Colby Cosh: Mark Carney and the next lost decade
What do you suppose it is like to be Michael Ignatieff right now? Gosh, he must really think the good Lord has it out for him. In 2006, as a stylish liberal intellectual with a star reputation in Europe, he rolled up his sleeves and ran for the Commons seat in Etobicoke — Lakeshore. His ultimate ambitions were no secret, but he thought he had better learn the ropes first, get yelled at on a few doorsteps and absorb the sights and scents of an actual Canadian neighbourhood. In 2009, the suffering Liberals turned to him as a new leader and anointed saviour, with other dignitaries flinging themselves out of his path to make way.
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As you'll recall, this didn't go at all well for them, even in Etobicoke — Lakeshore. And, of course, Ignatieff immediately cleared out of Canada altogether, having learned that the moment just wasn't right for a national rescuer-figure on horseback. I've pointed out specifically that Ignatieff had truancy problems that today's Liberal leader doesn't, but he did, after all, attempt to serve a parliamentary apprenticeship. He knew it wasn't customary to barge into the Commons for the first time already clothed in the power of a prime minister. He was aware that the keys to the kingdom wouldn't simply be tossed to him in desperation. Poor devil.
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The political polls suggest that … well, things may have changed since the Count's college try. I am very agnostic about the Canadian polling profession, and this is not just because I am a migrainous, despairing middle-aged Albertan whose youth was spent bathing in the weird cauldron of the Reform party. Even if you are willing to give our pollsters a few tons of benefit of the doubt on ethics, they are working in a Canadian environment of preposterous data poverty, period.
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Assuming they're not 'herding' inveterately, mistakenly following the scent of each other's bovine flatulence, and assuming they're not just torturing their mid-election numbers with an eye to future work contracts, there are inherent limits to the resolving power of their forecasts. In Canada, these limits are as low as it goes. And, frankly, I've read a few times too often in recent years about hair-raising last-minute surprises in other countries' elections.
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But surprises can go both ways, and there can be no doubt that the current election has been affected by an illiberal mood of post-Trump panic. The Canadian conservative movement has been punching itself in the face because the federal party's current brain trust prepared for an election that was going to involve heavy litigation over a decade of harmful, sophomoric, economically stagnant Liberal government.
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Winnipeg Free Press
38 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
In his own words: Trump said during 2024 campaign he would use military for immigration enforcement
President Donald Trump in recent days has sent thousands of National Guard troops and 700 active duty Marines to quell Los Angeles-area protests over immigration enforcement actions, despite the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and local leaders. Those troops soon could also be supporting immigration enforcement operations, including by holding secure perimeters around areas where raids are taking place and securing streets for immigration agents. That's according to Paul Eck, deputy general counsel in the California Military Department, who said in a court filing that the agency was informed the Pentagon plans to direct the California National Guard to start providing such support. Those actions would be in line with what Trump pledged during last year's campaign, when as a candidate he promised the largest mass deportation effort the U.S. has seen, and said he would be willing to use military might to make it happen. But Trump has changed his position since his 2020 presidential bid, namely around using the Insurrection Act to send military units to respond to unrest in the states. Here's a look at how Trump has talked about use of the military when it comes to immigration — and how his position evolved — in his own words: 2025: 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it' 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see. But I can tell you last night was terrible, and the night before that was terrible.' — Trump, Tuesday, to reporters in the Oval Office. ___ During an Oval Office engagement with reporters, Trump left open the possibility of invoking one of the most extreme emergency powers available to a U.S. president. The Insurrection Act authorizes the president to deploy military forces inside the United States to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations. It is often referred to as the 'Insurrection Act of 1807,' but the law is actually an amalgamation of different statutes enacted by Congress between 1792 and 1871. In calling up National Guard forces over Newsom's objections, Trump cited a legal provision that allows him to mobilize federal service members when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' 2024: 'I would have no problem using the military' 'If I thought things were getting out of control, I would have no problem using the military, per se. We have to have safety in our country. We have to have law and order in our country. And whichever gets us there, but I think the National Guard will do the job.' — Trump, April 30, 2024, interview with Time Magazine. ___ While campaigning in 2024, Trump said he would use the National Guard as part of efforts to deport millions of migrants across the country. He didn't say how he would carry out the operations and what role the National Guard would play, but added he would resort to the military if 'things were getting out of control.' When