Prime Minister Trudeau Called Me, Without The Smile!
After I published my post “Justin Trudeau: The Smile That Launched A Thousand Unacceptables” on March 5, 2023, I was very nervous how the Prime Minister of Canada would react. After all, we are friends. And the last thing that I would do to a friend is to stab him in the back. Since then, I waited for his call.
Meanwhile, so many unacceptables are piling up. Headlines after headlines are painting the Smile in a bad light. Let me mention a few.
Tax season could be in trouble
National Post (March 22). Christopher Nardi wrote that this year’s tax season “could be chaos as strike threatens to bring CRA to a standstill.” The 155,000 members of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), of which 35,000 are CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) employees, are about to submit their final votes to strike on April 11.
So, what if this happens? How am I going to get my tax refunds on time? And how can this blog site survive? This is very personal to me. And this is unacceptable!
Hundreds of hapless Indian students to be sent back home
Toronto Star (March 18). Nicholas Keung headlined his piece “Outrage amid reports that hundreds of Indian students in Canada could face deportation over bogus admission letters”. The number of affected students is as high as 700, most of them have been studying all over Canada since 2017. Even BBC’s Vineet Khare picked up on this: “Indian students face exit from Canada over fake papers.” This is even more personal to me! The more that this is unacceptable to me!
How can this happen?
Why just now? Weren’t their documents vetted before Canadian educational institutions were allowed to grab their very expensive tuition fees? They are now caught because they are applying for permanent residency status? Is this some kind of “study now get sent back home later” scheme? And if they are victims of document forgery, why are they being victimized again? This is so unacceptable!
Practical solution
So, here is a deal. Instead of sending those 700 students back, why not let them stay legally. Since Canada is the safest and most welcoming country for asylum seekers, why not relabel these many bright students as “academic refugees”? It looks like entry for some refugees is faster. Surely, coming into Canada is worth a fortune and many families had to borrow that huge sum of money from somewhere with exorbitant interest. Going back home without any way of repaying those debts is putting your very life in danger. Believe me, they will be one of the most patriotic Canadians that Canada has ever produced in a hundred years. Imagine, saving these aspiring young people from a country whose government has allowed this crime to happen to them?
But, well, crime has to pay
However, have them pay $100 each as a small gesture of punishment, for allowing their government to allow these nefarious things to happen in the first place. And with that $70,000 select 1 smart individual each at CBSA and Immigration and Citizenship and fly them to India. And there they can choose any of those independent schools that offer a course “How to spot forgeries in 20 minutes“. Then come back to Canada after 20 minutes and train those thousands of employees at their departments. This crime will surely not happen again. This cost-saving solution is so acceptable to me.
My heart goes to my Indian friends
To say that many of my Indian friends are acutely worried about this news is an understatement. I am so worried what they would do to themselves because of the feeling of hopelessness and unfairness. This is a bad foreign policy of Canada. Melanie Joly should seriously investigate this. This matter is not just about immigration. This should not be acceptable to her. You know why?
Canadians of Indian descent is a growing group of voters!
Angering the 2nd most populous country (at 1,380,004,385) in the world is not a wise move by a country populated by a mere 37,742,154 (39th in ranking) people and 20,000,000 beavers (1st), and 50,000 moose (2nd). The 2020 census shows more than a million of them in Canada (I mean voters) are of Indian descent. In 2021 alone, more than 100,000 Indians became permanent residents. These figures do not yet include those on other visa categories. Future voters! And those who desperately cross every day to claim asylum through a small alley bordering Canada and the US named Roxham Road. This should be an acceptable thought to every Canadian politician.
China’s interference
This has been the hottest political headline in Canada right now. Back on November 15, 2022, when I read an article on The Guardian posted by Leyland Cecco about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confronting President Xi Jinping on the sidelines at G20 Summit in Bali over many serious concerns with China, I was so proud of my smiling Prime Minister. Attaboy. That is so acceptable to me!
What are those concerns?
That confrontarion in Bali came 24 hours after Canadian police made an announcement that a battery researcher at the country’s largest energy producer was charged with stealing trade secrets on behalf of the Beijing government. If the charge is true, this is so unacceptable!
