Subject: Your neighbours* to the north
Dear Mr Remnick,
There is a country just north of yours, called “Canada.” Our nation’s capitol, which we refer to as “Ottawa,” is about a seven hour drive from New York, so I understand if that falls outside the purview of The New Yorker, or outside the interest of New Yorkers. But I feel it is worth mentioning that you have at least one reader who resides outside of Manhattan, and that reader wonders why there has been no mention in your publication of an unprecedented crisis in his country, the aforementioned “Canada."
Twenty-one days ago, a convoy of anti-vaccine, anti-government protestors occupied our nation’s capital. There are many links with far right movements which, as I understand it, have been active in your country as well. On February 14, the Prime Minister - which is kind of like your President, but different - invoked, for the first time in our nation’s history, the Emergencies Act, in order to remove the protestors; though about fify years ago his father, also a Prime Minister, used similar powers, the War Measures Act, to deal with Separatist extremists.
Ottawa’s mayor declared a State of Emergency eleven days ago. Eight days ago Ontario’s Premier- which is kind of like the Governor of one of your state, but different - declared a provincial State of Emergency to end the “seige” of the nation’s capital. On Tuesday of this week, the Ottawa Chief of Police resigned; on Wednesday, the police services board chair resigned her position; on Thursday, the newly appointed police chief withdrew from the position; these are rather concerning developments in current circumstances.
Late yesterday, a large police force began arresting the occupying protestors and towing their vehicles from the area of our nation’s Parliament - which is kind of like your Capitol Building in Washington D.C., but different. You might say that this three week occupation is kind of like the seige of your own Capitol about a year ago. But different. (For example, nobody killed anybody yet. We are Canadian, after all.)
Our country, and our little national emergency, are different, yes. But not insignificant. Except, it seems, to the New Yorker.
But still… I would have thought this not-especially-violent little fracas might occasion at least passing interest. Okay, maybe this will help. This illegal political action, with the express purpose of removing our Prime Minister from office, is significantly funded by your countrymen - Americans - who have also taken it upon themselves to help jam phone lines to the city’s 911 emergency telephone lines. Americans. Does that give you the angle you need? I bet some of them even live in New York. Oh, and their pals shut down the bridge between Detroit and Ontario, costing American automotive manufacturers tens of millions of dollars a day. Americans and money. Surely that?
Come on, Dave. Throw us a bone. At least pretend that this is as important as the monobob, or a six year old photo essay on Mexican commuters. (Mexico! That’s your other neighbour, even further from New York! You can do this!)
Long-time subscriber,
Ron Reed
* “neighbours” - pretty much the same as your word “neighbors,” but different. But not all that different. I would have thought.
