This is a great article, published just as Trudeau is passing over the keys to a Challenger jet, Rideau Cottage, the PMO and his government issue CC.
Being Prime Minister is hard, hard work. I acknowledge that, but Trudeau certainly maximized the perks every step of the way.
Finally, it is plainly obvious that Trudeau was a spent political force by 2019. The fatal blow was right at hand on his election campaign plane when he faced his Blackface music in front of media covering the election.
The media refused to deliver the knock out punch. A contrite Trudeau apologized for two days and the storm blew over, as the media turned to picking on Scheer for his “hidden agenda” or dual citizenship. (Funny how Carney has three passports, to nobody’s concern today.)
Someday, I hope that a book is written about the Trudeau Liberals amazing ability to control the media narrative over such a long period of time. The acquiescence of the media to play along didn’t serve Canadians well, delaying a badly needed retirement for another 5 years.
I would like to see this book written as well. Politicians will do what they do, but media is supposed to hold their feet to the fire. In the whole, legacy media did not.
This is why I will rejoice if the media subsidies are withdrawn and all of legacy media goes bust, leaving the journalists unemployed. They are worse than useless on average, and have been for a long time.
You are too kind to call that crowd 'journalists'. The traditional journalists who care about facts, objectivity and tone in their work have several years ago gone independent. Today's MSM 'journalists' are much more accurately named 'leftists activists with journalistic aspirations'. Shortened to 'leftopropagandists'. Yes they are worse than useless and have been for a long time contributing to the steep decline of this country.
Agree! And they have the nerve to dress up their collective nomenclature as ‘legacy media’ lol And what legacy is that exactly - reporting on & covering all political parties equally, fairly? Not conveniently overlooking negative truths about one? Not skewing the tone & language to downplay, or exaggerate? They’re where they are at, because they deserve it.
"Legacy Media" comes from the software world, where "legacy system" means software you bought long ago, people use but nobody knows how it works, and is obsolete but expensive to replace.
And you know that once you bite the bullet, stop trying to fix it, and replace it altogether, your life will improve immensely.
Of all issues facing Canada then and now, blackface was always going to be low on the list of major priorities. You're not serious about public policy if you think there needed to be a national fixation on Trudeau's gaffe for more than a few days.
You utter hack. Dressing up in blackface more times than you can remember in the early 2000s should have ended his career. Yet he survived, free to, as Andrew points, call his fellow Canadians bigots.
He survived because Canadians care more about the meat and potatoes of policy and how it will affect their lives, than they do about gaffes by the Prime Minister or other politicians.
In how many instances did he "call his fellow Canadians bigots"?
Apparently hypocrisy doesn’t factor into your political instincts to see all sides of the debate.
Seriously? Blackface came along after 5 years of virtue signalling for minority communities support and demonizing anyone who dared speak up against any policy regarding minorities or people of colour who were in the middle of it.
Trudeau knew that a media outlet was asking around about his Blackface adventures and we can assume that a response was well thought out should the story become public.
You think that many Canadians don’t care about the integrity of our political leaders. Fair enough, but the cumulative effect of Blackface, Kokanee grope and SNL lies indicate that the media were cutting a lot of slack to a Prime Minister who continued on from one disaster to another. Slack they certainly weren’t willing to give to Andrew Scheer. When the media dropped Blackface and turned towards Scheer with “why aren’t you coming clean about your US citizenship” the media bias is plain to see except for the rabid Liberal partisans.
I doubt that more than a small handful, if any, Canadians changed their votes over the fact of Scheer's American citizenship. I certainly hardly cared. At any rate, the media environment that you allege is so pro-Liberal did not stop the Scheer Conservatives from getting more votes than the Trudeau Liberals.
Yet again Stefan comes along to defend Trudeau and ignore history. Throughout his tenure as PM, Trudeau again and again defined those who didn’t agree with him and his progressive politics as bigots, reactionaries, racists, “science-deniers”, etc. He even ran an entire election in 2021 on demonizing the millions of Canadians who didn’t want to take an experimental medical injection “vaccine”, promising to bring in a mandate to punish those who refused, even though we now know that Health Canada had no evidence the Covid injections stopped transmission and that federal bureaucrats were scrambling in the weeks leading up to the imposition of the mandate to find some kind of scientific justification for it since they didn’t have any. And even before the Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa, he denounced those involved as bigots and possible Nazi sympathizers despite having never talked to any of those involved and with no evidence to back up his accusations. Once they arrived in Ottawa, he and his government refused to make even the slightest effort to meet with or negotiate with the protest’s leaders, preferring instead to have the RCMP frame four men involved with the Coutts’ protest as conspiring to kill RMCP officers, for which the trial showed there was no evidence, in order to justify the illegal (as a judge of the Federal Court has ruled) invocation of the Emergencies Act, which was then used to freeze bank accounts and violently suppress peaceful protestors.
Trudeau was without a doubt the most divisive, hateful and worst PM Canada has ever had. That you refuse to see this is a testament to your Liberal partisan hackery (while pretending to objective political analysis) and obvious historical ignorance.
You are obviously self-insecure about citing any direct quotes from anything that Trudeau actually said. It's easier to demonize a politician you don't like, while accusing them of demonizing others, when you shamelessly misrepresent things they said with your own partisan bias. QUOTES PLEASE!
Every Prime Minister has scarce time and attention available to meeting with *anyone*, let alone a meeting with law-breaking civic-illiterates who were clear that they would not stop occupying the nation's capital until *provincial* vaccine mandates were all gone! But then, of course, to partisan Conservatives law-breaking is perfectly acceptable if you can attempt to pin the resulting disarray and millions in economic damages (to Ottawa businesses) as somehow the fault of Liberal politicians and not at all the fault of those doing the actual law-breaking.
Conservatives who are pinning "division" on Trudeau alone seem to have an exceptionally difficult time taking a look in the mirror.
Yet again revealing of what an utterly ignorant fool you are; someone who can’t apparently remember what happened a few short years ago or made no effort to pay attention to what was going on, despite consistently asserting your ostensible political acumen.
Just for you, then, is this video, which compiles Trudeau’s worst, most egregious examples of demonization, divison and lies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mhIFMKqQjw. In case you’re too lazy to watch it in its entirety, the clips starting at 12:00 and 21:55 are perhaps the worst.
As for your characterization of the Freedom Convoy as “law-breaking civic-illiterates,” yet again you project your own ignorance and cowardice onto others. Its leaders consistently asked from the beginning to meet with the government to discuss with its leaders what had prompted their protest. We now know that by the time the government invoked the Emergencies Act (again, doing so illegally according to a Federal Court judge, which you don’t seem to care about at all), those involved in the protest were had grown tired of being there and would have left on their own if the government had made some good-faith measure to meet with their leaders and listen to their complaints. As for the provincial mandates, again, you’re so ignorant that you don’t know that the Trudeau government gave the provinces around $1 billion to fund them, without which they wouldn’t have existed. So yes, the federal DID have the power to end them by ending the funding that made them possible.
