Hugh Mackenzie is on a break from Listen Up!
By Sally Barnes
Throughout history, individuals are hurled into the political limelight in a rising sea of opportunity, crisis or maybe just plain destiny.
In our lifetime, Churchill was a godsend. Mussolini and Hitler not so much.
Currently, we have Trump, who evolved from the role of a bully on American TV and whose narcissism and authoritarian ideology is rocking our world—from kids starving in Africa from the cancellation of U.S. aid to social upheaval, disruption of world order, and threats to our freedom and security here at home.
Whatever Trump touches leaves the stench of pain, chaos, despair, fear and corruption.
Wordsmiths and historians can argue over the word “fascist,” but in Trump’s case, I trust the old saying, “if the shoe fits, wear it.” Or, “if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.”
JD Vance formerly called Trump a fascist, but that was before he drank the Kool-Aid and became Trump’s doting vice president. JD had been groomed for the job, but a legion of other cult members has been ensnared by the allure of power, greed, and contempt for laws and social justice. They are taking a sledgehammer to what was best about the U.S.
Closer to home, we are experiencing our own homegrown star rising on the political landscape at a time of national crisis with Trump casting a shadow over our sovereignty and prosperity and his coziness with the Kremlin and other despots.
Newcomer Prime Minister Mark Carney has resurrected the Liberals at a time when the opposition Conservatives had been miles ahead in public opinion polls for months. If current trends continue, the Liberals could win the current election—possibly even forming a majority government.
Outgoing and unloved PM Justin Trudeau exited in a bit of glory with farewell speeches that blasted Trump and helped stir up what has become a national wave of long overdue pride and patriotism.
Carney’s business creds and well-publicized hobnobbing with international leaders may convince voters he’s the one to provide the stability needed at this time as Europe rearms, recession threatens world economies (including the U.S.), wars drag on and Russia celebrates Trump’s erratic behaviour and his betrayal of Ukraine.
There’s increasing evidence of Russia’s influence on Trump. Chris Alexander, a Canadian diplomat and former federal cabinet minister who spent 12 years working on national security issues related to Russia, recently wrote the following:
“In my view, Trump is a willing instrument of Russian policy, a chaos agent eager to disrupt alliances, distort politics and torch rulebooks. He is Russia’s biggest asset yet. And he’s not done dancing to the Kremlin’s tune.”
This is the sobering warning Canadians face as they prepare to vote on April 28 to elect a government qualified to stand up to Trump and his aggressive, predatory and hateful policies.
Carney appears a catalyst to progressives returning to the Liberal fold—both Liberal loyalists who long ago fell out of love with Trudeau and NDP supporters discouraged with their party’s dismal ratings and desperate to keep Conservatives out of power. Throw into that growing alliance the Conservatives, wary of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s ideology, which can sometimes sound familiar to that emanating from south of the border. (Poilievre’s promise to defund the CBC raises alarm among many at a time when local media outlets are closing, and the need has never been greater to combat the rising tide of lack of information and misinformation. Coincidentally, Trump is cutting funding to public broadcasting in the U.S.)
Liberals are accused of fielding the same old team and Poilievre’s campaign is so far all PP all the time without showcasing who would be in the front benches of a Conservative government.
Carney may lack the charisma of Trudeau, but he has made a good first impression, suggesting that he is more personable than his critics had forecasted. He lacks patience and has a temper, especially in dealing with probing media, but that might prove an attraction to a public in search of a leader who tells it the way it is. A quirky personality has certainly worked for Premier Doug Ford.
The Liberals have been on a roll since Carney’s party leadership win. His swearing-in and that of his cabinet at Rideau Hall turned into a Liberal love-in with families and well-wishers in the audience like former PM Jean Chretien who, at the age of 91, is still a feisty and entertaining character. He pulled no punches in encouraging an aggressive Canadian offensive against Trump and his threats to Canada.
It would have surprised no one if le petit gars de Shawinigan had quoted Conn Smythe’s advice to his Maple Leafs: “if you can’t beat ‘em in the alley, you can’t beat ‘em on the ice!”
When Justin Trudeau said the swearing in ceremony was typical of how Canada is markedly different from the U.S., (and will remain so), we all agreed. While Trump surrounds himself with beautiful, stylish women, billionaires and celebrities, the Rideau Hall event was pure Canadiana—monarchy, family, tradition, heritage, Indigenous recognition and diversity writ large.
A live beaver, souvenir hockey pucks signed by Connor McDavid and a poutine lunch overseen by Mounties in red serge would not have been out of place.
The upcoming election is good for what ails so many of us these days—a distraction from the gloom and doom of Trumpism and a reminder that Canada is worth the fight and Canadians are up to the challenge.
Bring it on !!!.
Sally Barnes has enjoyed a distinguished career as a writer, journalist and author. Her work has been recognized in a number of ways, including receiving a Southam Fellowship in Journalism at Massey College at the University of Toronto. A self-confessed political junkie, she has worked in the back-rooms for several Ontario premiers. In addition to a number of other community contributions, Sally Barnes served a term as president of the Ontario Council on the Status of Women. She is a former business colleague of Doppler’s publisher, Hugh Mackenzie, and lives in Kingston, Ontario. You can find her online at sallybarnesauthor.com.
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Thank you, Sally for a succinct account of where we seem to be.
PP comes across as an accommodating Neville Chamberlain, willing to work with/appease Emperor Trump and his court.
“Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says that Canada-US relationship can be salvaged…” (Toronto Star, April 1, 2025, Tonda Maccharles). The train has left the station. I have suspected an alignment to some degree of US GOP-type policy and Unite-the-Right Conservatives. I suggest there are signs that this is indeed the reality.
What is plainly naive, from my point of view, is the underestimation of Trump’s mental emotional needs – if these are not met by adulation, praise, acceptance of his delusionary world, then look out. Imagining working with the US Emperor and his incompetent entourage could forward the same old relationship is a delusion in itself.
I am not a card-carrying member of any political party. But the moment is appropriate for a strong and united as possible leadership and Canadian force. Danille Smith is a strong leader in her Province, but the Conservative Party direction is out of tune for this time.
Let’s hope that Canadians recognize the import of this moment in our history, exercise their privilege of voting, and get to the polls. Without hesitation, I’m voting Geordie Sabbagh (Lib) in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
So what does a Social Conservative do? If like me, a quandary presents itself. How to vote for someone who just seems to be a bitter man whose singular purpose was to harass and badger Justin Trudeau. With Justin gone, so is Poilievre’s game!
And the silence from the Conservative populace is unbelievable. When the Liberals felt Trudeau was past his best before date there were questions asked by the rank and file. There was a pressure for change that was actually vocalised. Nothing from the PCs. I can see the problem. It’s too late now with an election to be held in about a month. So if the Conservatives lose, they will have done it quietly.
I can’t vote for those who can’t even manage to speak for themselves. Unless they really do believe they are getting good leadership. And that’s sad, because they are not. Just my opinion I know, but I won’t be supporting a party of one.
Maybe another Liberal vote? Never been there before.
As a life long Conservative, I echo your comments Sally. A person like Mark Carney comes along once in a generation and is the right guy at the right time. There are many of us “blue liberals“ who feel the same way.