Finally, after nearly a decade at the helm, Justin Trudeau has announced he will be stepping down.
Not right away of course, true to form, he will be clinging onto power for every extra day he can muster, arguably against the best interest of his party and the country.
In two weeks when Donald Trump becomes US President again and our government will likely be facing monumental challenges, the federal cabinet will be at war with itself jockeying to become the next Liberal Party Leader and Prime Minister, Parliament will be prorogued and closed for business, and Trudeau, halfway out the door, will be severely weakened as a lame duck national leader. Say what you want about Donald Trump, the man can smell weakness.
Here’s hoping he doesn’t go for the full on smack down with his largest trading partner. But beyond the looming crisis at hand, what will Trudeau be remembered for? Legalizing marijuana as he promised to do, handing out emergency cheques without equivocation amidst Covid to keep food on our tables and the economy afloat, and increasing immigration to the point that our population swelled to over 40 million for the first time in our history, could likely be what he is remembered for the most.
As for the negatives, well if you’ve been watching this program you’ve probably heard me list those off in spades, from spiraling record debt, to abysmal national productivity, to myriad ill-thought out public policies.
One thing I can say in Justin Trudeau’s favour is that he did step up and serve in the most demanding job in the nation for almost a decade. Unlike his soon to be returning arch nemesis to the south, Trudeau spent a lot more time in his office working than he did on the golf course.
When he did go on vacation, he was often confronted in the most unCanadian, unnecessary, rude ways, right here in British Columbia. Disagree with him as we did, that kind of behaviour was embarrassing for the nation and I certainly hope our future Prime Ministers, regardless of their ideology, do not have to endure the same, but unfortunately, I suspect they will.
I’m Chris Beach and this is the Northern View.