There was no actual emergency; the Canadian state was in no way at risk. It was an anti-government protest, which used minor amounts of civil disobedience to put pressure on the government, which is completely reasonable in a democratic country, in which protesting against the government is supposedly a constitutional right. The real civic illiterate is you not the truckers, whose courage and dedication to standing up to government authoritarianism reveals what a subservient coward you are. Not only do you not know basic facts that happened a few years ago, but you pretend to be some wise dispenser of truth, when what you actually are is an obsequious tool of government propaganda.
Here are some other examples of Trudeau’s egregious rhetoric just for you:
Further, JT and the leftish cultists went out of their way to smear any kinda, possibly, maybe rightish politicians who had made that mistake even once and drove them out of politics.
It is hard to come up with specific examples when the "many times" are all imaginary and exist only in the heads of members of the conservative movement...
As a ~5th generation Canadian, whose uncle fought in the 2nd WW, and whose father and grandfather were spared the Wars as they were farmers, and farmers fed soldiers and the country, I have never in my 5+ decades ever felt as less patriotic as I do now. I hold to account, the dismissive and corrupt LPC for this. In my next decades, I will leave the lightest economic footprint in Canada, and look to explore the world for a home (or at least a winter home), which better reflects a balanced worldview. I have also resigned myself to the reality that my twenty-something children are better off making a life for themselves and their future family in a country other than Canada. I write this without conceit or contempt, and more from a place of loss and sadness. But this is not the Canada I recognize or love. Sadly, I'm afraid that if Mr. Carney remains as something more than an interim PM, the feelings of loss for my Canada will only increase.
Agreed Ruth, many folks I work with feel the exact same way. It's actually amazing (not good amazing), that a federal government can pivot so hard, and polarize their citizenry in this negative way, so quickly. Andrew Potter (author of this article) nailed it when he described new Canadian citizens as '...mercenary and transactional'....ooofff, that hit hard.
After some reflection, I think Mr. Potters comments re: new Canadians as '...mercenary and transactional', I will openly and honestly say (probably to some criticism), that it regrettably also reflects my post-LPC governing period view of Canada.
I'm a 20-year immigrant to the country and in the last five years I went from being hopeful about making a life with my family in this country to wanting to get out at the earliest opportunity.
To be completely transparent, I would have left for greener pastures before, but what changed is that I'm actively looking for said pastures, whereas I wasn't before.
I left France because 20 years ago the writing was on the wall and the decline of France and the European Union was already pretty evident.
Now I have a feeling of deja-vu as I'm reliving a similar experience here.
Having already left your home country for greener pastures, I understand why you would now be looking for somewhere else given Canada's many troubles. I've also thought of leaving, but as a born and raised Canadian, with children (two of whom live with their mother, my ex-wife), I don't really have that ability. However, the other hindrance against doing so is: where else would I go? There's a great deal that I like about parts of the USA, but it has major issues that I think are only going to get worse with time. The EU, as you say, is in massive decline. Australia? No, too far away and its politics are as bad as Canada's. New Zealand? Again, too far and their Covid Mania was even worse than Canada's. I know people who've moved to Central and South America and seem to like it. However, having spent time in that part of the world, I know how much of a foreigner I would always be. And as good as it might be for now, if things got bad in whatever country I moved to, my family and I would be easy targets, property and legal rights be dammed. At least where I live in North-Western Ontario, I'm part of the community, despite having not grown up here. Also, despite its many problems, Canada has some major advantages: LOTS of land, resources, and fresh water. North-Western Ontario is the size of France, yet has only (at most, 300,000 people. Best of luck in your search anyway.
Insightful, and appreciated - thanks! We'll likely be travelling nomads until our kids find their place in the world, then we'll land. I say this humbly, we've lived a modest middle-class life all our lives to achieve Freedom 55, based on goals set decades ago. I gave up a cottage dream, and my wife gave up multiple kitchen remodel dreams....anyhow, every couple makes choices. (evidence - A driveway with two 16 year old cars--but well maintained ;)
Where we would be remains TBD, but I'm leaning towards the idea of settling as residents in a tax-friendly jurisdiction and then travel between 2-3 "home ports" during the year, but never long enough to become residents.
In which case Ontario could remain one such home port and the US or Europe another.
Many things have to happen before this becomes reality, so we'll just have to wait and see...
I did say to my wife, in a different political climate, 10 or 15 years ago, that at some point in the future we'll ask ourselves - '...why did we choose to live in the GTA suburbs where there are no mountains, oceans, deserts, or anything else of interesting geographical significance'. Oh, but the Great Lakes Basin in summer, who doesn't like days and week of oppressive heat and humidity...
Oh you’re so right about the humidity. It was the hardest to adjust to when I left western Canada. My Toronto-born husband didn’t get it. Ten yrs later when he said he had a great job offer in Edm I was all over that! Hallelujah. We’ve had a great life in Alberta. Altho it’s growing so fast - so many more people.
Good point, as long as the net result is positive for all concerned. When the net result is blatant parasitism on the state (think one example), then the mercenary and transactional attitude is destructive.
Tim, I do understand and sympathize with your impulses.
I am now in my seventies and for many years thought of myself as a Canadian. For about ten years now, I think of myself as an Albertan first and foremost and a Canadian as simply an accident of where I was born.
I have told my adult children that I would understand if they chose to move out of the country to a place that offered more opportunity. One of my children has a job with a multinational and might, indeed, move. My other child and her partner have jobs that keep them in Canada. Either way, I must reconcile myself to the idea that my children and grandchildren may no longer be living close to me or even in the same country. Ultimately, my children and grandchildren have to do what they decide based on their reading of the future.
What I know is that if I were younger and not retired, I expect that I would have moved out of the country already.
Damned shame. This used to be a worthwhile country. Now, not so much at all.
This British Columbian is a westerner first. I am about to turn 75 and have observed the blatant favouritism shown Ontario and especially Quebec. My dad was in the military, I lived from bases from Cold Lake Alberta , Trenton Ontario, to St. John’s NFLD, Greenwood, Nova Scotia , Uplands base in Ottawa and lived in Manitoba for 7 years as an adult.
Canada is truly a magnificent land.
I have been in the beautiful province of BC for nearly 35 years; we are really just an afterthought to Ottawa.
I do believe that if ,in my lifetime, the western provinces decide to separate, I will support it. Quebec and Ontario deserve each other, can endlessly spar with each other.
The contempt shown to Canada by Trudeau was disturbing and upsetting, so blithe was he in his attitude. But he did like Quebec; that province was spared his casual superior disregard.
Tks Ken. I've provided Grok/AI's with detailed context prompts about my kids (age/education/interests/aptitudes/etc.). Canada did not appear in the recos for best place for twenty-somethings to put down roots for a family for a healthy. For what it's worth, the results were: Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Austria and Switzerland, in majority of searches.
On the other hand, we must remember that those places are typically thought of (by North Americans, at least) as being anywhere from somewhat to very trendy, etc. whereas Canada is boooorrrrrrinnnggg and that might - a very little bit - work into what your AI thingy is "thinking."
While we must take into account the "other hands" of whatever nature, that doesn't make it's answer wrong and, as I noted above, I am not surprised.
It was certainly deliberate but it wasn’t just him. It was those around him and while he may be gone, they, and their contempt for Canadians is still here.
