Many (certainly not all) Canadians are smart enough to know that a change in leadership can make a world of difference in any organization. Whether it’s a political party, a chef at a restaurant, a premier, a captain of a hockey team, etc. So Poilieve’s argument is pure nonsense that nothing will change in the liberal party regardless of leadership. If we were to believe Poilievre’s argument that it doesn’t matter, then it’s not a far leap to ask why a change to his leadership would matter at all either.
For some reason, hypocrisy doesn’t seem to be an issue with the hardcore conservative. Probably stems from their commitment to the bad parenting hack of “do as I say, not as I do”.
It can make a world of difference or it can make no difference at all.
It will be a while yet before we start getting a real sense of it. I suspect there will be some substantial changes but I feel certain that, regardless of the level of change, hard core partisan will paint it as no change at all.
I have high hopes for Mark Carney and while I would absolutely love for Chrystia Freeland to be our PM, she's too close to JT and the Liberals would get slaughtered in the election, just as if JT was still PM. Reddit is an interesting place to be right now because I'm seeing a lot of pronouncements from people saying they were planning on voting for PP to announcing they were voting for Mark Carney. His campaign video is impressive, highlighting what you just mentioned about rhyming. He sounds like the adult in the room and while he does criticize PP, it's not done in a childish manner. I think the leaders' debate could be very interesting if he wins.
She has an uphill battle to convince Liberal members she’s the most qualified for the job and that she can win the election. Two different things. First time I’ve registered to vote for a leader so I’m paying more attention.
I mean, the frontrunners are obvious but a third person can shake things up. They can appeal to different members, and there’s no telling where their support might go after.
That is true. But Canada is a big country and the candidates will have a struggle to get to every possible leadership voter. And especially when there are two strong front runners. To get the message out there needs to be a different style of campaign, one that fires up the voters. I knew nothing about this lady or any of the others, aside from Carney and Freeland, until I researched them.
Great article Deidre - PPs three squeaks are pretty threadbare and these low-bar policy positions fall plenty short of the serious height required to breast and stay afloat of the swirling cesspools of stupid slurping from south of the 49th (wow - sorry... made myself dizzy there for a moment...).
I saw a poll yesterday that the Cons have dropped within 10 points of the Libs..... the political oxygen continues to leak from the Con campaign. If PP wants a majority, he better start getting serious!
I appreciate your optimism, but I think the best we can hope for is squeaking out a conservative minority. Even that will be a stretch. Stranger things have happened, though.
I don’t know where my optimism comes from, to be honest, especially with this post that I knew I needed to write, but didn’t really *feel like* writing. It just appeared 😏
I personally don’t think it matters who we choose, Canada is in big trouble. The past 9 years have put us in a very vulnerable position. Interesting that the liberals were all positive about the carbon tax and its looming increase, but as potential leaders, they suddenly have changed course. It’s like they finally figured out that it puts Canadian businesses at a distinct disadvantage. If Canada doesn’t follow USA and dump all the green garbage, we’re in even bigger danger.
If we need to build our trade partnerships outside of US (and Poilievre finally broke his silence on all this and says that’s the plan) and EU is in play, the tax will stay on large emitters.
Yes… North of 49th, when “Axe the Tax” as a slogan became “Loyal to the Soil” or “Trump is a Chump,” Jenni Byrne was heard to drop F bombs and they just weren’t aimed at PMJT. Natural partners in populist gaslighting, Poilievre might be heard feeling victimized with his Trumpian lament, “the Dream Team Ran Out of Steam.”
Many (certainly not all) Canadians are smart enough to know that a change in leadership can make a world of difference in any organization. Whether it’s a political party, a chef at a restaurant, a premier, a captain of a hockey team, etc. So Poilieve’s argument is pure nonsense that nothing will change in the liberal party regardless of leadership. If we were to believe Poilievre’s argument that it doesn’t matter, then it’s not a far leap to ask why a change to his leadership would matter at all either.