Not only that
Canadian intelligence officials sounded the alarm on China meddling in the 2019 federal election. And Francois-Phillippe, the industry minister, gave a marching order to 3 Chinese companies to divest themselves from engaging in business involving critical minerals in Canada, “on national security grounds”. In the same period, another alarm was ringing over allegation that China has been operating a secret “police stations” in some parts of Canada. According to the Prime Minister himself, this is all unacceptable. For sure.
So where is the call from the Prime Minister?
With all these mind-boggling unacceptables, I waited for my dear Prime Minister to give me a call since March 5th. But all I got was total silence. This was getting so unacceptable to me. The waiting was killing me.
More signs of trouble
But then came the headline on National Post (May 21, 2023): “Senate adjourns early due to an odour so foul it was causing headaches.” It further states, “A foul smell permeated the Senate chamber on Tuesday, forcing senators to adjourn early to escape the stench.” As senator Don Plett describes it, “As an old plumber, I used to work with this odour quite a bit. As a Senator, I haven’t quite as often.” This should be unacceptable to all old plumbers in Canada.
How can you not smell?
This baffled me so much. Is it a literal stench or a figurative one? I was so suspicious of this development. If it was the former, then the good senator’s statement can be taken at face value. If it was the latter, it is very disturbing. Do you mean to say, Honourable Senators, you haven’t noticed, or smelled, all the foul stenches permeating the federal government for years now? This is unacceptable to all tax-paying Canadians!
The Prime Minister should have called me by now to clarify these.
The last tree branch that broke the beaver’s dam
This came when Susan Delacourt from the Toronto Star wrote on March 20 that a new poll showed Canadian male voters “don’t like him as a person”. The headline says, “Why do so many men dislike Justin Trudeau?” My first reaction was, What kind of men are these? Don’t they see the beauty of that smile? This, to me, is so unacceptable. I need to talk to my friend. Fast.
My desperate call to the PMO’s office
When no call from the Prime Minister had materialized, I decided to contact Ms. Katie Telford, the PMO’s chief of staff, yesterday late afternoon. On the phone she said that the Prime Minister was not yet ready to talk to me. “He is still dismayed upon reading your blog,” she told me. “Just let him know this is urgent, please.” I begged her. “Tomorrow I am going to publish another post on my blog about his smile. And I need to ask him a few questions.” There was an uneasy silence on the other end. “I’ll do my best.” Ms. Telford finally said in a quiet voice.
Finally, the Call came (March 21, 2023 at 10:45 pm. Tuesday)
Moore: Hello, Mr. Prime Minister. I really appreciate your call.
Smiley: Why did you do that?
Moore: Which one, Sir?
Smiley: Your blog post about my smile.
Moore: Oh. You did not like it?
Smiley: I do. Kind of. But it looks like you are making fun of my smile.
Moore: I see. It is supposed to be a satire, Mr. Prime Minister.
Smiley: A satire?
Moore: Yes, Sir. Haven’t you heard of that literary genre?
Smiley: (Pause) Did you really talk to Mr. Harper in 2015?
Moore: Sorry, Sir. I cannot comment on that. It is a matter of national security for Canada.
Smiley: So, what are your questions?
The question on Chinese interference
Moore: What is the latest on China’s interference in Canada’s domestic affairs, Sir? I believe this was what Mr. Harper was telling me that Canada is in a very precarious situation.
Smiley: Geesus! Do you believe everything you read, Moore? I thought you are better than that?
Moore: You thought correctly, Mr. Prime Minister. That is why I was so desperate to talk to you. I wanted it directly from the source.
Smiley: Hey, Moore. Be careful there. What do you mean by the source? Are you insinuating I have something to do with it?
Moore: Oh. Not at all, Sir. No.
On national security concern
Smiley: Good.
Moore: Sir, this kind of national security stuff is scaring me. I just started my blog. I want to know if Canada is still safe, and we would not end up like Hongkong. If that happens, my dream of writing continuously while enjoying Canadian freedom of speech until I die will be in jeopardy.
Smiley: It’s not gonna happen, my friend. Canada’s military is robust. Our national defense infrastructure has never been that stronger. You better talk to Anita for the details.