Agreed. And, they need to face a multi-generational electoral defeat and decades of time wandering in the desert as just rewards for their complicit participation in the deterioration (read - destruction), of Canada and her standard of living.
Yes, those around him encouraged him and supported those policies but a) he appointed those roaches; and b) given his job as PM he could override any of the recommendations and/or replace those who made the recommendations.
In short, it is on him. Period.
Oh, the others deserve their share of the blame bit he is the ultimate decision maker so he is the ultimate person responsible.
Not letting him off but he is gone and they are still there with Carney who was riding shotgun the whole time. Canadians can’t fall for the bait and switch.
Unless, there has been a change, Butts and Telford will be advising him. That says much about Carney that is not good. Should Carney end up our legitimate, elected PM, I do hope that duo is dumped and that he will come back to the reasonable centre and not the Liberals as they have been under Trudeau.
Canada can’t withstand a continuation of Trudeau/Liberal policies and attitudes.
Being a lifelong Albertan I /we told you that Justin Trudeau was a hollow vessel with nice socks, a great smile and the had the incredible ability to tell people what he thought they wanted to hear. And most of Canada except AB & Sask bought in and voted Liberal again & again- how did that work out for you & unfortunately us also.
All I/we can do now is ask the rest of Canada to look at the next candidate for the Liberal Messiah and peel back the onion and make your upcoming vote be based on substance not the pablum being feed us by the liberal spin masters & their lapdog media.
Please don't make the same mistake again. Do you really feel the Conservatives & PP are striving to implement Trump like policies, return social policy back to the fifties plus the other items on the long list of anti Canada rhetoric the Libs/NDP coalition say will happen if the C's get the opportunity to govern. Doesn't the Harper government look pretty good in hindsight?
Come on Rest Of Canada give the C's the chance they deserve - because you surely cannot return the L's based upon their record. Don't fall for another Lib leader that speaks in vague statements, offers no vision & I believe will continue will similar if not more extreme policies steering Canada towards one world idealism : DEI, WHO and climate policies that will strangle our vast wealth of natural resources.
The only good thing about this outcome would be that Trudeau would be the worst PM ever by an objective and universally agreed measure: the breakup of Canada.
I don't think it will hold either. Regrettably, I think we are seeing the demise of Canada in slow motion, attributed to the divisions put in place by PMJT, that are now slow rolling forward.
I don’t think it will. Carney will go net zero, Alberta will leave and when Quebec sees their interprovincial allowance evaporate, they will leave too.
I don’t think you are paying attention. The only ones saying they are going Trump are the Liberals and NDP. PP has given speeches and interviews saying what they are going to do. Google it or go to YouTube it’s all there.
1. Kill the (English) CBC. French CBC is safe unless the conservatives want to forgo any chance of winning any seat in Quebec forever.
2. Kill the carbon tax. (This is a hard sell since the LPC turning it into a hidden tax on Canadian manufacturers getting quietly passed on to people gives the illusion of the same thing)
3. Make federal funding of municipalities contingent on homes BUILT, not on promised homes.
Mr. Potter has stuck a chord with this article. Trudeau will have ample opportunity to rue his shortcomings and his failure to strengthen Canada's pride and self-reliance.
But now, Trudeau is gone and we have a new Liberal leader who brings to the table more high-level management experience than either Trudeau or Poilievre. Mr. Carney has weak French and no experience in elected office. He will face a tough election, not a cakewalk.
As leader of the opposition, Mr. Poilievre initially chose to brand himself as a sharp-tongued populist spouting some dubious policies. He would be our anti-Trudeau - divisive, but for the other side. Now, facing Carney, he no doubt realises he will need lots of even-keeled centrists to win office. Will he be able to convince them that he has the judgement to keep Canadians pulling together and deliver the right policies for this difficult time?
The Liberal attack adds directed at Poilievre are vicious and insulting. They tried the same thing against Harper, vicious and and insulting.
Lies, really and the Conservatives have never been as good at it as the Liberals over the more than 50 years I have been voting., both for the NDP and the Conservatives.
Thank you for this concise critique of a political career. It should reach a far wider audience than what it will reach here.
I served my country for 33 years and was proud to wear our uniform with the our National Flag on it. I could not comprehend how one man could keep OUR national flag at half-mast for six months and only when Remembrance Day approached did he relent, albeit reluctantly and with conditions.
When I think of Justin Trudeau the following words come to mind: manipulative, deceitful, conniving, arrogant, vain, shallow, fake, ideologue, incompetent & draconian. You will note that there are no positive attributes here.
I could say pretty much the same for Trudeau's Cabinet & Caucus, neither of which showed the slightest inclination to push back on any Trudeau's destructive & divisive agenda. Regardless, it is now possible that we will have yet another Liberal government, this time behind Mark Carney but with all of the old gang that enabled Trudeau. Hopefully, all will turn out well for Canada. But, of course, hope is not a course of action. Good luck Canada. You deserve better.
It's a shame that Trudeau kept the flag down for 6 months. That did not damage the country in some major or irreversible manner, though. The patriotism within the country is not wholly controlled or shaped by any one human, the Prime Minister or otherwise.
Thank you for an accurate comment, particularly the third paragraph. I must observe that if Canada wants to deserve better, then it bloody well must vote better. Then meant not voting LPC, nor NDP, nor Greens.
Since 2020, The Government of Canada - knowing full well that Mr Trump could yet again win the White House - did nothing to insulate Canada against that likely scenario. This time, we must see and hear the policies that will, first and foremost, ensure our continued sovereignty. This also means multiple debates, without the fringe Green Party or People's Party of Canada, neither of whom have official status in Parliament. The debates must be in French and English, across Canada and not just in Toronto or Montreal. And the people must be able to attend these debates, in person. It also means that Red, Blue & Orange Policy Books must be available immediately after the Writ has been drawn up.
Not only did the Face Painter's government do / not do the things you have noted but knowing that DJT was a vindictive sort - as we all do and did know - after the 2024 election the Face Painter went out of his way to poke DJT by lamenting the foolishness of the American people in not electing, instead, Kamala Harris when he asserted that the American people had turned their back on the equality of women.
Any consideration of why DJT is doing this 51st state nonsense should start with that aspect of Canadian commentary about US politics. In other words, DJT is - in his own weird way - just getting even with Canada.
Great comments, but I characterize the Trudeau Liberals as a “reactionary” government. Forward vision, perhaps at the start, but ideology blinders and managerial sepsis smothered being able to plan outward and deliver. Everything distilled down to controlling the narrative and retaining power.
The day he told me my rancher and farmer neighbours were a racist fringe minority was the day he lost me. They are a minority in that they’ll drop everything to come to your assistance, bidden or maybe not. Beautiful things. And for me then to throw away the structure of a community, one who works hard to maintain the events, buildings and connections of which our children blithely enjoy the benefits, was the most asinine suggestions. By his example I should turn my back, not speak to them or acknowledge them. And for that, I have pure contempt for the man who’d rather I start to tear down this country one mile road at a time, here in my own home.
The divisions thus sown between neighbors and family members is what I’m finding hard to forgive. It felt like contempt from the highest office of government, where there should be a love of service to all Canadians.
