Why Look Back?

I’ve listened to a few interviews with PP (Canada’s Conservative Party Leader) and have to say, I have yet to be impressed. Some people argue that he’s a “mini-Trump”. I don’t agree, but can see how people could get confused. He’s pushing a similar narrative - the idea that we need to take Canada back (I’m not quoting directly). That certainly sounds similar to “Make America Great Again” though, doesn’t it?

Western politics - especially in the US and Canada - often revolves around this nostalgic idea of returning to an idealized past. The problem is that the past people long for is often a selective memory, one that highlights the good and ignores the struggles, inequities, and failures of that time.

PP has frequently emphasized the need to return to foundational values that he believes built this country. For instance, he has stated that his vision for Canada is one of unity, where citizens come together around a common hope: human flourishing. He suggests achieving this by returning to the values that built our country.

The appeal of “going back” is largely emotional. When societies face uncertainty - economic struggles, political instability, or cultural shifts - people naturally look to the past as a source of stability. Leaders tap into that nostalgia because it’s easier to see than an uncertain, untested vision of the future. It’s comforting to believe that there was once a golden era when things were simple, better, or more prosperous. The reality, of course, is more complicated. 

It might be tempting to think that older generations had it easier, but many of the challenges they faced were simply different. For example, economic opportunities might have been more abundant in some eras, but they were often accompanied by social or political inequalities that made life harder for marginalized groups. While there were certainly things that worked better in the past, we’ve also made significant progress in areas like civil rights, healthcare, and education. So, it’s not necessarily about going back to easier times but about learning from the past while embracing progress for the future.

I think the challenge and issue most talked about in Canada right now is the housing crisis - housing is unaffordable, so much so that it’s unlikely the younger generations will ever be able to buy a home of their own, much less pay it off in their lifetime. With that in mind, many people reflect on the previous generations' good fortune in that respect. Specifically, the Baby Boomers most definitely had more accessibility to home ownership. But several factors played into this.

There was a significant economic boom after WWII. The economy grew rapidly, jobs were plentiful, and wages increased. This allowed more people to afford homes. The government also introduced policies to support ownership, such as federally backed mortgage programs that made it easier to secure a home loan with lower down payments and longer repayment terms.

Home prices were much lower compared to income levels than they are now. This means that for many people in our parents’ generation, a house was a relatively attainable goal. Even if the interest rates were high (especially in the 80’s), the prices of homes were much more manageable relative to wages at the time.

The job market was also more stable in many ways. Manufacturing and other blue-collar jobs were in demand, and people could rely on these stable, unionized positions to support their families. For a lot of Baby Boomers, building a house was achievable on a single income, which is unheard of now.

However, while buying a home was more attainable, there were still struggles.

Homeownership was seen as a necessary life goal and marker of success. The pressure to conform to these norms could be significant, especially for women who often had limited career opportunities. In many cases, women were expected to prioritize homemaking and child-rearing, which often meant they had less economic independence.

Homeownership was not equally accessible to everyone. For example, discriminatory practices systematically denied Black families and other marginalized groups access to home loans, which meant that many could not benefit from the opportunities that were available to white families. These practices contributed to long-term wealth gaps. 

And, despite more affordable homes, the 70’s and early 80’s saw high inflation and skyrocketing interest rates. In Canada, for example, mortgage rates peaked about 20% at times in the early 80’s. This put a strain on many homeowners, even if they could afford the down payment. The cost of living was rising, and wages were not always keeping up with inflation.

And while job security was higher for many, the 70’s and 80’s also saw the beginning of a shift in the workplace. There was more emphasis on long working hours, especially for those in management positions or working their way up. This led to stress and burn-out for many families, even if they had the financial means to own a home.

While the Baby Boomers had certain advantages in terms of home ownership, they also faced their own unique set of challenges. The context of their time shaped the opportunities and struggles they experienced, just as today’s generation has to contend with its own set of economic and social realities.

So, how does “going back” help anyone? We can’t recreate the circumstances that existed then. And we certainly don’t want to remove, or turn back, any progress we’ve made just so a certain group can benefit. So I ask again, why do politicians want us to keep looking back?

This cyclical shift between styles of leadership - progressive versus conservative, reform versus restoration - happens because neither extreme fully satisfies society’s needs. Progressives push forward, sometimes too quickly for comfort, and conservatives promise stability, often by idealizing the past. That back-and-forth creates political whiplash, where each side spends time undoing the other’s work rather than building something new together.

The real question is: Why aren’t more leaders selling a future-focused vision that actually excites people? Maybe because real, forward-thinking change is harder to package into a simple slogan. “The Future: It’s complicated, but let’s go there anyway!”, or how about, “Forward! Probably. Let’s figure it out together!”

The concept is too messy, too complex, and too uncertain. But if we could shift the focus from “bringing things back” to “building something better,” we might actually stop repeating history’s mistakes and start making real progress.

Let’s focus on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability rather than trying to recreate an idealized past. Here are some ideas I’ve read about that have piqued my interest…

• Reform the work week to a 4-day workweek with the same pay to improve productivity and mental health

• Ensure the gig economy and contract workers have fair wages, benefits, and job security

• Encourage more mixed-use, multi-family housing in cities to lower housing costs

• Alternative home ownership models that prioritize affordability over profit

• Reduce speculative real estate investment to make homes available for actual residents

• Incentivize businesses to design products for longevity, repair, and recycling

• Turn under utilized city areas into green spaces for climate resilience and public well-being

• Shift education toward problem-solving and adaptability rather than the outdated memorization

• Expand access to mental health care and lifestyle-based health programs to reduce strain on emergency services, including police

• Make childcare universally accessible so parents (especially women) aren’t forced out of the workforce

• Update electoral systems to reflect the real diversity of political opinions 

• Bring everyday people into the policy making process for more democratic decision-making

• Make government services fully accessible online, cutting bureaucracy, and reducing costs

Bright idea/Innovation

Instead of “bringing back the good old days”, a future-focused approach asks; What worked, what didn’t, and how can we evolve to make life better for more people?

I know people are afraid of change - maybe that’s why we keep voting in the same old, same old, every time. Change is messy. It’s unpredictable, and requires effort, while the past - at least in hindsight - feels familiar and safe. But can’t we change that?

Let’s make the future feel exciting, not scary. People need inspiring, clear visions of how progress will actually make their lives better. Instead of only debating theoretical change, highlight real-world examples where innovation has led to better outcomes.

There will be ‘growing pains’ and struggles, of course. There is no way to ever guarantee anything will be pain free. We may even fail from time to time. But we must stumble before we learn to walk with confidence. Failure teaches us the true value of success, and only by falling do we learn how to rise stronger. Struggle is the teacher, and resilience is the lesson. 

So come on, Canada, let’s do this! Let’s move forward. Sure, the past had some good moments, but so did dial-up internet - and we’re not rushing back to that, are we?

The future may be uncertain, but if we have the courage to let go of nostalgia, embrace progress, and learn from our stumbles, we can build something better - something worth standing tall for.

Ⓒ March 2025. Beki Lantos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author.