I was dismayed to see and hear the noisy group protesting recent federal government budget restraints at the Canada Day parade on Sunday.
Canada Day is a time to come together as a country to celebrate our shared identity. It is also a time to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of generations past in making Canada the great country it is today.
While I strongly believe in the democratic right to protest, I also believe this right should not be taken lightly and should be used with discernment.
In short, there is a time and place to exercise grievances, but this was the wrong venue.
The Canada Day parade was an opportunity for Yukoners to celebrate our common identity as Canadians and to highlight our unique contributions to this country. The decision to protest and politicize what should be a unifying celebratory event was in very poor taste.
There may well be legitimate concerns expressed, but the choice of approach in which to air them was far more reminiscent of a child screaming “look at me” than of citizens exercising their democratic rights.
James McClelland
Whitehorse