83 | Divided We Fall (w/ Max Cameron, professor at University of BC)

So if you say the seeds of all of this feeling is already in Canada, and you've given several examples, Alberta, possible separatism being one of them.

What do we as Canadians do about that? Do we just let it fester or do we call it? What do we do?

Yeah, I think that's, thank you, Carol.

That is exactly the question the book really tries to take on because I think as Canadians, you know, our tendency is when something gets heated, we speak with a softer voice.

You know, we don't, we don't, yell and scream at each other.

We're not like that.

I mean, we've learned from the Quebec separatist movement that it's best to try to find out a way of quietly accommodating groups that are unhappy with the status quo.

And so we try to live and let live.

And that's a good instinct, but it may not be sufficient in this moment.

And that's why I'm saying let's redouble our efforts to reach out to people with whom we disagree.

Let's make an especially strong effort to find common ground with people we disagree with.

Let's look for friendships that are not friendships of people who are entirely like-minded.

Let's try to talk to people with other perspectives, with curiosity and interest and fondness that comes from sharing a life together.

But at the same time, when people try to divide us in order to dominate us, when people negotiate or bargain in bad faith, when they try to impose themselves on us in a way that is humiliating to us, we have to call that out.

And we have to say, we don't accept this.

That's not part of a civil society.

And the other warning you have for us, if we ignore the anger and alienation of young people,

we

do that at our peril.

Absolutely.

I am convinced from the work that I do, for example, you've graciously visited us for the Institute for Future Legislators and helped us with this program for preparing people who are entering into politics.

So over 10 years, I've watched young people with an interest in entering politics.

And what I am seeing today is not that young people are turning off of politics.

I think they're taking an interest in it.

But when they enter into politics, they want change.