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Grievances of many kinds — a few of which may have strands of legitimacy — are used to justify what we are witnessing in various parts of the country, vestiges of mob rule— the antithesis of democratic values we supposedly cherish. Opposition to pipelines — the safest and most efficient means for transporting oil and gas — has gone from irrational to hysterical. Our competitors in the U.S. and Australia, among others, can barely suppress outright laughter as they watch the folly of Canada strangling the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of its citizens who prefer to work rather than to protest. India and China mock us openly by plowing ahead with increased coal production while espousing empty commitments to the Paris Accord.

Abetted by too many who are responsible for education in this country, the vilification of our resource base and support for fanciful climate-change “aspirations” march in tandem. But to what end? Can the 1.4 per cent Canadian tail really wag the global dog? Without genuine commitments from the major polluters, the climate-change crusade is rapidly becoming a fool’s game.

Abetted by too many who are responsible for education in this country, the vilification of our resource base and support for fanciful climate-change “aspirations” march in tandem

The words on the Peace Tower carry an ominous caution: “When there is no vision, the people perish.” Today, we have neither vision nor leadership. Instead of a clear sense of direction, we wallow in save-the-world mantras and mythologies. Instead of leadership, we hear feckless platitudes. Our law enforcement agencies are idled, awaiting the direction no one in government seems willing to give. In the absence of firm political leadership, fingers are pointed everywhere except where they belong.