Let's see, we (or at least our British colonial masters) abolished slavery because it was an inhumane institution that also kept wages down for free workers and wasted a great deal of talent.  Canada, if somewhat reluctantly, granted women the vote because the Great War taught us once and for all the value of their contribution to society. We ended capital punishment because it had nothing to do with discouraging murder and, in the end, could only be seen as a kind of sub-human revenge. And nobody is going to bring back anti-abortion laws, because those women who are now equal citizens won't stand for it. So, it may take a generation or two, but Canadians will once again put reason over passion and treat drug addiction as a medical rather than a criminal problem. The only people left to object will be the spiritual and intellectual descendants of those who thought slavery, the suppression of women and legalized revenge were good ideas. I'm afraid they will always be with us.