asked to clarify if he would use the military inland, he said, 'I don't think I'd have to do that. I think the National Guard would be able to do that. If they weren't able to, then I'd use the military.' Trump told Time that he would deport between 15 million and 20 million people who are in the country illegally. The foreign-born population, including immigrants in the country both legally and illegally, was estimated to be 46.2 million, or nearly 14% of the U.S. total, in 2022, according to the Census Bureau, which also reported about 11 million immigrants in the country illegally. After winning the November election, the possible contours of Trump's incoming administration and how it would handle issues, including immigration, began to take greater shape. On Nov. 17, after conservative activist Tom Fitton proclaimed in a social media post that the incoming president 'will declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program,' Trump replied: 'TRUE!!!' On his first day back in office, Trump rolled out a blueprint to beef up security at the southern border in a series of executive orders that began taking effect soon after his Jan. 20 inauguration. Trump ordered the government, with Defense Department assistance, to 'finish' construction of the border wall and send troops to the border. He did not say how many would go — leaving it up to the defense secretary — or what their exact role would be. His executive orders suggested the military would help the Department of Homeland Security with 'detention space, transportation (including aircraft), and other logistics services.' Trump directed the defense secretary to come up with a plan to 'seal the borders' and repel 'unlawful mass migration.' 2020: 'There's no reason to ever' make insurrection determination 'We have to go by the laws. We can't move in the National Guard. I can call insurrection, but there's no reason to ever do that.' — Trump, Sept. 15, 2020, in a town hall hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia. ___ Questioned during a 2020 election town hall about his campaign promise of restoring law and order, Trump said he could not activate the National Guard unless a governor requested it, referring to the response to wildfires that ravaged Portland in 2020. 'We have laws. We have to go by the laws. We can't move in the National Guard. I can call insurrection, but there's no reason to ever do that,' he said. 'Even in a Portland case, we can't call in the National Guard unless we're requested by a governor. If a governor or a mayor is a Democrat, like in Portland, we call them constantly.' That reference wasn't explicitly to immigration, but it was referring to Trump's willingness to overrule a state's governor and federalize National Guard resources. ___ Kinnard can be reached at
CTV News
44 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘These are not small margins:' Doug Ford's PCs hold 21-point lead, new survey suggests
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford greets supporters after he was re-elected as the Premier of Ontario in Toronto on Thursday, February 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young The next Ontario election is likely still years away but a new poll suggests that Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative party remain well ahead of their rivals. Abacus Data surveyed 1,000 adult Ontarians between June 2 and June 5 and found that if an election were held today about 49 per cent of committed voters would support Ford's PC party. The Liberals were in second with the support of 28 per cent of committed voters while the NDP were at 14 per cent and the Greens were at five per cent. About four per cent of committed voters said that they would support another party. Ford's PC party was ahead in all regions surveyed by Abacus, though the gap was the closest in Toronto where they only had a four-point lead over the Liberals, according to the poll. Notably, support for the PCs was up four points from the last time Abacus Data surveyed Ontarians in the days prior to February's election. The Liberals were down one point, the NDP were down two points and support for the Greens was changed. 'These are not small margins. A 21-point lead over the second-place Liberals is rare in any political context. But for a third-term government battling economic insecurity, it is even more remarkable,' Abacus Data CEO David Coletto said in an analysis accompanying the poll results. The Abacus Data survey also examined Ford's personal popularity level for the first time since January. It found that 44 per cent of respondents approved of the job Ford and his government are doing, up two points since the winter. Abacus says that it is the highest approval number it has recorded for Ford since August, 2023. Similarly, 33 per cent of respondents said that they had a favourable impression of Ford compared to the 33 per cent who said that they viewed him negatively. About 31 per cent of respondents viewed Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie favourably compared to the 33 per cent who viewed her negatively. NDP Leader Marit Stiles was viewed favourably by 28 per cent of respondents and viewed negatively by 25 per cent of respondents. But a comparatively higher percentage of respondents – 16 per cent – said that they did not know enough to offer an opinion. In his analysis, Coletto said that Ford currently possesses 'by far, the most defined political brand in the province' and 'remains in a very strong position' months after its re-election. 'Whether this holds depends on what happens next. The economy is still fragile. The housing crisis remains unresolved. And (U.S. President) Trump could introduce new anxieties that ripple across all levels of Canadian politics. But for now, the Ford government has time, space, and public goodwill. In politics, that is a rare combination, and one the Premier will no doubt seek to maintain and leverage to push his agenda forward,' he said. The survey was conducted using a set of opt-in panels using the Lucid exchange platform. While such polls are not assigned a margin of error, Abacus says that a comparable probability-based random sample of this size would carry a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Trump says he will 'liberate' Los Angeles in speech to mark army's 250th anniversary