The relationship between neighbours is the foundational structure for the ability to identify need and address it with flexibility that bureaucracy would be envious of with its clunking concrete boots. Our community rinks, events and charities are highly dependent on a cohesive, functioning relationship, one that accepts and works with the faults and differing opinions of community members. His temerous dismissal of that cohesion is unfathomable.
If only we saw these observations from the media since he swanned into office. That whole Liberal apparatus might have had second thoughts about how they chose to govern.
And, yeah, ppl voted for this moron. All tv pundits soft pedaled & defended him. (His proud boast ~ 38% voting efficiency! We should try for 32% lol lol)
I know, I know. Ok, I don't yell at the TV (much), but I'm totally gobsmacked as to why key questions are not asked of our politicians!?! WTAF! Andrew, Matt, Jen...somebody who is in that business....why are our politicians feet not being held to the questioning fire?? (other than Marieke Walsh) Key example - Doug Ford after his Washington meetings...'...they were extremely productive...' How, HOW...what does extremely productive mean--and be specific. What. Was. Productive. About. The. Meetings. ??
Perfect take on arguably the worst PM in Canadian history. Funny thing about progressive narcissists like Trudeau who have God-like complexes: they think “progress” is only achievable if radically different from any established norm or standard. They refuse to understand or accept the fact that just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s better, and can often times makes things worse — most especially when poorly thought-out or implemented, or both. That latter point will forever be the standard of failure we became accustomed to experiencing under Justin Trudeau’s tenure as Prime Minister. Good riddance.
It was deliberate — his intentions? Likely not true as he did not know any better. He had no leadership or management background at all and should have never been let near the job he held for too long. He should never have been an MP much less PM. It says much about our nation that we elected him over others more qualified mainly for two reasons: he was gorgeous and he was son of Pierre. He has damaged the nation irresponsibly but hopefully not irreparably. He would not agree and I believe he will never comprehend the damage he has done. Neither will his ardent fans.
If Trudeau was elected for being the son of Pierre, he was also hated *purely* for being the son of Pierre. Most other Prime Ministers with the exact same policy agenda would not have gravel thrown at them, see profane flags bearing their name, or be advised to wear bulletproof vests, if they did not bear the last name as the conservative movement's favourite bogeyman.
Only someone who believes that the only value of Canada is progressive policy could possibly bring in literally millions of 3rd world immigrants in a few years and then rage against Trump for making the perfectly obvious observation that Canadians would be economically better off as a US state.
If Canada should be preserved, it is as the home of Canadians. Replacing us with foreigners negates that as surely as (or more surely than) giving us American passports.
He is the WOAT; worst of all time. I will have nothing to do with any company, organization, entity which takes him on in any capacity. He is a pariah and should be treated as such. His adolescent, specious, beauty contestant wokeness has brought Canada to its knees and those who voted for him subsequent to his first term are to blame.
I am not sure if the summary title is "he didn't care" is the best encapsulation of him and his legacy . More like he cared about the wrong things, made bad judgement calls and was insulated by a PMO FAR FAR too much. I think his ultimate failure as a PM was overdetermined by a lot of little things and a few medium level faults all combined together to give a D- as the final score.
Great column. Thanks for this as I am tired of throwing my slippers at the news each night. Two quick observations: I remember during his eulogy for this late father the two people (I think) doing the narration said something to the effect of predicting he would follow in his father's footsteps, or something along those lines. I think he represented to the press gallery (at least the veteran journalists who were around then) the good old days under his dad. The second thing is that for me, CBC carried this guy's water for decades. The best thing, IMHO, for CBC is to be moved out of Toronto and headquartered out of Winnipeg. You can see the CBC coronation crap going on right now with Carney.
The "good old days" of his dad started the destruction of Canada. And the CBC need to be padlocked permanently. Else that zombie will continue to plague us.
A lot of Trudeau's apparent disdain is bog-standard progressive ideology - the quasi-religious belief in various shibboleths and a sense that much of society has to be remade in order to get to the sunny uplands of history. When he talked about Canada being a post-national society, it was a product of identifying more with progressive elites in other countries than with a lot of his own citizens. That was where Trudeau's most toxic attitude originated: the arrogant assumption that his was the only correct way of thinking, that anybody who was really Canadian obviously thought the same way, and those who didn't were either ignorant, stupid, or not really Canadian.
I wouldn't want to denigrate Trudeau's patriotism: he loved HIS image of what Canada was, and was proud of it. The problem is that his image of Canada departed substantially from the reality and vision of most other Canadians, and he was deeply disappointed that they didn't understand that THEY were WRONG!
I am not sure that this is a meaningful argument. Every Prime Minister has some amount of ego or self-pride to get themselves into that office, and each believes that they know better than everyone else how to run that single titular office. Trudeau is not meaningfully different from any other Prime Ministers in this respect.
Where Prime Ministers distinguish themselves from each other is what criticisms they prompt in others, and how respective PMs tune out, mock, or compromise to criticisms. I find that many critics of Trudeau are opaque about explaining and identifying where the most heated criticisms against Trudeau came from, and to what extent the irrational Trudeau-hatred promoted by the conservative movement took away space from those wanting to make more serious and persuasive criticisms.
This is a great article, published just as Trudeau is passing over the keys to a Challenger jet, Rideau Cottage, the PMO and his government issue CC.
Being Prime Minister is hard, hard work. I acknowledge that, but Trudeau certainly maximized the perks every step of the way.
Finally, it is plainly obvious that Trudeau was a spent political force by 2019. The fatal blow was right at hand on his election campaign plane when he faced his Blackface music in front of media covering the election.
The media refused to deliver the knock out punch. A contrite Trudeau apologized for two days and the storm blew over, as the media turned to picking on Scheer for his “hidden agenda” or dual citizenship. (Funny how Carney has three passports, to nobody’s concern today.)
Someday, I hope that a book is written about the Trudeau Liberals amazing ability to control the media narrative over such a long period of time. The acquiescence of the media to play along didn’t serve Canadians well, delaying a badly needed retirement for another 5 years.
I would like to see this book written as well. Politicians will do what they do, but media is supposed to hold their feet to the fire. In the whole, legacy media did not.
Follow the money. Its not at all difficult to figure out. They were paid off.
This is why I will rejoice if the media subsidies are withdrawn and all of legacy media goes bust, leaving the journalists unemployed. They are worse than useless on average, and have been for a long time.
You are too kind to call that crowd 'journalists'. The traditional journalists who care about facts, objectivity and tone in their work have several years ago gone independent. Today's MSM 'journalists' are much more accurately named 'leftists activists with journalistic aspirations'. Shortened to 'leftopropagandists'. Yes they are worse than useless and have been for a long time contributing to the steep decline of this country.
Agree! And they have the nerve to dress up their collective nomenclature as ‘legacy media’ lol And what legacy is that exactly - reporting on & covering all political parties equally, fairly? Not conveniently overlooking negative truths about one? Not skewing the tone & language to downplay, or exaggerate? They’re where they are at, because they deserve it.
