Back in the mists of time, a half-century ago, there was a majority Liberal government that went though the same sort of mid-term pain that Justin Trudeau’s government is experiencing today, as its poll numbers slide, ministers stumble, key policies unravel and the opposition, smelling blood, circles impatiently.
There are times when a poor befuddled layman wonders whether the left hand knows what the right hand is doing (or vice versa) in government and big business.
With two years still to go, the battle lines are already forming for the federal election scheduled for Oct. 21, 2019.
The battle will be led by three men who are the youngest collection of major party leaders in Canadian history. It comes as a bit of a shock to realize that Justin Trudeau, who was the bright young hope of the Liberals when they chose him in 2013 – and who was derided by the Conservatives as being too young to be prime minister – is now the oldest of the three leaders. He’s 45.
A few thoughts today about Bombardier and Boeing.
First, Boeing’s complaint to the U.S. Commerce Department about Bombardier and the subsidies it receives from governments in Canada really has nothing to do with the sale of those 75 Bombardier 100-passenger C Series jetliners to Delta Airlines. It has everything to do with Boeing’s determination to defend its turf from foreign competition.
Words matter. They are powerful.
Used carelessly or thoughtlessly, words can be hurtful and counter-productive. Used with malign intent, they can be downright dangerous.
The power of words has been on display in recent days, from Ottawa to Toronto to the United Nations to Washington and Pyongyang, North Korea.
Justin Trudeau and his band of “sunny ways” Liberals have approached the political equivalent of the continental divide – two years in and two years to go before the next election on Oct. 21, 2019. They have had two years to enjoy the fruits of victory and to keep – or not – their campaign promises. Now they face two years of heavier slogging as they try to build momentum for re-election.
To appreciate the gravity of the confrontation between North Korea and the United States – or, if you prefer, between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump – flip the calendar back 55 years to October 1962 and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Check out this new article by LISPOP associate Christopher Alcantara and Michael Morden:
http://rsa.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21622671.2017.1360197
Abstract:
LISPOP Associate Christopher Alcantara comments on the recent reorganization of Indigenous Affairs.
Check it out here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-dissolve-indigenous-affairs-worr...
The chorus of criticism facing President Donald Trump's reluctance in condemning the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, is only the tip of the frustration confronting Republican officials. The president's inclination to pick fights with almost everyone around him (Russian President Vladimir Putin excepted) and to consistently ignore mainstream advice is leading to increased skepticism and disillusionment even among erstwhile supporters.
Opinion-Policy Nexus is a forum of opinion and commentary on topics related to public opinion and public policy. Views expressed in any blog entry are those of the author and do not reflect LISPOP's positions.
