As a lifelong Liberal and proud Canadian, I believe the re-election of Donald J. Trump is the best thing to happen to Canada in over 50 years.
Why?
As Carl Jung once observed: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life, and you will call it fate.”
History is our teacher
I came of age during Canada’s centennial celebrations, Expo 67, and Trudeaumania. I was there when the Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup. Oblivious to the Quiet Revolution then transforming Quebec politics, my complacency was shattered by the October Crisis of 1970 and Pierre Trudeau’s invocation of the War Measures Act.
I watched our new prime minister confront the existential threat of Quebec separatism—not with fear, but with an inspiring civic nationalism: multiculturalism, bilingualism, and race-blind immigration reform.
Quebec’s 1980 referendum galvanized Canadians. We went on to patriate our Constitution, enshrine our Charter, and build a more modern and inclusive democracy. Trudeau became my hero—but so, perversely, did Quebec’s separatist premier, René Lévesque, whose threats forced us to build a better Canada.
The limits of being “woke” For the past decade, Justin Trudeau championed his father’s “just society” vision by pursuing his own DEI agenda—gender parity in cabinet, 2SLGBTQI+ rights, childcare, pharmacare, and Indigenous reconciliation. As a result, Canada’s global brand has soared. But as we focused on perfecting Canada’s “image,” our foundation was imploding. Real GDP per capita stalled, productivity fell, household debt ballooned; Canada suffered the worst economic performance in the G7; and domestic “happiness” rankings plummeted. A decade of economic stagnation now threatens our kids’ futures. Today, Canada is morally admirable—but economically fragile. Being “woke” just isn’t good enough. Enter the villain Trump 2.0 is anti-Canada on steroids: MAGA is fueled by fear, exclusion, and grievance. “Project 2025” is a direct assault on everything Canadians value. But it also reveals our blind spots. Trump said it plainly: “Frankly, Canada should be the 51st state…because Canada relies entirely on the United States…We have all the cards…every single one. Economically, we have such power over Canada.” Today, one-third of Canada’s GDP is driven by trade with the U.S., but less than 3 percent of U.S. GDP depends on trade with Canada. However ignorant and reckless he may be, Trump understands that imbalance. We were warned about this by John Turner in the 1988 free trade debate: “Once any country yields its economic levers…the political ability to remain as an independent nation is lost forever.” Turner was right. Economic dependency quietly settled in as Canadians slept. Trump made us see it. Our enemy opened our eyes to the truth. The Carney correction The TACO tariffs and repeated annexation threats shocked Canadians into action. We turned the tables by electing Mark Carney—renowned economist, global leader, and pragmatic visionary. Carney’s “Build Canada Strong” program is now tackling our productivity challenge head-on by: Reducing interprovincial trade barriers, fast-tracking infrastructure projects, and improving housing access and affordability through investment in more innovative home construction; Diversifying our trading relationships, becoming a global energy superpower, and meeting NATO targets with domestic spending, while reinforcing Arctic sovereignty; and Incentivizing investment in AI and other technologies to improve planning, reduce costs, drive efficiency, and optimize outcomes in health care, education, and government services. But the most important item on Canada’s agenda is the challenge everyone is afraid to talk about. Immigration: The human catalyst Canada’s birthrate has plummeted to 1.26. Life expectancy has risen to 83 years. Our workforce is aging and shrinking, our age dependency ratio is exploding, and our projected social service costs are frightening. Labour shortages are now increasing in health care, tech, construction, agriculture, and energy. Canada’s Boomer “retirement wave” is now a looming demographic cliff that AI and robotics alone cannot solve. The anti-immigrant extremism south of our border isn’t just morally grotesque—it’s national suicide. Trump’s rhetoric about “vermin” and “poisoned blood” may resonate with his MAGA base, but mass deportations to “re-whiten” America will only exacerbate the crisis of its own aging, shrinking, and less productive workforce. Canada must grow—and our only solution is immigration, done right. Trudeau Jr. opened the door and hoped for the best. But his gamble failed. It strained housing, overwhelmed public services, and eroded public trust. Poor planning and flawed execution unleashed a swamp of confusion: endless backlogs, fraud, abuse, and bureaucratic dysfunction. Our system didn’t just fail immigrants—it failed Canada’s employers and post-secondary institutions, too. Good policy becomes bad policy when it’s delivered badly. Canada’s future hinges on building an online, consumer-centric, immigration system powered by 21st-century technology, data, and bold ambition—laser-focused on achieving better outcomes for Canada and Canadians. Beyond meeting our humanitarian obligations, we must leverage our global brand to attract and retain the “best and brightest,” close widening skillset gaps, and strengthen our global trade and investment ties. How? By ensuring that aspiring Canadians with the talent we need get what they need to arrive, thrive, and stay in Canada. Immigration isn’t charity. It’s a nation-building economic strategy. Wake up—and grow up Canada does have some cards to play: a highly educated population, trusted institutions, vast resources, public safety, strong public services, political stability, and global credibility driven by our DEI. But we’ve underperformed. We’ve coasted. We’ve been complacent. Trump reminds us that comfort is dangerous. Drift is deadly. And “wokeness” without results breeds resentment. He has forced Canadians to look in the mirror—not just at what we stand for, but at what we lack. So, yes—thank you, Trump. For the slap in the face. For reminding us of what’s at stake. For pushing Canadians to get serious. Canada needs to stay “woke” but not go broke. As the next quarter century unfolds, we must look to our own leaders for inspiration, with “elbows up” and “arms open.” Pierre Trudeau ended his political career in 1984 by saying this to Canadians: “Our hopes are high. Our faith in the people is great. Our courage is strong. And our dreams for this beautiful country will never die.” And Mark Carney said this when he was elected prime minister just 100 days ago: “Together, we will build a Canada worthy of our values…Canada strong, Canada free, Canada forever.” The cards have been dealt, and the stakes have never been more real. MAGA’s “wildcard” is a divided America, driven by fear, ignorance, and intolerance. Our “trump card” is a united Canada, empowered by hope, innovation, and inclusion. Game on.
