Canada is not the best country to live

Frankly it surprises me that Canada ranked so highly after the survey results. Canadian citizens pride themselves on misconceptions that we are a strong and thriving country, but I ask what scale evaluation are these Canadian citizens looking at?
From my perspective, I do not see the truth in such a statement. I understand that Canadians may have the highest quality of life, but at what cost?
First off I would like to revaluate the survey categorise that judged a country to determine which was the ‘Best Country’ to live in.
In the American 2017 Best Countries survey the categories under consideration were as listed; adventure, citizenship, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, heritage, economics, open for business and quality of life.
The survey overview stated that it covered 75 dimensions that can encourage trade, travel, global investments and affect national economies. Why was agriculture, energy production, social services and education not included? Each of those can too contribute to trade, travel, investments and national economics.
Aside from the lack of coverage from the survey categories, let’s talk about why Canada should rank lower on the ‘Best Country’ scale, in my opinion. The Canadian government is not keeping its promise to transition to sustainable renewable energy, environmental racism is a social norm and Canadian citizens are the largest poluters in the world.
Shocking, right?
When the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, signed the Paris agreement he committed Canada to cut its emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, to save remaining intact forests, keep fossil fuels in the ground and to develop a climate strategy with the provinces. Trudeau stated to the UN that Liberal government has also committed to investing $2.65 billion over the next five years to help developing countries fight climate change.
When is the past three months Canada has committed to spending $6.8-billion in its own country on the Trans Mountain Pipeline which will create more emission, more disforestation, more pollution and climate change? So I ask why Trudeau believes he has the right to say Canada is a climate action leader with such embarrassing statistics.
Look at Sarnia, Ont., a prime example of environmental racism local citizens of Aamjiwnaang, an indigenous community, are exposed so the most polluted air in Canada.
Canada has committed to spending billions on a pipeline when hundreds of indigenous communities in Canada are without clean water. Why do we as Canadians except this as a social norm? With that statement in mind can we really argue that we should be the ‘Best Country’?
Canadian citizens are also the largest polluters of the planet. Canada's total energy consumption is among the highest in the G8 countries, and Canada ranks the highest per capita for emissions in comparison to countries such as Japan, China and the U.S. With all the statistics, I have brought to the table, how can Canadian citizens argue to be the ‘Best Country’? I understand no country is perfect and all countries have work to do in regards to decreasing the results of climate change but can Canada be the best?
Travel, trade, global investments and national economics all begin to thrive in countries who move towards more sustainable and renewable practices. Switzerland was ranked first on the U.S ‘Best Country’ survey and is one of the most sustainable countries in the world; in regards climate change, biodiversity and habitat protection.
Switzerland introduced 15 regional parks with two additional national parks by 2014 all of which would bring tourism. Switzerland is also very dedicated to the implementation and maintenance of sustainable energy using wind, solar and hydropower.
With Switzerland’s innovative transitions I believe they deserve to beat Canada on the ‘Best Country’ survey and that Canada should have by no means rank second place to a country full of innovations and leaps towards a sustainable future.
Alisha Christie,
Amherst