”January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow,” according to an old poem. As I write this, the snow was missing, but the sudden double-digit below zero weather certainly made our feet and fingers, and everything else, glow with cold. Did it seem colder because the warmish weather that preceded it didn’t give us time to acclimatize ourselves? Williams Lake has escaped the nastiest weather in 2023. I wonder if or when our turn is coming. Scientists agree that world temperatures in 2023 were the warmest in human history. They also agree that comprehensive climate action, like moving away from fossil fuels, is essential for a livable future.
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Ed Broadbent, known as a “titan of democracy” and as a kind and caring man, has died at age 87. The former NDP leader devoted his life to public service (24 years as a member of parliament) working for justice and equality for all Canadians and to make Canada a better place for all people. He turned political principle into action, working with politicians of all stripes, including prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Pierre Trudeau. (Why can’t the parties work together today?)
Trudeau invited his input into the writing of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Broadbent ensured issues like equality of women and First Nations Treaty Rights were included in the document. He never really retired. He established the Broadbent Institute which works for social democracy and he was always there to mentor and offer advice. We need more like him.
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Elections Canada recently launched an ElectoFacts website to provide factual information correcting the most common misconceptions voters have about elections. Good idea. Let’s hope some voters read it.
Diana French is a former editor of the Efteen
