If only it was just a bad movie. But no. There is no longer a pilot on the plane in Ottawa as Canada prepares to pass through a critical turbulence zone.
Posted at 7:40 p.m.
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was about to eject his Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland deployed her parachute herself, the day she was to present her economic update, a document which normally serves as the government’s flight plan.
Rarely have we seen such chaos in Parliament.
Even though the Liberal Party is imploding, Justin Trudeau clings to power. By persisting in running for a fourth term, he avoids “burning” another leader who would be defeated in his place. But he confines his party to a defeatist position.
With a new figure, the Liberal Party would give itself a chance to save the furniture so as not to end up with a completely decimated delegation. He would at least appear to be offering renewed leadership and fresh ideas to voters.
Because Justin Trudeau, trailing by 20 points in the polls for a year, no longer has credibility.
Since the summer, he has lost three seats in by-elections – in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver – which says a lot about the thaw that awaits him in the next election.
Disowned by his number 2, the liberal leader no longer has the authority to lead his own troops.
In the minority, the Prime Minister has his hands tied behind his back, incapable of managing Canada as it should be.
All fall, the House of Commons was paralyzed because the Liberals refused to disclose documents related to a green fund. The opposition is obstructing, with a “filibuster” that prevents elected officials from moving any bill forward.
Instead of doing the work Canadians put them in power to do, MPs are getting bogged down in partisan warfare. They think about their interests, rather than those of Canadians.
This blockage has considerable consequences.
Among other things, the controversial capital gains tax increase, announced in the last budget, could not be adopted, which risks depriving Ottawa of 19 billion over five years.
Taxpayers who made financial decisions based on this announcement – for example, selling a plex or a second home – have reason to be furious, since the measure will fail if the government is defeated.
Such a lack of visibility is harmful to the economy. Such improvisation undermines Canada’s credibility. Such confusion surrounding public finances is not appropriate for a G7 country.
Canada needs an accountable and functional government, especially as the country faces immense challenges.
How to heal the ailing health system? Addressing the housing, homelessness, and opioid crises?
What guidelines should govern immigration, when the arrival of Donald Trump could cause major migration to Canada?
How can we develop a real military strategy that will allow Canada to be better equipped in the face of China and Russia, who are puffing out their chests?
How can we increase our lagging productivity, in order to create the prosperity essential to improving our quality of life and financing our public services?
How can we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to counter climate change?
Canada needs structured answers to these fundamental questions.
But the most urgent thing is to think about a game plan for negotiating with Donald Trump. The president-elect threatens to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products sold in the United States.
This is a serious time. Recession is upon us.
Justin Trudeau showed that he still had sharp reflexes by inviting himself to dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Then, he got into trouble with useless and clumsy comments on the defeat of Kamala Harris, earning him the nickname “unbearable moron” by Elon Musk.
But the most worrying thing is that Justin Trudeau has failed to create unity within Canada to respond to Trump.
And instead of preserving Canada’s financial flexibility to deal with a tariff war, he launched “costly policy tricks,” in the words of Chrystia Freeland, who disagreed with the temporary lowering of the tariff. TPS, indeed a very bad policy, stupidly electoralist.
Today, Canada needs a strong government. Otherwise, Donald Trump will have a field day, playing on our weaknesses, stoking our divisions.
This is exactly what he does by repeating his mockery about the 51e State of the United States of which Justin Trudeau is only the “governor”. Let’s not fall into the trap. Let’s put this childishness aside and get to work. What does Trump want? How to respond? We need an intelligent, united and firm response.
Canadians deserve a government. A real one. In the cockpit, they need a responsible prime minister who has the legitimacy to steer the plane in the right direction.
Elections are inevitable. The sooner the better. Beyond the future of Justin Trudeau, it is the future of Canada that is at stake.
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