Moore: Oh, my. Please, Sir. Make it happen. Ms. Anand is my favourite among your cabinet ministers. Please do, Sir.
Smiley: If you behave.
Current state of the Canadian Armed Forces
Moore: But, Sir, is it true that many of the Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks donated by the Canadian Forces to Ukraine were embarrassingly ill-maintained? I am just curious. I have so many Ukrainian-Canadian friends.
Smiley: There you are again. You read too much garbage written by those anti-smileys. They never believe me. Whatever I say. Never. Losers.
Moore: I apologize for that, Sir. And, yes, those are losers. I agree.
The flying object over the Yukon
Moore: Ah, Sir. While on this topic, may I know more about that other unidentified flying object over the Yukon, Sir?
Smiley: We do not call those like that anymore. UFO is an outdated word.
Moore: Well-noted, Sir. But you know what I mean…
Smiley: So, what about it?
Moore: Is it true that it was the US aircraft who shot it down because, allegedly, Canadian jets couldn’t take off because of the freezing rain?
Smiley: Moore, let me make this very clear. To me the safety of every Canadian pilot is paramount. Aren’t you familiar with Canadian winter? Do you have any idea how extremely dangerous it would be for our fine young aviators to venture out into the freezing rain?
Moore: I get that, Mr. Prime Minister. And I am glad you have our pilots’ personal safety in mind. But what if our adversaries would invade Canada during the peak of winter?
Smiley: Grr. You are so…Moore. You like hypotheticals, don’t you?
My fear of an invasion
Moore: No, Sir. Who knows, some people in some unfriendly countries might accidentally find out my blog site and read my posts. You need to answer this hypothetical question. They now know the right timing if they plan for an invasion.
Smiley: Well, I am going to assemble a panel to study your interesting hypothetical thing.
Moore: That makes me feel a little better, Mr. Prime Minister. Now going back to the Chinese interference…
Smiley: You don’t stop, do you, Moore?
Moore: No, Sir. I love Canada so much I need some answers for my own peace of mind.
One last question
Smiley: Okay. One last question. It’s getting so late. Sophie is going to kill me for this.
Moore: I make this a quick one.
Smiley: Man. Do it already.
Moore: Ah, Sir. Is it true that your late father’s Foundation…
Smiley: You mean the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation?
Moore: Yes, Sir. Is it true that in 2013 when you became the leader of the Liberal Party, donations to that foundation “suddenly quadrupled to $254, 000?” That’s according to one news article. And in 2016 during an exclusive fundraiser that you attended, a “Chinese businessman named …(whisper) donated $200,000 to the Trudeau Foundation”? Isn’t this some kind of conflict of interest? Remember, in politics perception is gold.
Perceived conflict of interest
Smiley: Moore, don’t be so naive, please. Life is full of conflicts of interest. And what’s wrong with generous people liking my smile? Besides, I already hired Mr. Morris Rosenberg to draft an initial probe into this …
Moore: Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Prime Minister. But wasn’t it the same Mr. Morris Rosenberg who got appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation in 2014? And continued to serve in that role up to July 2018?
Smiley: So? (Sounding exasperated) I didn’t know you really are that naive, Moore. Who can better make the most credible probe than someone who is an insider? C’mon, tell me.
Moore: Good point, Sir. Very good point, in fact. It takes one to …never mind. So, where are we now in making sure that you are serious in looking into this Chinese meddling thing?
Smiley: Oh my. I thought you read a lot, Moore. It was in the news. Just a week ago I appointed a well-respected former Governor General Mr. David Johnston as “special rapporteur“. Specifically, for this. Ever heard of that word?
Moore: I know what rapporteur means, Sir. I just googled it. Why not use a simpler word that is easier to understand for people who hate googling?
Good night, Mr. Prime Minister
Smiley: Now, now. You are getting into my nerve now, Moore. Man. I’m really going to bed already.
Moore: Wait, Mr. Prime Minister! Is it true that your appointed special rapporteur, the former Governor General David Johnston, is also “a registered member of the Trudeau Foundation”? Isn’t that another case of conflict of interest by perception?
Smiley: Nyt, nyt, Moore. Your behaviour is so unacceptable. You don’t get to talk to Anita Anand.
(Click)
