For Canada to Prosper And Endure, Change Must Be More Than ‘Skin-Deep’

By Spencer Fernando, Exclusive to the National Citizens Coalition

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will soon be departing the scene after nearly 10 years in office.

He does so amid a moderate boost in popularity, partly based on his perceived handling of America’s unjustified and reckless threats to our economy and sovereignty, and partly due to the grace the public tends to extend to departing leaders.

Mark Carney will soon take Trudeau’s place and will become the next Prime Minister of Canada.

The Liberals will be hoping the electorate sees this as ‘change,’ and will hope that a new face at the top provides the sort of political catharsis that polls previously indicated was going to be delivered at the ballot box.

Those who want to see an end to the Liberals' near-decade in power will be hoping the opposite.

Most important however is that all Canadians across the political spectrum recognize that change must be more than ‘skin deep.’

A new face at the top means little if the Canadian government continues to implement the same policies that have left us so vulnerable to a hostile administration in the United States.

Squander the moment, or seize the moment?

When faced with a crisis that calls all of our prior assumptions into question, it can be comforting to seek superficial changes. A few tweaks here and there, a few rhetorical adjustments, but nothing too big.

Unfortunately, Canada doesn’t have the luxury of taking that approach.

We built our economic policy, defence policy, and environmental policy on the assumption that the United States would always be a reliable friend and security guarantor.

That assumption has been proven incorrect. 

As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre noted, Canada is being “attacked”:

“My message to the president is this: Knock if off. Stop the chaos. You are hurting your workers, your consumers and most immediately destroying trillions of dollars of wealth on your own stock market.”

“You’re attacking a cherished friend of the United States and you’re strengthening America’s enemies by going after America’s friends.”

Those words have been further vindicated by the carnage in the markets the past few days.

And as former Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted last month in words that signify the seriousness of potential annexation threats, Canada must be prepared to withstand significant damage to ensure our sovereignty:

“I would be prepared to impoverish the country and not be annexed, if that was the option we’re facing,” Harper said.

“Now, because I do think that if Trump were determined, he could really do wide structural and economic damage, but I wouldn’t accept that,” said Harper, according to the Star. “I would accept any level of damage to preserve the independence of the country.”

Across the country, we are seeing a surge of Canadian patriotism, with efforts to buy Canadian, a push to break down interprovincial trade barriers, and nationwide support for pipelines – including in Quebec. Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien even expressed his support for a pipeline from Alberta to Quebec, something that would have seemed unthinkable just a few months ago.

This is one of those moments when a country can change course and make decisions that benefit our nation, not just now but for decades to come.

The question now is whether we will squander the moment or whether we will seize it.

If we just make a few small superficial changes, and then return to the same policies that held back our energy sector, left our military dangerously underfunded, and made us overly reliant upon a single trading partner, we will likely find ourselves back in a crisis in just a few years time, and we will have squandered this moment of unity, awareness, and resolves.

But there is another path.

Canada can make once-in-a-generation investments in pipelines, LNG plants, military factories, and more. We can recognize that our oil and gas industry – and all industries that boost our prosperity – are blessings to be proud of, rather than a source of guilt. We can make our nation the best place in the world to do business and unleash the creative power of the Canadian people. We can reach out to new markets and deepen ties with reliable allies (as former PM Harper did when he pushed for free trade with Europe). We can build housing, so a new generation isn’t locked out of the Canadian dream. We can promote Canadian patriotism and embrace our history by deepening ties with CANZUK nations. We can take the covers off statues of our historical figures and teach a new generation about the strength and resilience of those who overcame incredible difficulties to build our nation.

We can do all of those things if we have the courage to turn this moment of crisis into a moment for Canadian renewal, rather than making a few cosmetic tweaks and calling it a day.

The choice will soon be in our hands.

Spencer Fernando is one of the most popular and prolific political voices in Canada. He is a writer and campaign fellow for the National Citizens Coalition. Join the mailing list to receive his exclusive weekly columns in your inbox.

For more from Spencer, visit his website, or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.