"Legacy Media" comes from the software world, where "legacy system" means software you bought long ago, people use but nobody knows how it works, and is obsolete but expensive to replace.
And you know that once you bite the bullet, stop trying to fix it, and replace it altogether, your life will improve immensely.
Thank you. I did not know the origin of that term.
It's pretty apt.
Of all issues facing Canada then and now, blackface was always going to be low on the list of major priorities. You're not serious about public policy if you think there needed to be a national fixation on Trudeau's gaffe for more than a few days.
You utter hack. Dressing up in blackface more times than you can remember in the early 2000s should have ended his career. Yet he survived, free to, as Andrew points, call his fellow Canadians bigots.
He survived because Canadians care more about the meat and potatoes of policy and how it will affect their lives, than they do about gaffes by the Prime Minister or other politicians.
In how many instances did he "call his fellow Canadians bigots"?
Apparently hypocrisy doesn’t factor into your political instincts to see all sides of the debate.
Seriously? Blackface came along after 5 years of virtue signalling for minority communities support and demonizing anyone who dared speak up against any policy regarding minorities or people of colour who were in the middle of it.
Trudeau knew that a media outlet was asking around about his Blackface adventures and we can assume that a response was well thought out should the story become public.
You think that many Canadians don’t care about the integrity of our political leaders. Fair enough, but the cumulative effect of Blackface, Kokanee grope and SNL lies indicate that the media were cutting a lot of slack to a Prime Minister who continued on from one disaster to another. Slack they certainly weren’t willing to give to Andrew Scheer. When the media dropped Blackface and turned towards Scheer with “why aren’t you coming clean about your US citizenship” the media bias is plain to see except for the rabid Liberal partisans.
What "demonization"?
I doubt that more than a small handful, if any, Canadians changed their votes over the fact of Scheer's American citizenship. I certainly hardly cared. At any rate, the media environment that you allege is so pro-Liberal did not stop the Scheer Conservatives from getting more votes than the Trudeau Liberals.
Yet again Stefan comes along to defend Trudeau and ignore history. Throughout his tenure as PM, Trudeau again and again defined those who didn’t agree with him and his progressive politics as bigots, reactionaries, racists, “science-deniers”, etc. He even ran an entire election in 2021 on demonizing the millions of Canadians who didn’t want to take an experimental medical injection “vaccine”, promising to bring in a mandate to punish those who refused, even though we now know that Health Canada had no evidence the Covid injections stopped transmission and that federal bureaucrats were scrambling in the weeks leading up to the imposition of the mandate to find some kind of scientific justification for it since they didn’t have any. And even before the Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa, he denounced those involved as bigots and possible Nazi sympathizers despite having never talked to any of those involved and with no evidence to back up his accusations. Once they arrived in Ottawa, he and his government refused to make even the slightest effort to meet with or negotiate with the protest’s leaders, preferring instead to have the RCMP frame four men involved with the Coutts’ protest as conspiring to kill RMCP officers, for which the trial showed there was no evidence, in order to justify the illegal (as a judge of the Federal Court has ruled) invocation of the Emergencies Act, which was then used to freeze bank accounts and violently suppress peaceful protestors.
Trudeau was without a doubt the most divisive, hateful and worst PM Canada has ever had. That you refuse to see this is a testament to your Liberal partisan hackery (while pretending to objective political analysis) and obvious historical ignorance.
You are obviously self-insecure about citing any direct quotes from anything that Trudeau actually said. It's easier to demonize a politician you don't like, while accusing them of demonizing others, when you shamelessly misrepresent things they said with your own partisan bias. QUOTES PLEASE!
Every Prime Minister has scarce time and attention available to meeting with *anyone*, let alone a meeting with law-breaking civic-illiterates who were clear that they would not stop occupying the nation's capital until *provincial* vaccine mandates were all gone! But then, of course, to partisan Conservatives law-breaking is perfectly acceptable if you can attempt to pin the resulting disarray and millions in economic damages (to Ottawa businesses) as somehow the fault of Liberal politicians and not at all the fault of those doing the actual law-breaking.
Conservatives who are pinning "division" on Trudeau alone seem to have an exceptionally difficult time taking a look in the mirror.
Yet again revealing of what an utterly ignorant fool you are; someone who can’t apparently remember what happened a few short years ago or made no effort to pay attention to what was going on, despite consistently asserting your ostensible political acumen.
Just for you, then, is this video, which compiles Trudeau’s worst, most egregious examples of demonization, divison and lies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mhIFMKqQjw. In case you’re too lazy to watch it in its entirety, the clips starting at 12:00 and 21:55 are perhaps the worst.
As for your characterization of the Freedom Convoy as “law-breaking civic-illiterates,” yet again you project your own ignorance and cowardice onto others. Its leaders consistently asked from the beginning to meet with the government to discuss with its leaders what had prompted their protest. We now know that by the time the government invoked the Emergencies Act (again, doing so illegally according to a Federal Court judge, which you don’t seem to care about at all), those involved in the protest were had grown tired of being there and would have left on their own if the government had made some good-faith measure to meet with their leaders and listen to their complaints. As for the provincial mandates, again, you’re so ignorant that you don’t know that the Trudeau government gave the provinces around $1 billion to fund them, without which they wouldn’t have existed. So yes, the federal DID have the power to end them by ending the funding that made them possible.
There was no actual emergency; the Canadian state was in no way at risk. It was an anti-government protest, which used minor amounts of civil disobedience to put pressure on the government, which is completely reasonable in a democratic country, in which protesting against the government is supposedly a constitutional right. The real civic illiterate is you not the truckers, whose courage and dedication to standing up to government authoritarianism reveals what a subservient coward you are. Not only do you not know basic facts that happened a few years ago, but you pretend to be some wise dispenser of truth, when what you actually are is an obsequious tool of government propaganda.
Here are some other examples of Trudeau’s egregious rhetoric just for you:
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rex-murphy-justin-trudeaus-blind-hatred-of-anti-vaxxers
https://nationalpost.com/news/evidence-against-justin-trudeau-claim-he-didnt-force-vaccination
Further, JT and the leftish cultists went out of their way to smear any kinda, possibly, maybe rightish politicians who had made that mistake even once and drove them out of politics.
Remember, sauce - goose, sauce - gander.
Which rightish politicians were driven out of politics by JT, if any?
If you are thinking of Erin O'Toole, he was a moderate driven out by his own party.
In various terms and attitudes, many times.
It is hard to come up with specific examples when the "many times" are all imaginary and exist only in the heads of members of the conservative movement...
As a ~5th generation Canadian, whose uncle fought in the 2nd WW, and whose father and grandfather were spared the Wars as they were farmers, and farmers fed soldiers and the country, I have never in my 5+ decades ever felt as less patriotic as I do now. I hold to account, the dismissive and corrupt LPC for this. In my next decades, I will leave the lightest economic footprint in Canada, and look to explore the world for a home (or at least a winter home), which better reflects a balanced worldview. I have also resigned myself to the reality that my twenty-something children are better off making a life for themselves and their future family in a country other than Canada. I write this without conceit or contempt, and more from a place of loss and sadness. But this is not the Canada I recognize or love. Sadly, I'm afraid that if Mr. Carney remains as something more than an interim PM, the feelings of loss for my Canada will only increase.
