Canada at a Crossroads: The Collapse of Values, Institutions, and National Identity

By: Terry Burton , A Retired Canadian Businessman

Canada proclaims itself a nation built on noble values: freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and multiculturalism. Yet increasingly, these ideals ring hollow. The disconnect between what Canada claims to stand for and the actions it actually takes has become impossible to ignore. Canada is not on a journey toward its “best version” — it is teetering on the edge of an identity crisis, systemic failure, and a collapse of foundational institutions.

Far from being a beacon of democratic values and liberty, Canada is exhibiting signs of democratic decay, institutional rot, and creeping authoritarianism. The country has descended into a state of denial — one that blinds its citizens to the profound regression underway.

Institutional Betrayal and Hypocrisy

A recent example highlights the dangerous ideological drift occurring within one of Canada’s core institutions. RCMP Staff Sgt. Camille Habel publicly suggested that individuals embracing traditional or “old world” values may be exhibiting signs of extremism. According to Habel, reverting to long-standing cultural and family norms could be cause for suspicion — a red flag for potential radicalization. Another RCMP member openly defended this position.

Let us be clear: this is institutional decay in plain sight. It is not merely about poor judgment or insensitivity. It is about the criminalization of thought and values that, for millennia, formed the bedrock of family and civil society. When institutions equate traditional values with extremism, they expose their drift from democratic neutrality toward ideological enforcement. This is not liberal democracy; it is ideological authoritarianism masquerading as public safety.

Canada’s institutions — from law enforcement to the courts, media, education, and even the health system — are being overtaken by ideological dogma and bureaucratic self-preservation. The result is a growing class divide, a two-tiered society where justice, opportunity, and representation are increasingly inaccessible to ordinary Canadians.

The Death of Democratic Governance

Canada is witnessing a dramatic erosion of democratic governance. Power is increasingly concentrated in the Prime Minister’s Office. Parliament is routinely bypassed. MPs function more as political ornaments than as true representatives of the people. Civic engagement is at an all-time low, and voter turnout continues to plummet.

The claim that Canada upholds “rule of law” is a facade. The Prime Minister has violated ethics laws multiple times with impunity. The former Attorney General was ousted for insisting on the independence of the legal process. Courts often dodge responsibility by invoking “mootness” rather than confronting pressing constitutional issues. Even the Supreme Court Chief Justice has weighed in on political controversies, undermining judicial impartiality.

Liberty in Name Only

Individual liberty in Canada is now conditional — granted at the discretion of government actors and swiftly withdrawn in times of political or public health convenience. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal and provincial governments suspended civil liberties en masse: citizens were barred from travel, imprisoned in quarantine hotels, denied access to family members, prohibited from worship, and subjected to widespread surveillance. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms was treated as a list of suggestions, not binding commitments.

The persecution of the Ottawa truckers’ protest — overwhelmingly peaceful — was a shameful demonstration of Canada’s intolerance for dissent. These individuals were vilified, surveilled, fined, and in some cases, had their bank accounts frozen. This is not liberty. It is the weaponization of state power.

The Multicultural Illusion and the Immigration Crisis

Canada’s immigration system, once seen as a model of integration and opportunity, has morphed into a chaotic, mismanaged, and ideologically driven experiment. Millions of newcomers with fundamentally divergent values — cultural, religious, political — are being absorbed into a society that no longer knows what it stands for. The result? Fragmentation, not cohesion. Division, not unity.

Multiculturalism, once touted as a proud Canadian success story, has become a source of social disintegration. Communities live in parallel silos, with little incentive or mechanism for integration. To point this out is to be accused of bigotry — but denying the consequences will not delay them.

This policy failure is compounded by unsustainable immigration levels amid a housing crisis, crumbling infrastructure, and a healthcare system already unable to meet domestic needs. It is national mismanagement on a catastrophic scale.

The Collapse of National Competence

The authors of the original article, “Which Future Will Canada Choose?”, speak of values like “free markets, rule of law, individual liberty, democratic governance, advanced research and education, and human rights” as if they are firmly entrenched realities. This is fantasy. Here is the harsh truth:

• Free markets? Canada is riddled with interprovincial and international trade barriers. Market access is tightly controlled, heavily regulated, and manipulated for political gain.
• Rule of law? Political elites flout laws without consequence while citizens face the full brunt of state power for minor infractions.
• Education? Our system is in decline. High school graduates often lack basic skills in math, writing, or science. Universities churn out degrees with little real value. Civic education is all but dead.
• Human rights? These have been redefined as privileges, selectively enforced and easily suspended. COVID-era mandates exposed how quickly rights can be cast aside.
• National unity? Federal encroachment on provincial jurisdiction, economic stagnation, and regional alienation have fueled separatist sentiment. The country is breaking apart politically and culturally.
• Military and infrastructure? We rely on allies for protection. Our infrastructure deficit grows by the year. Our military is underfunded and ill-equipped.

Canada Has Already Chosen — And It’s the Wrong Future

Let us dispense with illusions: Canada has already chosen its future. It is one of soft authoritarianism, cultural relativism, and economic dependency. The entrepreneurial spirit is being smothered by bureaucracy and taxation. Citizens are increasingly dependent on government subsidies, housing assistance, and social programs. This is not freedom — it is a rebranded feudalism.

In the name of tolerance, Canada has become intolerant of dissent. In the name of inclusion, it now excludes anyone with traditional values. In the name of safety, it erodes liberty. And in the name of compassion, it is sacrificing competence, cohesion, and common sense.

We are not headed toward a better Canada — we are witnessing the unraveling of a great nation. And unless Canadians confront this reality with honesty and resolve, we will lose what little remains of the country we once believed in.

To quote Arnold Toynbee, “Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.” Canada is not being destroyed from without; it is being dismantled from within — by the very people and institutions who claim to be its stewards.