as an obvious truism of an undemocratic society.

A free press is also a critical component of a liberal democracy. Even if you accept the presence of strong redoubts of meaningfully critical, thoughtful media, it is safe to say that the lowest brow, least critical, least relevant media is gaining traction over anything thoughtful. More people probably get their news from Buzzfeed than the Globe and Mail, or their local paper. Institutional, thoughtful reporting is in a real crisis. The consolidation of papers by large companies, and the diminishing market share, along with sad appeals to market increasingly disinterested in news has hurt our free press.

The state is not particularly interested in silencing the freedom of speech, but very few citizens care to listen (or speak) anymore. Most of my participation in political events consists of myself and the usual suspects. Freedom of assembly is only somewhat battered, but no one cares to participate. While you may reject my premise that Canada, and other countries, are progressively sliding towards illiberal democracy, I don’t think it is possible deny that the vibrancy of our democracy is fading.

Accountability at the federal level now seems to be defined by whether or not criminal charges have been laid. This type of arrogance is only possible because so few people care. The Mayoralty of Rob Ford can continue blithely because he can be rest assured that the huge number of Torontonians will not vote and he can still carry the day despite his abysmal behaviour because people have such a low opinion for our system already.

The passivity of citizens must have some sort of long-term impact. I do not blame the government, or some other boogie man. Some sort of socio-economic/technological change is dramatically reshaping the culture and leading to the shocking erosion of traditional institutions. This loss of faith and acceptance is having a tangible impact on how we are governed and the lives we lead. Sadly, I see no averting these changes, and those who are expressing concern may be crying into deaf ears of a public who prefers to not listen. 

Worth Reading - September 19, 2013

Since I did not write a Worth Reading last week I have amassed a staggering amount of content to share. I probably have over fifty links to sift through to see if I have anything good. Let’s see what I can find.

The Toronto Star is reporting about Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader Tim Hudak’s (PCPO – Niagara West-Glanbrook) difficulties in winning the premiership of Ontario http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/09/05/a_survival_strategy_for_pc_leader_tim_hudak_hepburn.html . A strategist offers advice for Mr. Hudak, but I’m not sure much of it is useful or not blatantly obvious.

From The Atlantic Cities, why is voter turnout so pathetically low in local/municipal elections? I like some of the ideas here, and explanations. Definitely worth checking out.

Interesting piece in the National Post. Tom Mulcair (NDP – Outremont, QC) has been shifting his fire towards the Liberals attempting to bring down Justin Trudeau’s (LPC – Papineau, QC) numbers. Mulcair’s main attack is that Trudeau is all style and no substance.

Kelly McParland, also from the Post, has a pretty funny discussion about the types of questions Justin Trudeau is willing to answer.

While not at all surprising in a minority legislature, it looks like Premier Kathleen Wynne (OLP – Don Valley West) is readying for an election.

This Slate piece is about an experiment called “40 Days of Dating”. In it two friends agree to date. They had never had an outward expression of desire for each other, but they agreed to try and document their experience. The results are fascinating.

An editorial from the Toronto Star calls the proposed Scarborough subway plan a costly bungle. 

An intern’s death in Alberta is leading to loud calls for reform. 

In the National Post Dylan Jones argues that the obsession with Senate reform in Canada is a costly distraction from other, more effective reform that is much more attainable. 

More trouble for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives. A prominent PCPO shadow cabinet member has been booted out after discrepancies in his accounts. 

Third Anniversary of the Orange Tory

This week marks the third anniversary of this blog. Over the last year I have made the change from one to two posts per weeks, introducing the “Worth Reading” feature. Worth Reading has been a great success, in my opinion. It definitely has helped reach a wider audience and helped to provide a service for readers who don’t spend as much time on twitter as I do.

If Google and Blogger are to be trusted the number of readers has continued to grow. The last few months has seen 600-700 visitors coming to my blog each month, which is shocking from where this all started from. If no one was reading this I’d probably still be doing this, but it is rewarding to know there are people out there reading my work and taking something from it.

The focus over the last twelve months seemed to be the federal government and the scandals and erosion of Parliamentary tradition. I have also increasingly written about local issues affecting the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area, Peel and Brampton. The process of how our democracy, elections and politics function have become a theme this year, especially since I joined a local riding association and gained a new appreciation of how political parties operate.

In terms of what to look forward to in the future, I still hope to continue the twice weekly posting. I’d like to begin the book reviews/essays I have mentioned on several different occasions. However, things are set to change dramatically over the next few months. I was recently hired to work in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Obviously this will be a life-changing experience and will affect my political engagement. I don’t know what political activism looks like in Fort Smith, but I will do what I can. In addition I will do my best to write about issues both back home in the GTHA and in my new home in the Northwest Territories. Hopefully it doesn’t result in too much chaos.

The fourth year of the Orange Tory is set to be another great one. I’d like to thank my readers and supporters. In particular I’d like to thank Samara Canada and their amazing staff for featuring my work several times over the last couple of months and the Brampton West NDP for introducing me to the local political scene. Keep reading and I hope the fourth year is the best one yet.