Editorials - Nov. 22, 2024

As we settle into the second week of Canada Post’s national strike, small business owners, local newspaper publishers and greeting card companies are feeling the effects. And stuff is about to get real as the all-important route to the North Pole for millions of children’s annual letters to Santa is currently shut down. 

 

Canada Post has provided direct service for years to the Jolly Old Elf’s workshop with all letters sent from Nov. 1 to the end of January receiving a personal reply. The service has grown in popularity since it was implemented in 1982, the same year that the North Pole got its own postal code (H0H 0H0), with postal workers and volunteers acting as Santa’s helper to get the letters delivered.

 

Children from across the country rely on these letters to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Let’s hope that the mediator can bring the two sides together in time for the letters to get to the workshop to meet the deadlines in the toy production schedule at the workshop. – DS

The prospect of a snap election is rarely convenient, especially for a governing party struggling with waning public support. But former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley’s recent comments make a compelling case: holding a federal election now is in the national interest. With Donald Trump poised to retake office in January, Canada must prepare for an uncertain and likely turbulent era in its relationship with the United States. This requires a fresh mandate from Canadians, regardless of which party forms the government.

 

While opposition leaders Pierre Poilievre and Yves-François Blanchet have voiced eagerness for an election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has remained steadfast, focusing instead on governing until the fixed election date in 2025. Yet governing effectively requires more than occupying the Prime Minister’s Office - it demands public trust and confidence. Trudeau’s Liberals have seen their approval ratings plummet, and internal dissent within the party has further highlighted the erosion of faith in his leadership. This is not a time for divisive rhetoric, internal squabbles or the waving of profane flags targeting political opponents.

A snap election offers an opportunity to reset. It allows Canadians to choose a government that can unite the country behind a clear mandate to navigate the coming challenges. Such a government could engage with Washington from a position of strength, showing the world that Canada remains united and forward-thinking. Some might argue that forcing an election now is politically opportunistic or reckless, particularly when polls suggest the Liberals are at a disadvantage. But elections are not about partisan convenience - they are about democracy. Canadians deserve the chance to weigh in on how to prepare for an unprecedented geopolitical landscape.

 

Canada must meet the Trump presidency with unity and purpose, putting a government in place that is ready to act immediately. – SBS 

The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars is a remarkable and poetic twist in the ongoing saga of Alex Jones. The satirical news outlet, known for its biting wit and fearless skewering of misinformation, has toppled Jones’ once-powerful conspiracy platform. With this purchase, satire delivers not only a cultural victory, but also a measure of justice.

 

Jones built his Infowars empire on falsehoods, most notoriously his grotesque claim that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. This lie, amplified by Jones to millions, inflicted unimaginable pain on families who had already suffered so much. Courts recognized this harm, awarding nearly $1.5 billion in damages to the victims’ families. While Jones evaded full accountability for years, his empire’s dismantling marks a significant step toward justice.

 

Enter The Onion, a publication renowned for crafting headlines so sharp that, during Donald Trump’s presidency, they often seemed indistinguishable from reality. Now, it has moved from parody to direct intervention, shutting down Infowars and promising to rebuild its remnants as a hub for comedic commentary. In a world where disinformation thrives, this shift reclaims a dangerous space for humour and reflection. The Onion’s move also underscores an important principle: words have consequences. Jones’ lies were not harmless provocations; they caused real harm. The Sandy Hook families fought for years to strip him of his platform, and their victory is a testament to resilience in the face of cruelty. The Onion’s acquisition ensures that Infowars’ legacy of fear-mongering ends, replaced instead by humour that critiques rather than deceives.

 

While Jones protests the sale, claiming conspiracies even in his downfall, the reality is clear: his empire of lies is over.

The Onion’s purchase is a reminder that justice comes in many forms - sometimes even with a punchline. – SBS