Politics is not just about elections, politicians, or debates on television. It is the framework through which decisions are made that affect every corner of our lives. In Canada, like in every democratic nation, politics shapes the way we receive health care, how our children are educated, what businesses can or cannot do, how marriage is defined, what kind of social initiatives are funded, and even how faith is practiced in the public square. We often like to believe politics is something “out there,” separate from our daily routines. But in reality, the decisions made in Parliament, in provincial legislatures, and even at the municipal level touch the smallest details of life—from the price of groceries to the freedoms we exercise.
Health: The Politics of Life and Death
In Canada, health care is one of the most politically charged subjects. The principle of universal health care is a source of pride for many Canadians, yet the system is often plagued with long wait times, limited access to specialists, and uneven quality depending on where you live. Why is this the case? Because politics determines how much funding goes into the system, how it is distributed, what procedures are covered, and even how doctors and nurses are trained and paid.
When politicians make promises about “fixing” health care, they are not dealing with abstract numbers. They are making choices that affect whether a grandmother receives timely cancer treatment, whether a child can access mental health services, and whether an elderly patient spends weeks in a hallway waiting for a hospital bed. Politics, in this sense, is literally about life and death.
Education: Shaping the Future Through Policy
Education, too, is profoundly political. Curriculums are not neutral; they are designed by committees influenced by ideologies, cultural shifts, and political priorities. What children in Canada are taught about history, Indigenous peoples, gender, climate change, or civic responsibility is not just “the truth” but an interpretation of facts through a political lens.
When provincial governments debate funding for schools, or whether to allow private and faith-based education equal footing, they are shaping the future of Canadian society. The next generation’s worldview, values, and skills are the direct product of political decisions. Parents may not always realize that when they send their children to school, those young minds are entering into an environment already deeply influenced by politics.
Social Initiatives: The Politics of Compassion
Canada prides itself on being a compassionate country. Programs like affordable housing initiatives, child-care subsidies, and social assistance all come from political will. But compassion itself is filtered through political interpretation. Should resources be given directly to families or channeled through government programs? Should more emphasis be placed on rehabilitation or punishment in criminal justice? These are not neutral questions. They are political ones.
What is considered “helpful” or “fair” is often decided not on the basis of all available facts but on the facts politicians choose to emphasize. For example, one side might highlight statistics showing how social spending reduces poverty. Another might highlight cases of fraud or dependency to argue against the same programs. Both may claim to be speaking “truth,” but truth is filtered.
Business: Regulated by Political Priorities
Business owners in Canada cannot escape the reach of politics. Taxes, labor laws, environmental regulations, trade agreements—all of these determine whether a business thrives or collapses. A small café in Toronto might shut down not because of bad coffee but because minimum wage hikes, rent controls, and tax increases make the business unsustainable.
Similarly, large corporations shape politics as well, lobbying for policies that benefit them. The interplay between business and politics means that “free markets” are never truly free. They are structured environments shaped by political will.
Marriage and Family: The Redefinition of Norms
Marriage, once considered purely a private or religious institution, is now firmly in the domain of politics. Decisions about who can marry whom, what rights are attached to marriage, and how family law is applied have been hotly debated in Canadian courts and legislatures.
Changes to marriage laws, adoption policies, and gender recognition are not just legal matters; they reshape cultural norms. They affect how children are raised, how faith communities practice their beliefs, and how society views human relationships. Politics, in this sense, does not just regulate external behaviors; it redefines the meaning of personal commitments and identities.
Faith in the Public Square: A Constant Negotiation
Perhaps one of the most contested areas where politics intrudes is faith. In Canada, freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Yet faith is often tested by political interpretations of “neutrality” and “inclusion.”
For instance, can a Christian school enforce its own standards of belief and conduct while receiving public funding? Can a doctor refuse to participate in procedures that go against their conscience? Can a church speak publicly on controversial issues without being accused of “hate speech”? These are not simply theological debates. They are political struggles with very real consequences for how faith is practiced.
The Nature of Politics: Interpretations, Not Full Truths
At the core, politics is about interpretation. Rarely do politicians bring all the facts to the table. Instead, they highlight the ones that support their vision, their party, or their narrative. This selective use of truth is not always malicious; it is often a strategy. But the result is that citizens do not always see the full picture.
We are told decisions are made “in the name of science,” “in the name of fairness,” or “in the name of truth.” Yet science can be selectively cited, fairness can be redefined, and truth can be reshaped. Policies are passed, laws are created, and lives are affected not by the fullness of truth but by partial truths.
How to Respond: Developing an Open Mind
So, how should Canadians respond? The answer is not cynicism, nor blind acceptance, but the cultivation of an open mind. An open mind means being willing to read widely, even from sources that make us uncomfortable. It means not staying in a media bubble where our assumptions are constantly reinforced. It means listening to voices from across the political spectrum—left and right, progressive and conservative, secular and faith-based.
Truth has nothing to fear from scrutiny. If something is true, it will withstand questions, challenges, and alternative viewpoints. If it is false, it will collapse under examination. For this reason, the best approach to politics is to be a seeker of truth, not just a consumer of narratives.
The Call for Citizens
As Canadians, we must remember that politics is not something “others” do. In a democracy, politics is something we all participate in, whether by voting, advocating, or simply choosing where to get our information. Each of us has a responsibility to seek truth, to think critically, and to hold politicians accountable.
The decisions being made today in Ottawa, in provincial legislatures, and in city halls are shaping the health care our children will receive, the education our grandchildren will inherit, and the freedoms our faith communities will enjoy. If we are careless or passive, politics will still shape our lives—but without our input.
Conclusion
Politics is woven into the fabric of everyday life in Canada. It determines how we are healed, how we learn, how we help the poor, how we conduct business, how we define family, and how we practice faith. But politics is not always the full truth; it is an interpretation of truth. To live wisely, we must recognize this reality and commit ourselves to being open-minded seekers of truth.
In the end, truth is the best ally we have. It is stronger than spin, louder than slogans, and more enduring than laws. And if we pursue truth faithfully—across political divides, beyond personal comfort zones—we will be better citizens, better neighbors, and better stewards of the society we call home.
Brother Endrit Journey 