The 21st edition of Fix Canada by Jeff Willerton landed in my mailbox back in July 2024 with a letter from the author saying that someone bought 500 copies so Jeff could distribute them for free. After taking a quick scan, I was about to toss it into the recycle bin. However, I thought that if someone could take the time and expense to bring the book to my doorstep, the least I could do was read it, no matter how off-putting it was.
First, I'm learning to write books myself, so I appreciate the courage it takes to put yourself out there. But at least I know what I'm writing is fiction. Second, for a professed high school educated person, the writing may be very colloquial, but far better than some of the professionally published stuff that I've read. Finally, my perspective comes from a person who is the same age as the author (60), also served in the military (though I served a lot longer), and has lived across the country. I've lived in Alberta for almost 25 years.
I will say that the short chapters made this a great bathroom reading book. That's where the rest of the shit in this house is collected, so it was a good fit and a match made in heaven.
Did I say heaven? Jeff is a loud and often proclaimed Christian, which is fine. However, Christian values are not the only "right" values in the world. And this is coming from someone who is male, white, straight, and from a relatively Christian background. And the Bible is not a book that I take literally or see as 100% accurate. Jeff and his support reviewer, Brandon, will likely say that I'm going to Hell, but there's more than one point of view out there.
From reading the entire book, notes included, I know what the author doesn't like: homosexuals, non-Christian viewpoints about what should or shouldn't be taught in schools, euthanasia/medically assisted dying, abortion, VLTs, the Liberals, the Conservatives, the NDP, Communists and anything else that leans anything to the left of far Right.
Jeff has lots to say on COVID and I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I read manufactured crisis throughout. Also, he has a lot to say about the World Health Organization, as well as what I think he would call a secret cabal - the World Economic Forum. He doesn't like Doug Ford, Jason Kenney (for giving into doctors for the lockdown), Danielle Smith, Ralph Klein gets special hate attention, as do other federal or provincial leaders, past and present. Last but not least, Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Justin Trudeau, as well as Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, are all prominent objects of hatred and scorn.
There are no climate crisis or over-population concerns in Jeff's world. And he can quote scientific proof. However, anyone who has spent any time researching anything will always find people on either side of an argument who can trot out information to support your arguments. That's why there's a Flat Earth Society in Canada that held a rally in Edmonton and Holocaust denial is still to be found. I don't know if they issue tin foil hats or have to buy or make them themselves. But they would probably find a home in Jeff's world as long as they believe in the Bible, as little government regulation and taxation as possible and are okay with unrestricted gun ownership. Want the world to be a safer place? According to Jeff, give everyone a gun. Having handled them for many years in the army, while I think there is some room for responsible weapon ownership, walking around with open and concealed carry like in the US is not where Canada wants or needs to go.
There are some odd and small points on which I agree with Jeff, but my agreement is more general, like our tax dollars could be better spent at all levels of government and that there are some political parties I will never vote for. But after that we abruptly part company. With all the vitriol and hatred about gay people ruining schools and the world and Canada being a step away from becoming a communist country because of homosexuality is bullshit. Did I say I was straight and married? I am. However, homosexuality has always existed throughout history, so why not recognize that fact and not drive it underground? Ever hear you can't fix stupid? You likely can't fix gay, either. But in Jeff's world, it's a bad choice. If only the Catholic Church would allow priests to get married, gay or otherwise, maybe there would be more change. But better to close your eyes to it and pretend it never happens.... But I digress.
While my thinking about life and people and the issues raised by Jeff Willerton has evolved and in some areas changed over the years, I think Jeff is still locked in the 1980s and 1990s. Things have changed and the larger part of society has adapted its thinking. I'm not a big fan of cancel culture and many other things, but tolerance of people is something I've learned a lot about over the years.
Overall, I think that everyone is entitled to their opinion. But had it not been for me wanting to support a local author, I would have tossed this book out. I applaud Jeff for the courage to write his book and keep updating. I have to say that I found the fact that most of the articles were written in the 1990s and the various editions merely updates to those articles indicative of the author's unwillingness to shift his thinking. I'm amazed at the strength, vehemence and righteousness of his convictions. However, we, and most of the world, thankfully don't share them. Otherwise Canada would be headed for a world like Donald Trump is trying to build for the US and the McCarthy era in the late 1940s/1950s. That's not a place where I would want to live. I won't put words in his mouth, but Jeff is likely cheering Trump on while most of the world is horrified at what a liar, bully and all around hypocrite the guy is.
Unless your political and social views lean to the very far right peg of the political scale in Canada, I would stay away from this book, or maybe read it to understand why the haters are so hateful.