Musical Dispatch from the Front – Canada – January 2026

[Frank Baarda]

Howdy Folks,

 

As we departed Canada in 1971, I lodged my income tax return. Three months later I received a refund and a note. “We apologise for having taken so long to process your income tax return. We’ve added $3.20 interest to your refund cheque. Please note you will have to declare this $3.20 as income on your next return”

I recently sought some assistance from the Australian Taxation Office. I spent two hours on the phone attempting to talk to a real person. I failed.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUim9Jv0y6Q

♫ ♫ ♫ The Beatles- Taxman

 

When in 1956 my then family returned from Argentina to the Netherlands, we travelled by train from Italy through Switzerland and Germany. I’ve never forgotten the contrast between the Swiss and German passport controllers on board. Their friendliness indices were on a different scale.

I was reminded of this when fifteen years later, on our return to Australia, my new family crossed the U.S. Canada borders on several occasions. The friendliness indices contrast was again palpable.

Ever since, I’ve had a soft spot for Canada. I’ve followed its fortunes and noted that on many occasions Canada outshines my new fatherland.

 

When it comes to the treatment of its First Peoples and their descendants, when it comes to the treatment of minorities and refugees, when it comes to international diplomacy, Australia can’t hold a candle to Canada.

 

It was therefore no surprise to me that the absolute star of the Davos oligarchic group grope was the Canadian Prime Minister. Mark Carney’s speech (fully reproduced in Pearls and Irritations) is well worth reading. In it he evokes the story of the greengrocer who like all other shop keepers displays a sycophantic sign in his shop to ward off trouble from a totalitarian regime, thereby helping to perpetuate the repressive system. It is only after one of the signs is removed that the regime begins to crumble.

 

Reminds me of the banging of pots and pans that preceded the fall of Pinochet in Chile. The message from the first sign remover and the first pot and pan basher was the same:

“You are not alone”

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiMeZgnkBb8

♫ ♫ ♫ Céline Dion - O Canada (1992)

Cheers,

Frank