The next decade of optical wide field astronomy in Canada

Internationally, wide field imaging and spectroscopy at optical/near-infrared wavelengths is having profound impacts in diverse areas of astronomy. The international portfolio of projects in this arena for the next decade has never been richer and the expectation for transformative discoveries has never been higher. We discuss numerous projects in which Canada has interests or involvement, many of which are the subject of dedicated white papers, and attempt to set the national and international context in which these projects should be viewed. Critically, we show that, without action being taken by the community and supported by the LRP, Canada is facing a lack of access to any of the emerging front-line ground-based optical wide field programs and facilities for almost the entirety of the 2020s. We provide a set of comments for consideration by the LRP and the community for how to ensure Canada instead is able to capitalize upon the riches of the next decade, to compete internationally, and to set itself in a leadership position fo the 2030s. These recommendations include obtaining new access to 2020 datasets and observatories, leveraging the enviable capacity and skills of CADC/CANFAR, and developing the community so it can excel in an increasingly crowded, and exciting, international scene.