Whoddunit? What happened? Why’d it happen? It’s only natural that human beings will ask these questions if a shooting happens in their neighbourhood, a vehicle rams into pedestrians, or people in their city are arrested for having explosive devices. So natural that there are entire genres of books, movies and TV shows devoted to people asking these questions and doggedly pursuing answers.
Yet there’s this nagging feeling that more and more Canadians have that not only will they not get answers but they can’t even ask questions. And the lack of acceptable answers offered by the powers that be is sold to us as something we should just shut up and accept.
The latest examples come courtesy of questions put to the government in the Senate by Conservative Senator Linda Frum. (Thanks to the now-televised Senate, clips of Frum’s remarks can be found on her social media).
A couple of weeks ago a father and son were arrested in a city north of Toronto after police found chemicals, explosive materials and a detonator in their home following tip-offs provided by border agents in both Canada and the U.S.
Reza Mohammadiasl, 47, and Mahyar Mohammadiasl, 18, have been charged with possession of an explosive device and were released on $50,000 bail with strict conditions.
The very first line of the Toronto Star’s coverage of this incident reads: “Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says the arrest of a father and a son, after hazardous material and a detonator were allegedly recovered from a Richmond Hill home Friday, isn’t related to national security.”
And we’re supposed to buy that without any further explanation? But that’s all, folks. Move along now.
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See Also:
(1) At MMIW report’s heart, a contradiction that’s impossible to ignore
(2) MMIW inquiry’s police review team waited until final months to request case files
(3) Justin Trudeau says he accepts MMIW report’s finding of genocide
(5) Prominent free-speech advocates clash with justice committee MPs studying online hate
