Kootenay Crust (Op-Ed Commentary)

By Ian Cobb

I just watched a Norwegian Netflix film called La Palma, about a small tourist island volcano with a big crack in it that threatens a near future eruption/tsunami catastrophe.

It is cheesy, thanks to stiff voice acting and nod-and-a-wink plot zippers that don’t catch, but it reminded me of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government.

Especially since Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland pulled the chute on Trudeau’s cabinet after he insulted her faithfulness by ‘offering’ a downgrade post in his cabinet in yet another rattle-headed shuffle.

There has been an obvious crack causing plenty of concern in the PM’s environs, like nasty gases burbling from volcanic depths. But the departures of Freeland and Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities are the first eruption – a billowing ‘oh oh’ for the current state of Canada’s federal government.

“Our country today faces a grave challenge. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war. That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment,” Freeland offered in her letter of resignation.

Think about that for a second. That letter comes from Trudeau’s second in command. In a time when political parties play endless shell games with the truth to ensure their parties look good in order to get re-elected so the cycle of trough slurping and pension fattening can continue, those words scream “you ain’t the man we need Mr. Prime Minister!”

With Donald Jebusheisback Trump returning to terrorize the planet by controlling America’s nuclear armament and threatening to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods (there’s a reason buddy bankrupted a casino), one of Trudeau’s key people declares he does not have the right stuff. Ouch.

It is most likely a power play by Freeland as well as Fraser and his apparent rising stock. At least seven of Trudeau’s MPs have stated their boss should resign so far.

It appears as though the crack is about shatter open and send the Liberal Party Volcano to the sea.

And with that in mind, Mr. Prime Minister it is clearly time for you to take a walk in the snow, like your more famous Father, Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau.

Recap: During a snowstorm in Ottawa on Feb. 28, 1984, fourth-term PM Pierre Trudeau went for a bundled-up-trundle and returned home with a decision to not run for office again; to call it quits.

And it is now quite obvious our current PM has also overstayed his welcome and it is time for him to wrap a scarf around his neck, grab some gloves, slip on some boots and take a slippery hike.

It seems pretty clear that Canada’s next PM is going to be Pierre (giggle) Marcel Poilievre, Conservative Party leader and shoe-in to star as Milhouse in the stage version of The Simpsons, short of a wildly successful Liberal Party hail Mary.

So let’s get on with the show. There is honour in recognizing your time has come and stepping aside. Lingering will only hurt your party and make Milhouse and his Milhuts happy. Surely you don’t want that.

There is bound to be an opening on some CBC chat show or, perhaps, Stephen Colbert has an opening for a sidekick. Any rate, lots of options for you outside Parliament Justin.

A walk in the snow will tell you that. And thanks for legalizing weed. Best thing you did.

– Ian Cobb is owner/editor of e-KNOW

Article Share