Marking Canada Day from 11,000km Away

Written By Matthew McDonald

For the fourth time in my life, I’m observing Canada Day from abroad.

I am definitely missing Canadian BBQ traditions today, especially having a side of All Dressed chips to go with my cheeseburger. (Argentina has Ketchup chips like Canada does, but the Argentinian ones taste more like tomato sauce, without the vinegar ketchup zing that I grew up with).

Looking at my home country from a distance is an opportunity for perspective, not simply on the rituals of a national holiday, but on the mood and direction of the country.

Amidst the BBQs and fireworks, I think we can all agree that Canadians are feeling fairly glum right now.

  • Life in Canada has become expensive.

  • Our economic productivity is in decline.

  • We’ve lost faith in our political leaders at provincial and federal levels.

  • Edmonton even lost the Stanley Cup to Florida, a place too hot for natural ice in skating rinks.

Critics of Canada

We have good reason to be critical in 2024. And I’m thankful that we are. We have a lot of work to do to improve the failings of our institutions and our weakening social fabric, and that work won’t happen if we ignore our problems.

But as we mark Canada Day, I am taking the moment to be grateful that I can freely criticize my political leaders and their policies. Such freedom is not universal.

A Destination of Choice

Such freedom is one of the reasons so many people want to come to Canada.

Part of the national conversation from the past year has been about immigration and about whether Canada can integrate the volume of new people who have arrived since the pandemic border restrictions ended. I have some concerns about that conversation and how easily it could turn ugly.

I already know that it doesn’t feel good for newcomers to be a subject of the national conversation in this way.

But as I mark Canada Day, I am grateful to be a citizen of a country that is an aspiration for so many people on this planet. What a privilege it is for me to be born into a country with opportunity, social mobility and cohesion, peace, high quality education, and a public health care system that used to be a source of national pride.

I am proud to be born into a country that is a product and ongoing project of immigration, a country where the dominant view is that our national success comes through working with people from around the world, not against them.

I am proud to uphold these values in my everyday work.

Today, as I sit 11,000km from Canada, working in my favourite café in Buenos Aires, living as a migrant in another land, I am proud to be playing my own small role in helping Canada’s newest generation of immigrants. I have utmost confidence that they will help make Canada an even better country.

In case you haven’t finished your own coffee and would like more Canada content , I’m sharing some pieces that have brought me joy this Canada Day.

Matthew McDonald
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