By Ray Rivers
January 8th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Civility…. a disposition of the heart… a way of seeing others as our moral equals and treating them with the respect that they’re owed and deserve.
Justin Trudeau with his father Pierre
Trudeau was humble, his leaving message was thoughtful, graceful, polite and respectful. He spoke well of Canadians, even with mounting poll numbers indicating that most Canadians don’t feel the same way about him. His demeanour was stoic, his responses to the media were honest and straightforward. The entire event Monday morning was clearly an emotional moment for a man who had once been hoping to surpass his father’s record of service, but clearly was not his father and had failed.
The media and opposition pundits, still keep talking about why Justin isn’t resigning now and everybody is complaining that he didn’t do it earlier. That is not helpful. He will be gone before Parliament resumes on March 24th. The federal election will be in mid to late May 2025. And we should all be grateful that we’ll avoid an unneeded early winter election.
Justin Trudeau: Now freed, no longer burdened by having to answer to the legislative assembly and opposition critics Photo credit: CARLOS OSORIO
The critics, like the Alberta premier, who has done everything she could to poison the water of national politics, have labelled Trudeau a lame duck until the election. They are wrong. Having announced his resignation a different Justin is likely to emerge. Underneath that mild-mannered facade Justin is a fighter. Now freed, no longer burdened by having to answer to the legislative assembly and opposition critics, Trudeau can use the other powers still at his disposal to continue to govern in the best interests of the country as he sees them.
Today’s polls see the Tories well ahead of the other parties. But those polls included a number of folks who, tired after a decade of the same PM, have been parking their votes with the three opposition parties. Those potential voters have now got their wish, even if it took longer than it should have. Now that Trudeau will soon be gone, some of those folks, especially those who aren’t tribal Tories may reconsider. That is, of course, what the Liberal party is hoping.
Pierre Poilievre: no stranger to misinformation.
Mr. Poilievre has made huge strides in garnering public support. Still, most would concede that he is not a very likeable politician, something we see from his negative likability rating. His goals are openly self-serving – a life long ambition of becoming PM at any cost. He has a dark, almost bitter disposition and appears forever angry and accusative. And his policies, what we know of them, are highly regressive on energy, the environment, the economy and health policy.
Most unfortunately Mr Poilievre is no stranger to misinformation, as was his characterization of the causes of inflation and the economic impact of carbon pricing. But he is an eloquent and passionate speaker all the same. Time will tell how the voters respond to his aggressive campaign style in the upcoming election. Will trust be a factor in the election?
Justin Trudeau signing a guest book – years before President -Elect Donald Trump decided Canad could be America’s 51st.
Of course, what happens south of the border will be hugely consequential. Donald Trump should no longer feel he needs to trash Canada, now that he has achieved his objective of frightening Canadians and interfering in our democratic process. Were the newly elected US president to continue to bully Canadians and interfere in our affairs he might find that we begin to stand up for each other rather than continue the divisive partisan in-fighting we’ve seen so far.
Nobody expects the Liberals to win the next election at this point. If such a win were likely, in part, it would come down to who becomes the next Liberal leader and whether that person can capture the imagination of the people. It will also depend on what policies the party develops during the leadership campaign and into the election period.
But it should also depend on how the opposition parties behave. Or, are we happy to treat politics as just another blood sport? There was a time when Canadians of all-partisan beliefs were respectful of all those seeking to hold office. It was a time for truth-telling and fact-checking. It was a time of civility.
Justin Trudeau is the leader of the Liberal Party, a party he feels is best suited for Canadians. Why would anyone question that he is doing what is best for the Liberal Party? He has always shown grace, professionalism and optimism in his role as prime minister. I will always remember his kind, compassionate, calming daily talks to all Canadians during the pandemic. Instead of showing any appreciation for getting us through those years better than most leaders, I am appalled that our society has fallen into disgrace by allowing F-Trudeau flags to be flown. Would any of those people who fly one be at all remotely interested in entering politics and subjecting themselves to the relentless abuse given to those who are brave enough to do so? I am already sick of the childish name-calling that Poilievre has taken on. Such pettiness does not warrant “The Honourable” title. I dread this next election cycle and the school-yard tactics that will no doubt be in his arsenal. C’mon Canada, we are more classier than that. We deserve better.
Did I listen to the same self-serving speech as Ray did? In my opinion Justin came off as a woe is me, I did such a good job and I really don’t understand why this is happening to me.
Up until recently was it not Mr. Poilievre’s job as leader of the opposition to question what the Liberal/NDP coalition was doing? Was he to say nothing, challenge nothing and therefore be “a good “milk toast” Canadian”. NO. What is being said that he is “angry ” in reality was doing what his position in Parliament and a majority of citizens expected of him to question and challenge.
Justin’s final remark that his major regret was not being able to change the voting system is a joke. Why now? He campaigned initially on doing this, gave Karina Gould the portfolio and then decided that “the public didn’t want this”.
Justin had 10 years to accomplish this and the reason he didn’t move forward with it was because at the time it did not work for the Liberal Party.
What Justin did in proroguing Parliament instead of resigning outright was what was best for the Liberal Party and definitely not best for Canada who will be facing Donald Trump and the proposed tariffs in 11 days.
Who is running Canada until March 24th – NO ONE.
Please, spare me, this narcissist has done so much damage to the country it will likely take 2 terms by the next PM to reverse the extent of the damage caused by his policies. Not to mention the financial skeletons that will be uncovered once liberals are out of power. I say 2 terms because it will not be lack of effort, but will have a senate stacked with sympathetic liberals, a media machine that will get in the way of everything and left leaning federal bureaucrats and municipal governments. If you have not noticed most Canadians now despise this guy as do most of the international media.
He also trolled Trump prior to him winning the US election, by accusing the opposition of using “Trump like strategies” or being “Trump like”. This was not a compliment to Trump, we are now paying the price of this very foolish gamble as many had predicted at the time. Who in their right mind would mess with the potential president of a global super power, our biggest trading partner, not to mention a New Yorker! Very, very foolish.
Ray, I think that we owe it to ourselves and each other to do our own “fact checking”, tune out the polemics and come to our own conclusions. There has been too much fear mongering and blind adulation – and no one benefits. Let’s hope that we can elect a strong, principled and socially responsible government. We haven’t had one for some time and we need one badly now.
Good on you Ray.
Doug
To be be FRANK, PM Justin Trudeau had to go, sooner than later. But thanks to the PM for doing it at all, as staying was a distinct possibility. Sunny ways Canada
You haven’t lost me…well said.
Trump wants to distract from Jack Smith’s damning report which yet may see the light of day and his pending sentencing hearing re his felony verdict
…he lashes out and gets a ridiculous amount of press and sends everyone into a tailspin…
Mission acccomplished.!
We cannot elect a leader solely on who is best positioned to take on Trump..
As a sovereign nation, we have other fish to fry.
Exactly Don. The drama continues. Millions of Canadians would cheerfully vote Trudeau and his government out regardless of the weather. Canada takes second seat to preventing a complete electoral collapse of the Liberal Party.
However, if you are 14 years of age a non-citizen or resident you can vote for our next Prime Minister as short as that his or her term will be. Can it get any more outrageous?
It did Trudeau opined about his failure to move ahead with electoral reform and frankly took no personal responsibility for the state of the Liberal party or the country.
Ray, you lost me at “And we should all be grateful that we’ll avoid an unneeded winter election”, when it’s patently clear that Trudeau prioritized what’s best for the Liberal Party over Canada in his decision.