We must continue to speak "Truth to Power"

Thanks for your support!

Dear readers,

I hope you are having a nice weekend. March is a special month for me this year and I’m writing to share a quick update.

First, I am excited to let you know that on March 24 I will be receiving the Truth to Power Award from the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses of Canada (CCMBC). This is a great honour, and one I’m humbled to accept.

CCMBC’s Truth to Power Award is meant to “"recognize one individual from across Canada, whether in government, business or an institution, who by job or circumstances was placed in a difficult situation or circumstance that warranted a courageous stance." The award also "celebrates the need of the individual to do the right thing rather than accept an expedient, easy or otherwise selfish reaction."

Readers of this newsletter are familiar with my efforts to speak truth to power, especially in response to Bell Media’s discriminatory labour practices and similar injustices throughout our country today. It means a lot to me that business leaders at the CCMBC appreciate my efforts to stand up for myself and others. If you’d like to attend the gala event in Toronto where I’m receiving the award, you can buy tickets here.

Second, before traveling to Toronto on March 24, I’ll be in Ottawa for the upcoming Canada Strong and Free Network conference on March 22-24, 2023. If you can join me in the nation’s capital, I hope you’ll consider it. There will be a fantastic lineup of speakers, including Stephen Harper, Pierre Poilievre, Danielle Smith, Reihan Salam, Tara Henley, Adrienne Batra and many more. During the day on the 22nd, at the Best Practices Forum, there will also be special training opportunities led by the Leadership Institute. Registration for the conference is here.

If you plan to be there in Ottawa, please let me know as I’d like to say hello in person. Also, if you know a student or recent graduate who would like to attend but the cost of a ticket is holding him or her back, please get in touch with me. My email is jamil@canadastrongandfree.network

Finally, with these two events happening later this month, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my future and the future of Canada. Yesterday, the National Post published some of my thoughts on a better vision for Canada than what we’ve seen from the current federal government. As part of my research, I discovered a 1994 magazine feature about the Reform Party of Canada published by Ohio State University. I’d encourage anyone interested in Canadian politics to read it here. There’s lots of food for thought about a pivotal time in Canadian history (mid-1990s), and how learning from that history might inform where we go next.

Thank you very much for your continued support as we push forward.