Dear Prime Minister,
This pandemic has gripped Canada, like the rest of the world, in ways that have crippled and terrified many of us. And leadership is critical in a crisis. In a crisis, leadership can galvanize millions towards a positive outcome, leadership can unite and conquer. And sir, that is what you have done.
I am not a homegrown Canadian. I am of the imported variety, the kind one calls an immigrant, and having lived in multiple places over the course of my life, I have always been proud to be able to identify as a Canadian. However, no moment in time has made me more proud than I am right now.
Prime Minister, I know you have faced flack in the not-too-distant past, in the weeks, days and months, leading up to our Federal Elections last year, but most of us Canadians trusted you. And at this time, it is blatantly obvious that we were right to have done so.
No, not every decision you make will be agreed upon by all. It is the supreme challenge of a leader to receive the support of all his/her people. Still, in the last few days since this pandemic crashed into our airspace and came unwelcome to our doorstep, you have stood strong, you have been unfazed, unfazed by criticisms (and some really stupid questions asked by journalists during your daily address to the nation), unfazed by the doomsday tone of this virus, and unfazed by the collective chaos that is breaking around us.
Under your leadership and direction, Canada has emerged in the last 5 years as a no-longer-silent and firm leader of the free world. I am not old enough to call to mind the wisdom of time and the experience of history, but in my life as a Canadian, you are the only leader of this country who has put us back on the world stage as a force to be reckoned with. It is as a result of your no-nonsense and calm-and-collected leadership that our Canadian Olympics committee had the courage and wisdom to be the first to say our Canadian athletes would not be travelling to Tokyo for this summer’s Olympics. It is under your leadership that Canada has emerged as a major player in economics and trade. You have gone head-to-head with the “leader” of our neighbours to the south. You have stood your ground and stood up for us. No, you are not perfect. You have made mistakes, but you are human, and in these uncertain times, Prime Minister, we as Canadians are blessed and proud that you are our leader.
So, drown out the noise and the shouts of people who do not understand, drown out the bursts of stupidity that have been hurled your way, like you have so wisely done. We see you, we see what you are doing, and we feel stronger as a nation because we are led by you. And sir, we’ve got your back.
With gratitude,
A Proud Canadian
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