Published Jun 10, 2025 • 4 minute read U.S. President Donald Trump does his signature dance move as he leaves the stage after speaking at a rally with U.S. Army troops on June 10, 2025 at Fort Bragg, N.C. Trump is traveling to Fort Bragg Army base to observe a military demonstration and give remarks in honor of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary. Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images FORT BRAGG, N.C. — President Donald Trump called protesters in Los Angeles 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy' in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Trump, in his most aggressive language yet regarding the protests, used a speech ostensibly supposed to be used to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army to denounce the protesters while repeating his false statements about the 2020 election being rigged and attacking the previous commander-in-chief, former president Joe Biden. The Republican president, who sees the military as a critical tool for domestic goals, has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines over the objections of California's Democratic governor to quell disturbances that began as protests over immigration raids. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend in Los Angeles, but the demonstrations in the city of 4 million people have largely been centred in several blocks of downtown. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy. That's what they are,' Trump said Tuesday. Trump's heated rhetoric came as he's left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, one of the most extreme emergency powers available to the president. It authorizes him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations. Trump received plenty of cheers from the crowd, which laughed at the president's jokes and delighted in his dancing to his campaign anthem of YMCA . However, some in the audience were uneasy with parts of his remarks. Robin Boothe, 50, works on the base as an audiology assistant. She voted for the president and said his speech was 'classic Trump.' However, she also found it to be too partisan, especially his comments on Los Angeles. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I thought that was better left for a press conference than what we were celebrating today,' she said. The president also called Los Angeles 'a trash heap' with 'entire neighbourhoods under control' of criminals and said the federal government would 'use every asset at our disposal to quell the violence and restore law and order. 'We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean, and safe again,' Trump added. Trump has authorized the deployment of 4,000 National Guard soldiers to the city over the objections of Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom. About 700 marines were deployed to the Los Angeles area, but had not yet been sent to respond to the protests. California sued Trump over the deployment, with the state attorney general arguing that the president had 'trampled' the state's sovereignty. California leaders accused Trump of fanning protesters' anger, leading crowds to block off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump also announced his administration was restoring the names of seven military bases that were given the monikers of Confederate leaders until being changed by the Biden administration. Fort Pickett, Fort Robert E. Lee and Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort Rucker in Alabama, and Fort Polk in Louisiana will have their names changed back, Trump said. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth already brought back the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning in Georgia. 'Can you believe they changed that name in the last administration for a little bit?' Trump said. 'We'll forget all about that.' Before he spoke, Trump watched the army demonstrate a missile strike, a helicopter assault and a building raid, a preview of the kind of show of American military might he's expected to display in the nation's capital for a massive military parade this weekend. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump has promoted the army's anniversary as a reason to hold the parade on Saturday, which is also his 79th birthday. Tanks and other vehicles will roll down city streets in a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year. 'I think it's going to be great,' Trump told reporters at the White House earlier Tuesday. 'We're going to celebrate our country for a change.' Fort Bragg, which is located near Fayetteville, N.C., serves as headquarters for U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Highly trained units like the Green Berets and the 82nd Airborne are based there. The atmosphere resembled a state fair with military flair. Inflatable slides and attractions for children were set up in a field, with artillery, trucks and helicopters parked on another section of the lawn. Right outside the security checkpoint — but still on the base — two stands were selling Trump political hats, T-shirts and other paraphernalia. Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll were also at Tuesday's event, along with service members, veterans and their families. Driscoll, who spoke to the crowd before Trump arrived, called the president 'the greatest recruiter in our army's history.' Hegseth told the crowd that the U.S. is 'restoring the warrior ethos' to its armed forces. 'We're not a college or a university. We're not interested in your woke garbage and political correctness,' Hegseth said, drawing cheers. NHL Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists NHL Columnists
