TORONTO – Pomp and circumstance; ceremonial flags and standards; fife and drums; costumery galore… out with the old, in with the new. Excitement and drama to stimulate the much-ballyhooed anticipation for change. That was, in brief, the virtual atmosphere of the formal swearing-in of Canada’s new Cabinet.
We should all wish our new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, well. He, and no other, is the singular authority capable of drawing the attention and engagement of other national political entities in defense and promotion of our collective interests.
Ask the “Trump Administration”, which has become the only factor of significance in the political agenda of our country; indeed, with each passing day, in any country. Alas, in ours, it dictates the context of our formations and the vocabulary in our responses. Words associated with muscularity, strength, defiance etc., have become de riguer.
Ever since that fateful end of November meal between our [then] Prime Minister and president-elect, “the Donald”, at the Trump Estate, our collective has taken a beating: that PM has had to resign; our economic infrastructure is challenged at its core; the international treaties to which we are eager signatories have become scraps of paper; the “socio-cultural programs” – dependant on their sustainability – are ephemeral at best… That legacy will weigh heavily on the Right Hon, Carney.
Luckly, the responsibility associated with, and inherent in, the Privy Council Office is like the sword of Damocles, both a threat and an opportunity. Can he seize the moment (carpe diem): structure a government, indicate promise of purpose and “swing into action” relevant to the nation? A March 24 deadline to reconvene the Legislature (House of Commons, where he does not yet have an elected position) looms critically around the corner.
That, and Carney’s ability to cope with the Liberal Party’s continuity, could prove to be a first test to show that “he is his own man”. Without the impediments of pomp and circumstance, Mr. Carney came to the Cabinet swearing-in at Rideau Hall alone and without the cover of winter garb in Ottawa’s frigid weather. A relatively minor risk which symbolism could not be missed.
More significant is the size and composition of his Cabinet, now barely half the size of his predecessor’s. One could waste time figuring out the rationale behind who and why specific individuals are in and others out for academic discussion only; it will not matter after March 24. What will matter is that, as Prime Minister, Carney has the jurisdictional authority to convene Cabinet and declare Orders-in-Council – binding legislation. That he accomplished by announcing that his government will remove the hated Carbon Tax, as soon as the new Cabinet meets. It is as good as done, so to speak.
Fortuitously, Canada is also the host nation for this year’s G-7, thus providing Carney with an opportune occasion to project his/Canada’s sovereignty on the World stage almost immediately and, with it, deliver the messages regarding economics, taxation, internal obligations and so on without appearing to offend anyone in particular (Donald Trump). Probably as a minimal courtesy to him/us, the UK convened [coincidentally] a zoom meeting of European leaders to update them on ‘developments’ pertinent to global interests… tariffs and rearmament.
Donald Trump was not in attendance. Intended or not, the image of our Prime Minister as the avenging angel singularly equipped to defeat the prince of darkness has emerged. That “prince” does not answer to the Canadian electorate. But it is a start.
During this week, Carney will travel to England and Ireland to cede the passports (citizenship) he has from those two countries to concentrate on the one that interests our voters.