You’re not alone.
Agreed Ruth, many folks I work with feel the exact same way. It's actually amazing (not good amazing), that a federal government can pivot so hard, and polarize their citizenry in this negative way, so quickly. Andrew Potter (author of this article) nailed it when he described new Canadian citizens as '...mercenary and transactional'....ooofff, that hit hard.
After some reflection, I think Mr. Potters comments re: new Canadians as '...mercenary and transactional', I will openly and honestly say (probably to some criticism), that it regrettably also reflects my post-LPC governing period view of Canada.
I'm a 20-year immigrant to the country and in the last five years I went from being hopeful about making a life with my family in this country to wanting to get out at the earliest opportunity.
To be completely transparent, I would have left for greener pastures before, but what changed is that I'm actively looking for said pastures, whereas I wasn't before.
I left France because 20 years ago the writing was on the wall and the decline of France and the European Union was already pretty evident.
Now I have a feeling of deja-vu as I'm reliving a similar experience here.
It's really bad.
Having already left your home country for greener pastures, I understand why you would now be looking for somewhere else given Canada's many troubles. I've also thought of leaving, but as a born and raised Canadian, with children (two of whom live with their mother, my ex-wife), I don't really have that ability. However, the other hindrance against doing so is: where else would I go? There's a great deal that I like about parts of the USA, but it has major issues that I think are only going to get worse with time. The EU, as you say, is in massive decline. Australia? No, too far away and its politics are as bad as Canada's. New Zealand? Again, too far and their Covid Mania was even worse than Canada's. I know people who've moved to Central and South America and seem to like it. However, having spent time in that part of the world, I know how much of a foreigner I would always be. And as good as it might be for now, if things got bad in whatever country I moved to, my family and I would be easy targets, property and legal rights be dammed. At least where I live in North-Western Ontario, I'm part of the community, despite having not grown up here. Also, despite its many problems, Canada has some major advantages: LOTS of land, resources, and fresh water. North-Western Ontario is the size of France, yet has only (at most, 300,000 people. Best of luck in your search anyway.
Insightful, and appreciated - thanks! We'll likely be travelling nomads until our kids find their place in the world, then we'll land. I say this humbly, we've lived a modest middle-class life all our lives to achieve Freedom 55, based on goals set decades ago. I gave up a cottage dream, and my wife gave up multiple kitchen remodel dreams....anyhow, every couple makes choices. (evidence - A driveway with two 16 year old cars--but well maintained ;)
Where we would be remains TBD, but I'm leaning towards the idea of settling as residents in a tax-friendly jurisdiction and then travel between 2-3 "home ports" during the year, but never long enough to become residents.
In which case Ontario could remain one such home port and the US or Europe another.
Many things have to happen before this becomes reality, so we'll just have to wait and see...
I did say to my wife, in a different political climate, 10 or 15 years ago, that at some point in the future we'll ask ourselves - '...why did we choose to live in the GTA suburbs where there are no mountains, oceans, deserts, or anything else of interesting geographical significance'. Oh, but the Great Lakes Basin in summer, who doesn't like days and week of oppressive heat and humidity...
Oh you’re so right about the humidity. It was the hardest to adjust to when I left western Canada. My Toronto-born husband didn’t get it. Ten yrs later when he said he had a great job offer in Edm I was all over that! Hallelujah. We’ve had a great life in Alberta. Altho it’s growing so fast - so many more people.
Mercenary and transactional are actually great traits as they encourage government to actually provide tangible value
Good point, as long as the net result is positive for all concerned. When the net result is blatant parasitism on the state (think one example), then the mercenary and transactional attitude is destructive.
Tim, I do understand and sympathize with your impulses.
I am now in my seventies and for many years thought of myself as a Canadian. For about ten years now, I think of myself as an Albertan first and foremost and a Canadian as simply an accident of where I was born.
I have told my adult children that I would understand if they chose to move out of the country to a place that offered more opportunity. One of my children has a job with a multinational and might, indeed, move. My other child and her partner have jobs that keep them in Canada. Either way, I must reconcile myself to the idea that my children and grandchildren may no longer be living close to me or even in the same country. Ultimately, my children and grandchildren have to do what they decide based on their reading of the future.
What I know is that if I were younger and not retired, I expect that I would have moved out of the country already.
Damned shame. This used to be a worthwhile country. Now, not so much at all.
This British Columbian is a westerner first. I am about to turn 75 and have observed the blatant favouritism shown Ontario and especially Quebec. My dad was in the military, I lived from bases from Cold Lake Alberta , Trenton Ontario, to St. John’s NFLD, Greenwood, Nova Scotia , Uplands base in Ottawa and lived in Manitoba for 7 years as an adult.
Canada is truly a magnificent land.
I have been in the beautiful province of BC for nearly 35 years; we are really just an afterthought to Ottawa.
I do believe that if ,in my lifetime, the western provinces decide to separate, I will support it. Quebec and Ontario deserve each other, can endlessly spar with each other.
The contempt shown to Canada by Trudeau was disturbing and upsetting, so blithe was he in his attitude. But he did like Quebec; that province was spared his casual superior disregard.
Tks Ken. I've provided Grok/AI's with detailed context prompts about my kids (age/education/interests/aptitudes/etc.). Canada did not appear in the recos for best place for twenty-somethings to put down roots for a family for a healthy. For what it's worth, the results were: Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Austria and Switzerland, in majority of searches.
Thank you, Tim. Alas, I am totally unsurprised.
On the other hand, we must remember that those places are typically thought of (by North Americans, at least) as being anywhere from somewhat to very trendy, etc. whereas Canada is boooorrrrrrinnnggg and that might - a very little bit - work into what your AI thingy is "thinking."
While we must take into account the "other hands" of whatever nature, that doesn't make it's answer wrong and, as I noted above, I am not surprised.
It was certainly deliberate but it wasn’t just him. It was those around him and while he may be gone, they, and their contempt for Canadians is still here.
Agreed. And, they need to face a multi-generational electoral defeat and decades of time wandering in the desert as just rewards for their complicit participation in the deterioration (read - destruction), of Canada and her standard of living.
Joel, I have difficulty with your comment.
Yes, those around him encouraged him and supported those policies but a) he appointed those roaches; and b) given his job as PM he could override any of the recommendations and/or replace those who made the recommendations.
In short, it is on him. Period.
Oh, the others deserve their share of the blame bit he is the ultimate decision maker so he is the ultimate person responsible.
Not letting him off but he is gone and they are still there with Carney who was riding shotgun the whole time. Canadians can’t fall for the bait and switch.
On this, you and I agree.
On the other hand, I am fearful .....
Unless, there has been a change, Butts and Telford will be advising him. That says much about Carney that is not good. Should Carney end up our legitimate, elected PM, I do hope that duo is dumped and that he will come back to the reasonable centre and not the Liberals as they have been under Trudeau.
Canada can’t withstand a continuation of Trudeau/Liberal policies and attitudes.
Butts helped him write Value(s) particularly the second half. The environmental extremism is baked in.
