TORONTO – Leadership races often appeal to the political bloodlust that afflicts us all. We claim to be policy-driven and that we will strive (today’s operative word is fight) for a better world. The truth is a little less noble; our discussions are centered on assessments based on the total of unfavourable comparables among the contestants.
The exercise is unforgiving. Mark Carney (former President, Bank of Canada/Bank of England, darling of exiting PM Justin Trudeau, his “Praetorian Guard” and some members of the Financial Services Class) basked in the glory of uncontested recognition of his bureaucratic expertise – thanks to his host on American – not Canadian – television. Until the host, in ‘carnival barker’ style accused him of trying in sneakily to paint himself as an outsider.
It may have been unfair. As far as international credentials in finance go, post- Brexit England is in a decline. Canada has not fared much better under the tutelage of his proxy Trudeau. American Presidents like Barack Obama was famously quoted as asking, “what does Mario” [Draghi] say? Draghi was head of the BCE and later Italian Prime Minister. At his launch in Edmonton, Carney seemed uncomfortable without his prompter. Embarrassingly, his campaign logo (intellectual property) was apparently used without permission. He was, however, generous in feeding into the criticism surrounding Trudeau, the leader of the Party he hopes to himself lead. And, by the way, he will fight to keep what was/is working.
Karina Gould may end up like the Rt. Honourable Joe Clark who went from “Joe Who?” in the headlines to become Conservative Party Leader and subsequently Prime Minister. Her programme is based on $10 a day care and fighting bullies anywhere. This “fighting spirit” is founded on her signing onto a letter solicited by Progressives in the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) telling the HCDSB to “get with the program” and put their Catholic beliefs aside in the curriculum. The existence (and jurisdiction) of Catholic schools are part of the Constitution of Canada and the laws that flow from it. Two other colleagues, Minister Anand and an MP from Milton, both, like her, non-Catholic, did likewise. Neither were by her side at her announcement.
Without disrespecting any other individuals reputed to be interested, the third “name candidate”, Chrystia Freeland has extensive experience to place in the window for discussion. Her theme is the most overtly openly reliant on the word fight. It is argued by her supporters that she alone among the contestants actually fought the PM when “things were no longer tenable”, from a personal and policy perspective. Her launch was almost highjacked by some well-organized Pro-Palestinian disrupters who must have objected to the presence of MP Housefather from Montreal by her side. They were not present when Gould (who, like him, is also Jewish) made her announcement.
The Corriere will reach out to candidates who have a vision worth sharing with our Italian and other multi-lingual readership.