Don Martin: A warning for Justin Trudeau as he ponders an early election about nothing
Justin Trudeau’s blueprint for his future career is an easy read.
The prime minister aims to call an election this summer, coast to a majority mandate on post-vaccination euphoria, spend a couple years as ‘dean’ of world leaders at the G7 before retiring to lucrative corporate directorships and an international speaking tour paying a cool $150,000 per canned speech.
But that victory march might hit a nasty speedbump if voters believe they’re being dragged to the polls by an arrogant government using false pretenses to call Trudeau’s last election.
There was plenty of evidence this week that all Trudeau’s protestations about not wanting a fall vote are merely deceptions rooted solely in his minority government’s pursuit of greater power.
It was only last month all MPs, including Trudeau, united to support a motion which ruled out an election during the pandemic.
Yet, despite a virus that’s still got the government so rattled it won’t open the U.S. border amid signs of a COVID-19 resurgence in the U.K., a pandemic call to the ballot box is clearly weeks or, at most, a couple months away.
The signs got blatantly obvious this week when all the usual buzzwords were deployed by Trudeau and his ministers to frame the need for an electoral reset.
Parliament has become “paralysed” by a ‘toxic’ environment and is bogged down in opposition ‘obstructions’ to Liberal agendas, blah, blah, blah. By inference, harmony and unity would miraculously be restored to Parliament Hill if only it could get back to a Liberal majority.
Of course, the only paralysis in this Parliament was having the Liberals obstruct a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct by the country’s top general and thwart an investigation into the handling of the WE contract before giving a final flip of the bird to a Commons which demanding documents on the firing of two viral scientists under very suspicious circumstances.
The Liberals can also try, but can’t argue with a straight face, that their legislation priorities are being blocked by a gauntlet of opposition nitpicking.
Strange, then, how their priority budget implementation, conversion therapy, climate change and broadcasting bills have all passed and are awaiting approval in the independent Senate which Trudeau unleashed. If senators adjourn for the holidays with unfinished Liberal business, that’s not the fault of opposition parties.
And so, with farewell speeches by departing MPs delivered and goodbyes echoing in the almost-empty Commons, all that remains to confirm the imminent election call is a tweak of the cabinet to get rid of lousy performers like Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair.
Once that happens, Canadians will be asked the $500-million question (the estimated cost of a general election) in a vote about nothing.
Trudeau will merely insist voters need to give the Liberals a stronger mandate, even though the prime minister has repeatedly shown he’s just as control freakish and more contemptible of Parliament than Stephen Harper on a bad day.
It will all come down to a hunt for the 15 new seats Trudeau needs to reclaim the world’s most powerful democratic position – a majority Canadian government.
And the latest poll is telling him it’s in the bag with today’s release from Abacus Data putting the Liberals ten points ahead of the Conservatives with extremely strong public approval for the government’s handling of the pandemic and for Trudeau’s performance.
Yet old-timers like me have a two-word warning for what can happen if voters think an out-of-touch government is forcing a snap vote simply for blatant partisan gain: David Peterson.
That’s the one-term Liberal premier of Ontario, who was swept out of office after calling an early election in 1990 for no obvious reason beyond having a massive lead in the polls.
The NDP leader who won the premier’s job in a stunning upset might want to remind Trudeau about that election. Yes, that’s you Bob Rae, the prime minister’s current ambassador to the United Nations.
Look, it’s Trudeau’s right to call an election as prime minister, even without suffering a loss of confidence in a House of Commons vote. Fixed election law does not apply to minority governments.
But there has to be a better excuse than seeking to end what is really just routine partisan bitterness and regular parliamentary paralysis to foist an election on Canadians struggling back to post-pandemic normal.
If he decides the current Parliament absolutely must be put out its misery, Trudeau might want to wait until October 19 for vote day. That’s when all those MPs first elected in the 2015 Liberal surge will qualify for a lucrative fully-indexed parliamentary pension for life.
That’s clearly on a few MP minds, as reflected in cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett’s recent text to class-of-2015 MP Jody Wilson Raybould suggesting it was the pension behind her arguments against a fall election.
After all, they might need the money if Trudeau does a David Peterson.
After all, the basic defeated, pension-less Liberal MP won’t be commanding $150,000 for a half-hour speech in life after politics.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Local Spotlight
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fergus, Ont. man feels nickel-and-dimed for $0.05 property tax bill
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
'I'm committed': Oilers fan won't cut hair until Stanley Cup comes to Edmonton
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
'It's not my father's body!' Wrong man sent home after death on family vacation in Cuba
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
'Once is too many times': Education assistants facing rising violence in classrooms
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
What is capital gains tax? How is it going to affect the economy and the younger generations?
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
UBC football star turning heads in lead up to NFL draft
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.