Burning Beneath

With everything happening lately in the political arena, especially as the election gears up to be a showdown between Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney, it’s hard not to feel disheartened. It feels more and more like we’re being asked to choose between two versions of the same broken system. And as a proud Canadian—someone who loves this country deeply—it’s painful to watch.

Canada has long been admired globally as a peaceful, compassionate nation. A country that leads with diplomacy, builds bridges, and stands for justice. But lately, it seems like we’re losing sight of that legacy. Instead of reaching outward and lifting each other up, we’re turning inward, becoming obsessed with political games and short-term promises, while real people suffer.

On one side, we have Pierre Poilievre, shouting about freedom, cutting taxes, and scrapping the carbon tax. He positions himself as a fighter for the average Canadian, but his policies often read more like slogans than actual solutions. There’s little acknowledgment of the vulnerable, of the sick, of the struggling families falling between the cracks.

On the other, we have Mark Carney, the polished economist and former governor of the Bank of Canada. He’s calm, calculated, and brings with him the trust of global financial elites. He promises stability, forward-thinking climate policy, and global credibility. But let’s be honest: he’s still part of the establishment. The same establishment that’s watched inequality grow, housing become unaffordable, and mental health services erode.

And through it all, we, the people, are being pulled between two polished personas, both promising “a better Canada,” while our hospitals remain overcrowded, our teachers overworked, and our streets more and more filled with people experiencing homelessness.

Just look at Windsor—my home. The number of people living on the streets has grown drastically in just a few years. And there’s no clear solution in sight. How can we call ourselves a first-world country when so many people are left behind? I come from a so-called “third-world” country, and I’ve seen poverty—but I’ve never seen homelessness like I have here.

We pour millions into media funding, yet our healthcare is on life support. We pledge funding for news outlets while special needs education gets cut and teachers cry out for support. Where are our priorities? Why are we being asked to pay more to hear the same recycled political narratives, when that money could be used to build the hospitals we’ve been promised for years?

I was talking to my son recently, trying to explain the cycle so many of us live in—earning just enough to pay bills, surviving paycheck to paycheck. He’s autistic and deeply observant. He asked, “Why do people work two or three jobs and still have nothing?” And the truth is, I didn’t have a good answer. Because there isn’t a good answer. We’ve built a system where people work their whole lives, and still, retirement might mean poverty. That’s not just unfair—it’s inhumane.

This isn’t about left or right. It’s about right and wrong. It’s about the soul of this country.

We need to reshape our priorities. We need to reinvest in people, not politics. Rebuild education, healthcare, housing, mental health services. We need leaders who see beyond their own election campaigns—leaders who remember that they serve us, not the other way around.

Yes, my thoughts are scattered. There’s just so much to fix, and it’s overwhelming. But I’m not giving up hope. I can’t. I still believe in Canada. I still believe in us. I still believe in a future where we don’t just survive—we thrive.

And I will keep hoping, speaking, voting, and pushing for the Canada we know we can be.