For some reason, hypocrisy doesn’t seem to be an issue with the hardcore conservative. Probably stems from their commitment to the bad parenting hack of “do as I say, not as I do”.
It can make a world of difference or it can make no difference at all.
It will be a while yet before we start getting a real sense of it. I suspect there will be some substantial changes but I feel certain that, regardless of the level of change, hard core partisan will paint it as no change at all.
We'll see.
I have high hopes for Mark Carney and while I would absolutely love for Chrystia Freeland to be our PM, she's too close to JT and the Liberals would get slaughtered in the election, just as if JT was still PM. Reddit is an interesting place to be right now because I'm seeing a lot of pronouncements from people saying they were planning on voting for PP to announcing they were voting for Mark Carney. His campaign video is impressive, highlighting what you just mentioned about rhyming. He sounds like the adult in the room and while he does criticize PP, it's not done in a childish manner. I think the leaders' debate could be very interesting if he wins.
Karina Gould hasn't gotten much press, in fact I know much more about her after reading this than my regular reading of the news.
Oof — and in my mind I didn’t add much so that definitely sucks.
She has an uphill battle to convince Liberal members she’s the most qualified for the job and that she can win the election. Two different things. First time I’ve registered to vote for a leader so I’m paying more attention.
I mean, the frontrunners are obvious but a third person can shake things up. They can appeal to different members, and there’s no telling where their support might go after.
That is true. But Canada is a big country and the candidates will have a struggle to get to every possible leadership voter. And especially when there are two strong front runners. To get the message out there needs to be a different style of campaign, one that fires up the voters. I knew nothing about this lady or any of the others, aside from Carney and Freeland, until I researched them.
Great article Deidre - PPs three squeaks are pretty threadbare and these low-bar policy positions fall plenty short of the serious height required to breast and stay afloat of the swirling cesspools of stupid slurping from south of the 49th (wow - sorry... made myself dizzy there for a moment...).
I saw a poll yesterday that the Cons have dropped within 10 points of the Libs..... the political oxygen continues to leak from the Con campaign. If PP wants a majority, he better start getting serious!
He was hoping for a regular old election in Canada where “carbon tax” was the biggest problem Canadians were facing. Now, it’s not.
I appreciate your optimism, but I think the best we can hope for is squeaking out a conservative minority. Even that will be a stretch. Stranger things have happened, though.
I don’t know where my optimism comes from, to be honest, especially with this post that I knew I needed to write, but didn’t really *feel like* writing. It just appeared 😏
Check out Trump's remote contribution at the DAVOS summit today. We've got a problem Houston.
Huge. I’m trying to take a break so I can into the next mode but it’s coming…
Keep writing. 👍
Thanks Deirdre. Another well analyzed and presented article. Love your work.
Many thanks, David!
These are the times that make great leaders poor old PP just doesn’t look the part. Actually neither does his party
I personally don’t think it matters who we choose, Canada is in big trouble. The past 9 years have put us in a very vulnerable position. Interesting that the liberals were all positive about the carbon tax and its looming increase, but as potential leaders, they suddenly have changed course. It’s like they finally figured out that it puts Canadian businesses at a distinct disadvantage. If Canada doesn’t follow USA and dump all the green garbage, we’re in even bigger danger.
If we need to build our trade partnerships outside of US (and Poilievre finally broke his silence on all this and says that’s the plan) and EU is in play, the tax will stay on large emitters.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/video/2025/01/24/pierre-poilievre-discusses-tariffs-during-ns-trip/
Yes… North of 49th, when “Axe the Tax” as a slogan became “Loyal to the Soil” or “Trump is a Chump,” Jenni Byrne was heard to drop F bombs and they just weren’t aimed at PMJT. Natural partners in populist gaslighting, Poilievre might be heard feeling victimized with his Trumpian lament, “the Dream Team Ran Out of Steam.”