Being a lifelong Albertan I /we told you that Justin Trudeau was a hollow vessel with nice socks, a great smile and the had the incredible ability to tell people what he thought they wanted to hear. And most of Canada except AB & Sask bought in and voted Liberal again & again- how did that work out for you & unfortunately us also.
All I/we can do now is ask the rest of Canada to look at the next candidate for the Liberal Messiah and peel back the onion and make your upcoming vote be based on substance not the pablum being feed us by the liberal spin masters & their lapdog media.
Please don't make the same mistake again. Do you really feel the Conservatives & PP are striving to implement Trump like policies, return social policy back to the fifties plus the other items on the long list of anti Canada rhetoric the Libs/NDP coalition say will happen if the C's get the opportunity to govern. Doesn't the Harper government look pretty good in hindsight?
Come on Rest Of Canada give the C's the chance they deserve - because you surely cannot return the L's based upon their record. Don't fall for another Lib leader that speaks in vague statements, offers no vision & I believe will continue will similar if not more extreme policies steering Canada towards one world idealism : DEI, WHO and climate policies that will strangle our vast wealth of natural resources.
If Carney wins, I don’t have a lot faith that Canada, as we know it, will hold.
Canada cannot survive a fourth term for this particular collection of Liberals.
If Carney wins, I'm quite confident that it won't. And we in Ontario will deserve what happens.
The only good thing about this outcome would be that Trudeau would be the worst PM ever by an objective and universally agreed measure: the breakup of Canada.
I don't think it will hold either. Regrettably, I think we are seeing the demise of Canada in slow motion, attributed to the divisions put in place by PMJT, that are now slow rolling forward.
I don’t think it will. Carney will go net zero, Alberta will leave and when Quebec sees their interprovincial allowance evaporate, they will leave too.
As a naturalized Albertan and former, staunch federalist, with another LPC government I will go from Alberta first to Alberta fifty-first.
Leave what remains of Canada to Quebec.
I don't think PP and the CPC are striving to implement trump like policies.
But I need to know what they ARE planning to do or I won't vote for them. Can someone tell me what they ARE going to do?
(I already know what they will undo from the LPC, and won't do, neither of which are a strategy for the future, obviously.)
I'm nobody's true believer, and don't do personality cults... so I need some policy. It's time to shows some testes and draw a line in the sand.
I don’t think you are paying attention. The only ones saying they are going Trump are the Liberals and NDP. PP has given speeches and interviews saying what they are going to do. Google it or go to YouTube it’s all there.
I know if three major promises.
1. Kill the (English) CBC. French CBC is safe unless the conservatives want to forgo any chance of winning any seat in Quebec forever.
2. Kill the carbon tax. (This is a hard sell since the LPC turning it into a hidden tax on Canadian manufacturers getting quietly passed on to people gives the illusion of the same thing)
3. Make federal funding of municipalities contingent on homes BUILT, not on promised homes.
That’s a fairly empty platform.
You expectations will be rewarded by Marx Carney and Laurentian Parasitic Corruptocrats getting a majority.
With you completely. Show me the plan; show me your team, PP
Mr. Potter has stuck a chord with this article. Trudeau will have ample opportunity to rue his shortcomings and his failure to strengthen Canada's pride and self-reliance.
But now, Trudeau is gone and we have a new Liberal leader who brings to the table more high-level management experience than either Trudeau or Poilievre. Mr. Carney has weak French and no experience in elected office. He will face a tough election, not a cakewalk.
As leader of the opposition, Mr. Poilievre initially chose to brand himself as a sharp-tongued populist spouting some dubious policies. He would be our anti-Trudeau - divisive, but for the other side. Now, facing Carney, he no doubt realises he will need lots of even-keeled centrists to win office. Will he be able to convince them that he has the judgement to keep Canadians pulling together and deliver the right policies for this difficult time?
Game on.
The shyster Trudeau is/and will rue nothing he has done to Canada.
He’s a psychopath. Guilt and regret are beyond him.
The Liberal attack adds directed at Poilievre are vicious and insulting. They tried the same thing against Harper, vicious and and insulting.
Lies, really and the Conservatives have never been as good at it as the Liberals over the more than 50 years I have been voting., both for the NDP and the Conservatives.
Never Liberal.
Please note: While Vancouver may be Red and the Island Orange, the Fraser Valley and the Interior is Blue.
Thank you for this concise critique of a political career. It should reach a far wider audience than what it will reach here.
I served my country for 33 years and was proud to wear our uniform with the our National Flag on it. I could not comprehend how one man could keep OUR national flag at half-mast for six months and only when Remembrance Day approached did he relent, albeit reluctantly and with conditions.
When I think of Justin Trudeau the following words come to mind: manipulative, deceitful, conniving, arrogant, vain, shallow, fake, ideologue, incompetent & draconian. You will note that there are no positive attributes here.
I could say pretty much the same for Trudeau's Cabinet & Caucus, neither of which showed the slightest inclination to push back on any Trudeau's destructive & divisive agenda. Regardless, it is now possible that we will have yet another Liberal government, this time behind Mark Carney but with all of the old gang that enabled Trudeau. Hopefully, all will turn out well for Canada. But, of course, hope is not a course of action. Good luck Canada. You deserve better.
It's a shame that Trudeau kept the flag down for 6 months. That did not damage the country in some major or irreversible manner, though. The patriotism within the country is not wholly controlled or shaped by any one human, the Prime Minister or otherwise.
Ultimately, Trudeau has a mixed bag of a legacy, as I explain in my 2400-word essay here: https://stefanklietsch.substack.com/p/outgoing-prime-minister-trudeau-leaves
It was disheartening and demeaning to Canadians. Two weeks would have been plenty. It is our flag, not his.
Thank you for an accurate comment, particularly the third paragraph. I must observe that if Canada wants to deserve better, then it bloody well must vote better. Then meant not voting LPC, nor NDP, nor Greens.
Since 2020, The Government of Canada - knowing full well that Mr Trump could yet again win the White House - did nothing to insulate Canada against that likely scenario. This time, we must see and hear the policies that will, first and foremost, ensure our continued sovereignty. This also means multiple debates, without the fringe Green Party or People's Party of Canada, neither of whom have official status in Parliament. The debates must be in French and English, across Canada and not just in Toronto or Montreal. And the people must be able to attend these debates, in person. It also means that Red, Blue & Orange Policy Books must be available immediately after the Writ has been drawn up.
To carry further your thought process ....
Not only did the Face Painter's government do / not do the things you have noted but knowing that DJT was a vindictive sort - as we all do and did know - after the 2024 election the Face Painter went out of his way to poke DJT by lamenting the foolishness of the American people in not electing, instead, Kamala Harris when he asserted that the American people had turned their back on the equality of women.
Any consideration of why DJT is doing this 51st state nonsense should start with that aspect of Canadian commentary about US politics. In other words, DJT is - in his own weird way - just getting even with Canada.
Great comments, but I characterize the Trudeau Liberals as a “reactionary” government. Forward vision, perhaps at the start, but ideology blinders and managerial sepsis smothered being able to plan outward and deliver. Everything distilled down to controlling the narrative and retaining power.
