Watching from Canada: A Heartbreaking Warning for the Future

 Watching from Canada: A Heartbreaking Warning for the Future

As a Canadian, I watch in disbelief as the United States descends further into chaos under Trump’s leadership. The recent federal funding freeze, which left countless people unable to access Medicaid and other essential programs, is yet another example of his administration’s cruelty and deception. At first, a memo circulated announcing cuts, then suddenly, people found themselves without payments. The next day, officials brushed it off as a “glitch.” But let’s be clear—this wasn’t a glitch. It was a calculated move to see what they could get away with.

This is heartbreaking to witness. People’s lives are at stake, yet they are treated as pawns in a political game. Some will now go without medication, food, or rent. Others may never financially recover from the sudden loss of benefits, even if the payments resume. And the worst part? This is happening in one of the richest countries in the world.

A Warning for Canada

It would be easy to dismiss this as an “American problem,” but I don’t see it that way. Canada is not immune to the same kind of heartless policies that prioritize the wealthy and powerful over the vulnerable. If people do not wake up and take action, we could find ourselves in a similar situation—watching our social safety nets unravel while leaders make excuses and shift blame.

We’ve already seen warning signs. In British Columbia, social assistance rates remain abysmally low, making it nearly impossible for people to afford basic necessities. Housing has become a luxury, not a right. Corporate greed continues to widen the gap between rich and poor, while the government moves at a snail’s pace to address the crisis. How long before “glitches” start affecting our most vulnerable citizens too?

We Cannot Be Complacent

History has shown that when people stay silent, injustices grow. We need to pay attention, not just to what’s happening in the U.S. but to what’s creeping into our own systems. We need to demand better from our leaders and refuse to let policies that harm the most vulnerable become normalized.

The suffering happening in the U.S. right now should serve as a wake-up call. If we do nothing, we may one day find ourselves in the same desperate situation—watching as the most basic supports are ripped away, while those in power dismiss it as a “glitch.” The time to act is now.