What Is There to Be Patriotic About in Canada Today?

By Tom Marazzo, Captain (Ret’d) Canadian Army

Patriotism is about loyalty to one’s country—but what happens when the country no longer feels loyal to its own citizens? Many Canadians are grappling with this question as they witness Canadian industries shut down, jobs outsourced, and foreign interests dictating the nation's economic and political future. The government waves the flag of nationalism when it suits them, yet fails to protect the economic and civil liberties of its own people.

At the heart of this debate is a fundamental difference in how people assess the nation’s viability: Objective vs. Subjective reasoning.

• Objective reasoning examines economic realities, government overreach, sovereignty, and the failure of democracy in Canada.

• Subjective reasoning clings to tradition, sentimentality, and an outdated sense of national identity.

One example of this rational approach can be found in a simple yet powerful statement I recently read: "I will start buying Canadian when companies start hiring Canadians." This sentiment reflects a logical response to economic reality—why should citizens support businesses that refuse to invest in their own workforce? This is an example of Rational Decision-Making at play; people make choices based on what benefits them and their families, not based on blind allegiance to slogans or nationalistic rhetoric.

In Economics 101, we learn about rational decision-making—the principle that individuals make decisions based on logical assessments of available information, seeking to maximize their benefit while minimizing risk. Rational decision-making suggests that people will naturally gravitate toward choices that provide greater security, prosperity, and personal freedom. However, Canada’s political system actively discourages rational decision-making, replacing it with ideological conformity and manipulated emotional rhetoric.

The reality is stark: Canadian companies prioritize foreign labor over hiring their own citizens, manufacturing has been gutted, and our shelves are filled with products from China. Meanwhile, China has imposed a 100% tariff on Canadian imports, crippling any possibility of competitive domestic industry, while the United States has imposed only a 25% tariff. The contrast is telling—China effectively slams the door on Canadian trade, while the U.S., despite being labeled as adversarial by Canadian leadership, still allows significant access to its market. The message is clear: Canada is not in control of its own economic destiny.

The Taxation Burden: An Endless Cycle

One of the greatest dissatisfiers of the Objective group, and indeed all Canadians, is the overwhelming burden of taxation in Canada. Tax upon tax never seems to end, creating a system where the government takes an ever-increasing share of the people’s hard-earned money with little accountability or benefit in return. Canadians pay federal income tax, provincial income tax, carbon taxes, payroll taxes, property taxes, and a consumption-based sales tax on nearly every purchase.

And it doesn’t stop there. There’s also tax on tax, a practice where one tax is calculated based on the total amount that already includes another tax. The carbon tax, for example, increases fuel prices, which in turn raises the cost of goods, which then leads to higher sales taxes on those goods. At every stage, the government finds new ways to extract more from the pockets of working Canadians while claiming these policies are necessary for the "greater good."

Despite this excessive taxation, government mismanagement remains rampant. Services are declining, healthcare wait times are increasing, infrastructure is crumbling, and government spending continues without transparency. This is yet another example of how rational decision-making is being discouraged in favor of emotional appeals and ideological enforcement.

The Battle Over the Flag

The Freedom Convoy draped itself in the Canadian flag, fighting for constitutional rights. Now, there’s a movement to “reclaim” the flag from those who stood against government tyranny. This is the height of irony, considering that the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, recently swore an oath—not to the people of Canada—but to the King of England, his heirs, and successors.

How can Canada claim sovereignty when its leader pledges allegiance to a foreign monarch? How can we claim independence when our economic policies are dictated by outside forces and our national identity is reshaped by those who dismiss the founding principles of this country?

Are We a Parliamentary Democracy or an Oligarchy?

Most Canadians misunderstand the concept of democracy. They equate democracy with freedom, believing that as long as elections are held, they are free. But democracy, in its purest form, does not guarantee freedom—it only guarantees that the majority rules. In Canada, this means that a government can impose sweeping restrictions on individual rights with little recourse, as long as it has enough parliamentary support.

This misunderstanding was exposed during COVID-19 when the government, under the guise of democratic legitimacy, trampled on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, froze bank accounts without due process, and criminalized peaceful dissent. Canadians were led to believe that because these actions were carried out by an elected government, they were justified. But true freedom is not merely the ability to vote every few years—it is the protection of individual rights from government overreach, something that Canada’s current system fails to provide.

Canada prides itself on being a democracy, but what does that mean in practice? The difference between a democracy, a republic, and an oligarchy is crucial:

• In a democracy, the majority rules absolutely, often at the expense of individual rights.

• In a republic, constitutional law protects individuals from the tyranny of the majority, ensuring that fundamental rights cannot be stripped away, even by popular vote.

• In an oligarchy, power is concentrated in the hands of a few—be it unelected bureaucrats, corporate elites, or foreign interests—who operate outside of direct accountability to the public.

Canada operates under a parliamentary system that increasingly behaves like an oligarchy—where unelected bureaucrats, corporate elites, and foreign interests hold more power than the voting public.

One of the appeals of the U.S. is its system of checks and balances. During COVID-19, Commonwealth nations—including Canada—demonstrated a willingness to weaponize law enforcement against their own people. There was no public recourse, no real accountability. In contrast, the American system, despite its flaws, at least provides legal avenues for resistance.

What Are We Fighting to Preserve?

At its core, Canada is engaged in an internal struggle:

• One group is fighting to maintain a status quo that another group finds intolerable.

• One side embraces new moral and economic frameworks that the other finds unrecognizable.

• One side supports increased global integration and policies that prioritize international commitments over national interests, while the other is focused on restoring Canada’s autonomy and prioritizing the needs of its citizens first.

The Path Forward: Referendums and Sovereignty

The only legitimate way to determine Canada’s future is through referendums. Quebec had its chance in 1995, with a razor-thin 49-51 vote to remain in Canada. If Alberta, Saskatchewan, or other provinces want to pursue independence, they should follow the same democratic process.

The people must be asked directly what they want. Not dictated to by politicians, not coerced by media narratives, and not silenced by state intimidation.

The Hypocrisy of "Team Canada"