The day he told me my rancher and farmer neighbours were a racist fringe minority was the day he lost me. They are a minority in that they’ll drop everything to come to your assistance, bidden or maybe not. Beautiful things. And for me then to throw away the structure of a community, one who works hard to maintain the events, buildings and connections of which our children blithely enjoy the benefits, was the most asinine suggestions. By his example I should turn my back, not speak to them or acknowledge them. And for that, I have pure contempt for the man who’d rather I start to tear down this country one mile road at a time, here in my own home.
The divisions thus sown between neighbors and family members is what I’m finding hard to forgive. It felt like contempt from the highest office of government, where there should be a love of service to all Canadians.
The relationship between neighbours is the foundational structure for the ability to identify need and address it with flexibility that bureaucracy would be envious of with its clunking concrete boots. Our community rinks, events and charities are highly dependent on a cohesive, functioning relationship, one that accepts and works with the faults and differing opinions of community members. His temerous dismissal of that cohesion is unfathomable.
Yes, exactly this. Thanks for naming it.
Thank you! I so enjoy reading your commentary on what’s been shaking in this country of ours.
Back at ya :)
If only we saw these observations from the media since he swanned into office. That whole Liberal apparatus might have had second thoughts about how they chose to govern.
And, yeah, ppl voted for this moron. All tv pundits soft pedaled & defended him. (His proud boast ~ 38% voting efficiency! We should try for 32% lol lol)
Don’t let the door hit you, Justin.
I know, I know. Ok, I don't yell at the TV (much), but I'm totally gobsmacked as to why key questions are not asked of our politicians!?! WTAF! Andrew, Matt, Jen...somebody who is in that business....why are our politicians feet not being held to the questioning fire?? (other than Marieke Walsh) Key example - Doug Ford after his Washington meetings...'...they were extremely productive...' How, HOW...what does extremely productive mean--and be specific. What. Was. Productive. About. The. Meetings. ??
Yeah. WTAF?
Perfect take on arguably the worst PM in Canadian history. Funny thing about progressive narcissists like Trudeau who have God-like complexes: they think “progress” is only achievable if radically different from any established norm or standard. They refuse to understand or accept the fact that just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s better, and can often times makes things worse — most especially when poorly thought-out or implemented, or both. That latter point will forever be the standard of failure we became accustomed to experiencing under Justin Trudeau’s tenure as Prime Minister. Good riddance.
Not the worst Prime Minister in history, nor a particularly narcissistic one by Canadian Prime Ministerial standards. But Trudeau does have a mixed bag of a legacy, as I explain in my 2400-word essay here: https://stefanklietsch.substack.com/p/outgoing-prime-minister-trudeau-leaves
It was deliberate — his intentions? Likely not true as he did not know any better. He had no leadership or management background at all and should have never been let near the job he held for too long. He should never have been an MP much less PM. It says much about our nation that we elected him over others more qualified mainly for two reasons: he was gorgeous and he was son of Pierre. He has damaged the nation irresponsibly but hopefully not irreparably. He would not agree and I believe he will never comprehend the damage he has done. Neither will his ardent fans.
If Trudeau was elected for being the son of Pierre, he was also hated *purely* for being the son of Pierre. Most other Prime Ministers with the exact same policy agenda would not have gravel thrown at them, see profane flags bearing their name, or be advised to wear bulletproof vests, if they did not bear the last name as the conservative movement's favourite bogeyman.
Only someone who believes that the only value of Canada is progressive policy could possibly bring in literally millions of 3rd world immigrants in a few years and then rage against Trump for making the perfectly obvious observation that Canadians would be economically better off as a US state.
If Canada should be preserved, it is as the home of Canadians. Replacing us with foreigners negates that as surely as (or more surely than) giving us American passports.
Hopefully, we'll replace the #WorstPMever with the Shortest PM ever.
Trudeau is not as bad as Harper. But he does have a mixed bag of a legacy, as I explain in my 2400-word essay here: https://stefanklietsch.substack.com/p/outgoing-prime-minister-trudeau-leaves
Stefan, I absolutely disagree with you insofar as I felt - and feel - that Steven Harper was a good PM.
Don’t bother responding to Stefan. He’s a self-promoting partisan hack pretending to be a serious political analyst.
He is the WOAT; worst of all time. I will have nothing to do with any company, organization, entity which takes him on in any capacity. He is a pariah and should be treated as such. His adolescent, specious, beauty contestant wokeness has brought Canada to its knees and those who voted for him subsequent to his first term are to blame.
I am not sure if the summary title is "he didn't care" is the best encapsulation of him and his legacy . More like he cared about the wrong things, made bad judgement calls and was insulated by a PMO FAR FAR too much. I think his ultimate failure as a PM was overdetermined by a lot of little things and a few medium level faults all combined together to give a D- as the final score.
F. Not D-.
Great column. Thanks for this as I am tired of throwing my slippers at the news each night. Two quick observations: I remember during his eulogy for this late father the two people (I think) doing the narration said something to the effect of predicting he would follow in his father's footsteps, or something along those lines. I think he represented to the press gallery (at least the veteran journalists who were around then) the good old days under his dad. The second thing is that for me, CBC carried this guy's water for decades. The best thing, IMHO, for CBC is to be moved out of Toronto and headquartered out of Winnipeg. You can see the CBC coronation crap going on right now with Carney.
The "good old days" of his dad started the destruction of Canada. And the CBC need to be padlocked permanently. Else that zombie will continue to plague us.
Couldn't agree more!
In addition, he handcuffed our energy industry in so many ways. Imagine, we would be well underway with pipelines to both coasts by now.
A lot of Trudeau's apparent disdain is bog-standard progressive ideology - the quasi-religious belief in various shibboleths and a sense that much of society has to be remade in order to get to the sunny uplands of history. When he talked about Canada being a post-national society, it was a product of identifying more with progressive elites in other countries than with a lot of his own citizens. That was where Trudeau's most toxic attitude originated: the arrogant assumption that his was the only correct way of thinking, that anybody who was really Canadian obviously thought the same way, and those who didn't were either ignorant, stupid, or not really Canadian.
I wouldn't want to denigrate Trudeau's patriotism: he loved HIS image of what Canada was, and was proud of it. The problem is that his image of Canada departed substantially from the reality and vision of most other Canadians, and he was deeply disappointed that they didn't understand that THEY were WRONG!
He loved Canada for what it offered him. He wasn’t in it for the good of the country.
I am not sure that this is a meaningful argument. Every Prime Minister has some amount of ego or self-pride to get themselves into that office, and each believes that they know better than everyone else how to run that single titular office. Trudeau is not meaningfully different from any other Prime Ministers in this respect.
Where Prime Ministers distinguish themselves from each other is what criticisms they prompt in others, and how respective PMs tune out, mock, or compromise to criticisms. I find that many critics of Trudeau are opaque about explaining and identifying where the most heated criticisms against Trudeau came from, and to what extent the irrational Trudeau-hatred promoted by the conservative movement took away space from those wanting to make more serious and persuasive criticisms.
I have my own 2400-word reflection on Trudeau's mixed legacy here: https://stefanklietsch.substack.com/p/outgoing-prime-minister-trudeau-leaves