Check It Out: April Fools, 2021 is no joke

Here’s a riddle: Q: Which is the worst day for a guy to propose to his girl? A: April Fools Day!

Now, isn’t that the truth? On April Fools Day, we often don’t know if a joke is being played on us or if what is taking place is for real. However we do know that it’s no joke that the carbon tax is scheduled to increase by 33% on April 1. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, this year’s hike will increase the total federal carbon tax charge for gasoline to 8.8 cents per litre.

We also know that while unemployment rates are rising in Canada, your members of parliament are giving themselves a $3,000 pay increase. And that’s not an April Fools joke; it’s for real. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation believes Canadians have made sacrifices during this past year and elected officials need to do their part as well.

One of the comments posted on social media said, “These raises should not continue every April 1. Workers, even unionized, don’t get the increases they have voted for themselves. This needs to stop, along with the gold plated pension of 100% of their salary for lifetime. No one has such a pension in the private sector, and taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for theirs.”

“We’re all in this together” is one of those phrases that’s been tossed around throughout the past year of restrictions. While people hunkered down inside, posters were on display stating “We’re All in this Together”. But are we really? Members of Parliament have not lost any wages during this time; instead they are being awarded raises.

It’s also no joke that a new poll by Morning Consult says the most despised industry in North America is the film industry. One of the reasons for this may be because the entertainment industry fully embraces the cancel culture. One example is actress Jane Fonda protesting the Line 3 pipeline which has been bringing Canadian oil through Minnesota for decades. Fonda called our oil sands “the worst in the world”. Unfortunately that is a bad joke, because it is simply not true.

The carbon intensity of oil sands production is declining thanks to innovative technology and improved efficiency. In fact oil sands projects have decreased emissions intensity an average of 24 per cent since 2012. And Canada’s oil and gas sector accounts for just 0.3 per cent of global GHG emissions, and the oil sands accounts for just 0.1 percent of global emissions.

Those statistics haven’t stopped features such as the animated “The Bigfoot Family” casting the oil industry as murderous with the intent to kill animals and flooding Alaskan valleys with oil. It’s no joke that this fictitious story line could leave a lasting and misleading impression on children. That’s why it’s important to have groups like Suits & Boots and Canada Action who defend and support the oil and gas sector.

It’s vitally important for Canadians to speak up when it sounds like they’re being fooled, not just on April Fools Day but every day. Why is this important? Because the absence of freedom of speech clears a path for discrimination and oppression to take place. People who have come to North America from developing countries know better than anyone about the risks of this progression taking place.

Many of them came to North America expecting to benefit from a democratic society, but are often disappointed when they witness a lack of free speech, which will lead to the very oppression from which they escaped.

You can contact me at joanjanzen@yahoo.com