Military greats, like retired Lt.-Gen. Michel Maisonneuve, keep fighting for Canada even after they retire. And if the battle means rattling cages by criticizing failed leadership, policies and destructive socially accepted norms, so be it. Country first..Maisonneuve blasted leaders that divide rather than unite, climate change policies crippling prosperity, entitlement fed by “endless handouts and subsidies,” the removal of historic statues, a profusely apologetic society catering to perceived victims, cancel culture, the prevalence of unbiased journalism and woke military dress regulations..Maisonneuve delivered his sharp points when he “humbly” accepted the top defence Vimy Award, which recognizes a lifetime of service, in Ottawa November 9..The 35-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran didn’t hold back — and that, as well as his message of hope and pride in Canada’s resilience and accomplishments — got him a standing ovation from the 600-member audience comprised of mostly serving senior officers..He painted a grim picture of a Canada that is no longer taken seriously and “lost on the world stage.” He lamented that the military “used to be a most highly regarded profession.”.But hope for Canada’s ailing military that is “woefully underfunded, undermanned, and under-appreciated” is not lost, Maisonneuve told the Western Standard Tuesday..“You have to look at the positive things. The one hugely positive thing about our Canadian forces is our young men and women who are out there. They’re looking for the leadership, but they’re willing to do anything for their country,” he said. “I’ve got a son and a daughter in the military. Young Canadians, that’s the best part of the Canadian Armed Forces so there’s always hope. It’s leadership they’re looking for. If they have that, then we’re going to be OK.”.But it will take “leadership and service” for Canada “to be seen as a serious country once again” on the world stage when seeking alliances, said Maisonneuve in his speech..“These two critical foundations of greatness for any nation have somehow become secondary — lost in these days of entitlement, me first, not my problem and endless subsidies and handouts.”.Maisonneuve questioned whether great leaders of the past would have survived today’s cancel culture, aided by social media capturing “every move and word spoken — taken out of context or not.”.“Where cancel culture still flourishes and there is not call for redaction or amendment even when accusations are proved false, truth is not a requirement; once cancelled, you are done.”.Balanced journalism has shifted from “presenting the facts” to the “line between news and opeds being blurred.”.“Too often we are subjected to sermons written not by seasoned journalists but by first year graduates of woke journalism schools.”.Extremism “seems to be flourishing in all aspects of our lives” both on the right and left, he said, citing the climate change craze as a prime example..“Canada’s prosperity is being sacrificed at the altar of climate change as opposed to being used to help the world transition to clean energy. Throwing soup and paint at the world’s art treasures is a heinous as it is useless. The perpetrators should be punished not celebrated.”.The never-ending apology tour to assorted individuals and groups, didn’t fly under his radar..“Today’s world is also where taking personal responsibility for our own actions has disappeared from the landscape while the phenomenon of collective apologies flourishes in our country. Individuals and groups fight over who gets to wear the coveted victims’ cloak. But any role they may have played in their own fate or in injuring others is dismissed as learned behaviour, inherited flaws, or generational oppression.”.He criticized judging historical leaders by today’s standards..“So, I am not here to debate whether those great leaders of yesteryear would be as successful in today’s world. Nor will I judge the decisions they made in their time against the standards of today. Enough statues have been toppled; erasing our history is not the solution.”.He took a run at Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre’s recent changes to military dress regulations to allow for personal choice in hair color, beards, and uniforms at a time when the Canadian military faces pressing issues..“I see a military woefully underfunded, undermanned, and underappreciated; forces where uniforms have become a means of personal expression rather than a symbol of collective pride and unity: uniforms are no longer uniform. The idea of serving in our Armed Forces is getting little traction. Could it be because the moral contract under our which our military serve is broken.”.Communication in a world of “sound bites and mic dropping” is critical, he said..“A good leader ensures his followers know where they are going and how to get there. A great leader makes them want to get there. A great leader can take a seemingly insurmountable objective and make it possible to achieve in the hearts and minds of their followers.”.Those leaders still exist, he said, pointing to Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy..Pointing to the need for “cohesion, acceptance, and tolerance,” Maisonneuve levelled shots at leaders who divide..“Today’s leaders must stop dividing those they lead… Can you imagine a military leader labelling half of his command as deplorables, fringe radicals or less-thans and then expect them to fight as one?”.He didn’t name name’s, but failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called former president Donald Trump’s supporters “a basket of deplorables.” And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed Freedom Convoy protesters as “fringe radicals.”.Service is the key to bringing Canada back to prominence by providing its military with needed state-of-the-art tools, providing the best leadership, equipment, training and education, then “looking after them when they become veterans.”.“In my opinion, we are failing because for Canadians generally, the Armed Forces are not important until there is a crisis, and successive government’s support of the Forces reflect that mindset. Our troops who have dedicated their lives to serve this country deserve better.”.Maisonneuve concluded with a message of faith in Canadians and hope..“I believe we can make Canada better, to find common ground with our neighbour and to unite our country rather than divide it; to apply our leadership and service; to live with compassion, tolerance, and patience — but most of all to be proud of Canada and everything we once stood for.”.“We Canadians live in the greatest country in the world with almost unlimited resources, a tolerant and diverse people, and an educated population who can aspire to the greatest heights.”.“We should be prepared to serve our country and be proud to do so. And our leaders must share that vision.”.The woke wounded will likely come at this brutally honest, patriotic military great with a vengeance — while Canadians across the nation give him another standing ovation..The Vimy Award is presented by the Defence Associations Institute to Canadians who make an outstanding contribution to the defence and security of Canada, and the preservation of its democratic values.
