The Buzz March 15th: Canada's 24th Prime Minister Takes the Stage

The Buzz March 15th: Canada's 24th Prime Minister Takes the Stage

Welcome to the weekend and welcome to The Buzz.

In the history of our country, we have had twenty-four prime ministers. I can say I’ve been lucky enough to have interviewed, at some point in their careers, half of them.

The latest Right Honourable was sworn into office yesterday along with his super small cabinet. Mind you, there’s small and then there’s small. The first Canadian cabinet was made up of thirteen members. Mark Carney’s will be 23. A far cry from the cabinets in the forties that started in the mid-eighties with Brian Mulroney. Of course, this is a pre-election cabinet, where part of the idea is to look frugal and responsible. If Carney wins the upcoming election, will he maintain that stingy 23 number? We’ll see. What is Pierre Poilievre promising?

Okay, enough history, let’s play the present. Some initial takes on the first hours of the new Carney administration.

Let’s start with opinion columnist Stephen Maher who wrote this piece for the Toronto Star:

🔒 Opinion | This Is the Signal Mark Carney Is Sending with His Cabinet Picks Read >

So where does today leave us?

Perched on the ledge looking into the abyss of an election campaign which could start as early as next week. What’s going to happen is the question we put to the Globe’s Andrew Coyne:

🔒 Canada’s unprecedented election will turn on this question: Who can be the best leader? Read >

There’s more on the new cabinet and a lot more on the national political scene on our two YouTube podcasts this week.

You can see Chantal Hebert and Rob Russo on Good Talk here

And then Bruce Anderson and Fred DeLorey on Smoke, Mirrors and the Truth here

Interesting new research from Angus Reid this week trying to determine where there is some support, inside Canada, for Donald Trump’s 51st state push.

Not much, but there are some interesting numbers to crunch, on both sides of the border. Here’s how the Angus Reid Institute puts it:

51st State: Canadian resolve in saying ‘no’ continues, while a massive gap between Trump & Americans is revealed Read >

When it comes to trotting out the line, “Let’s not go there,” you may have heard it used when someone raises the possibility of the United States invading Canada.

Most of us agree, that will never happen. But what if it did?

Malcolm Nance is someone you’ve probably seen on TV talk shows over the years. He’s got the background and the qualifications to deal responsibly with that question. In other words, he’s got cred. So that’s what he did this week with his Substack. You ready for this? Ok, dive in:

URGENT WARNING: Trump is Planning to Invade Canada & Greenland Read >

If you’ve been wondering how some of Canada’s soldiers are thinking about the current situation, consider this:

Ask yourself how you’d feel if you’d served with CAF in Afghanistan, fought alongside your US counterparts and watched members from both sides die on the battlefield. That’s the question the CBC’s Murray Brewster asked:

Trump's threats leave Canadian Afghan war veterans feeling angry and betrayed Read >

No matter whether you feel Canada is dealing with this trade war situation well or not, others are watching from around the world.

Because the fight may be coming soon to them as well. Thomas Seal at Bloomberg has a sense of what they’re learning from watching Canada.

World Facing Trump’s Tariffs Watches Canada Test Ways of Fighting Back Read >

I want to stick with the Canada story for all of The Buzz this weekend.

There’s just so much happening and the stakes are so high. Canadians will have their part in this story and not just in deciding what to buy at the grocery store. They are going to have the chance to vote and if this doesn’t produce a record turnout, I don’t know what will. Our very future is at stake.

So, let’s get some differing views on what’s ahead, starting with this from The Tyee:

Canada Is in a Fight for Its Life Read >

Now to the other side of the spectrum with Rick Bell in the Calgary Herald:

Bell: Carney and Poilievre — an ugly match-up in the brawl for it all Read >

If you had no trouble determining where Rick Bell is leaning, then you will also have no trouble figuring out Bruce Arthur’s take in the Toronto Star:

🔒 Opinion | When It Comes to Dealing with Donald Trump, Pierre Poilievre Sounds Like Yesterday’s Man Read >

Great opportunity now to turn to someone with a broad worldview, at least when it comes to political leaders in times of crisis.

In this case, which leader do you want to follow on the political battlefield?

Robin Sears has seen a few big battles over the years, usually sitting beside an NDP leader of the past. Here’s his analysis of what’s needed now:

🔒 Opinion | Justin Trudeau Is Out. Time for an Economic Wartime Leader Read >

This is going to be a big week. For a new government. For an opposition trying to pivot. And for a new prime minister. And who knows? We could be in an election by the time you open The Buzz next Saturday. The Buzz will be back in seven days to try and sort out what happened. Stay safe and stay well.

The Buzz is a weekly publication from National Newswatch that shares insights and commentary on the week’s developments in politics, news and current affairs.