Deeper Shade of Green

Imagine if Canada was a character on the reality TV show Intervention, in which families attempt to salvage the lives of their self-destructive members. From the evidence uncovered by Mel Hurtig, our country would be an easily-manipulated dolt with poor impulse control, memory problems and a bad habit of pawning off valuable possessions. In Canadian Intervention, Hurtig would play the combined role of therapist and Marine gunnery sergeant, trying to convince Canada that it’s not in its best interests to hang out with smooth-talking pundits from right-wing think tanks, tax-dodging CEOs, weapons makers or self-described “journalists” who can’t be bothered to check their sources.

It’s a thankless task, but Hurtig obviously loves his country, and has spent years trying to steer it in a different direction. Once owner of one of the largest book retail operations in Canada, he founded Hurtig Publishers in 1972 and later launched The Canadian Encyclopedia. Founder and past-president of the Council of Canadians, Hurtig was elected leader of the National Party of Canada in 1992 and led it in the federal election a year later. Now in his seventies, the energetic and animated Hurtig is promoting his seventh book, The Truth about Canada: Some Important, Some Astonishing and Some Truly Appalling Things All Canadians Should Know About Our Country. Common Ground - a Vancouver local newspaper - sat down together with Hurtig at a coffee shop in downtown Vancouver to discuss our nation’s latest woes.

Read the full story here . It will open your eyes.