Editor:
I was interested to read Mr. Keighly’s analysis of the recent federal election. Essentially that voters, normally of parties other than Liberal, migrated to Mr. Carney for his international stature and reputation.
Actually, Carney’s campaign was fundamentally based on fear of Trump, fear of the U.S. It was Crisis. Crisis. Crisis. Existential Crisis!
The Liberal party was handed an amazing gift from Donald Trump, a gifted reality show performer: Canada as the 51st state, Governor Trudeau, tariffs. The clever folks, such as Gerry Butts, advising Carney, jumped on this. That was the campaign. Scare people. It worked –– because NDP and Bloc voters swung to Liberal.
Just look at the sad remains of the once proud and influential federal NDP party. The scare worked.
In reality, given the sorry state of our military, we would be hard pressed to mount any real defense if the U.S. invaded Canada. And the notion that Canada is not “for sale” is equally bizarre. If Donald Trump wanted Canada, he would march in with the military might of the United States and take us. The strategy of Trump’s administration is hard to fathom.
What we do know, he is a showman.
So, about “Elbows Up”? Clever hockey image. Fun bumper sticker, maybe. Sound foreign policy for Canada should be based on more than a bumper sticker.
Anyone who watched the Trump-Carney meeting in the White House, or read the transcript, would see no sign of Elbows Up on the part of our man.
It was Thumbs Up, in unison. Some might say knees down, but that would be disrespectful.
John Hansen,
Sechelt
