Cometh The Hour, Cometh The Man?

Mark Carney will be sworn in as Canada's PM in a few days. He is no stranger to danger. Carney ran the Bank of England like he was the leader of a nation. Carney steered the UK through the days of Brexit. Both jobs were testing yet Carney at the helm, steadied the good ship UK. It is difficult to know anyone in private, however, Carney remained calm and focused when facing the media.

Carney knows finance like the back of his hand and is described as a technocrat. Some say Carney has no people skills, however, in a few days this will be tested. Once Carney replaces the outgoing Justin Trudeau, he will face the world's press, his political colleagues, the Canadian people and other world leaders. When Carney is PM, he will be under pressure to call a general election. Carney will be facing a Conservative opponent, Pierre Poilievre. A Trumpist populist who wants to "Make Canada Great Again". Carney will be going into battle not only against Trump but a Trumpist opponent. So Carney has a lot on his plate at home and abroad.

Pierre Poilievre has a 20% lead over the Liberal Party. However, many Canadians are turned off by Poilievre's Trumpist policies. Poilievre has tapped into the frustrations, insecurities, and aspirations of Canadians. However, that doesn't mean the Conservative populist leader will be Canada's next Prime Minister. Many in the Liberal Party have put Mark Carney forward to overcome Poilievre. Ultimately, to overcome Trump and save the nation. A large weight has been put on Mr. Carney's shoulders, but will he measure up?

When a nation is under threat as the UK was from Nazi Germany Winston Churchill stepped forward. Churchill is widely regarded as the man who saved Britain. However, some regard Churchill at the same time as a deeply flawed man. Imperialist views bordering on fascism in some people's minds. Winston Churchill was a man of his time and used language appropriate to that time. Language today that would horrify and offend certain groups amongst us.

Never the less, cometh the hour, cometh the man, and Churchill was that man. Drunkard and cigar chomping pompous man that he was, his stirring speeches drove the UK onto victory. When you have a mad man with expansionist tendencies like Adolf, you have to have a leader to counter them and that man was Winston Churchill.

If Trump's 25 % tariff were enacted on Canada, it would devastate the Canadian economy. Trump has expansionist tendencies on Greenland, Mexico, and the Panama Canal. Trump wants to make Canada the 51st state of the US. Alarm bells have been ringing in Canada. Many Canadians do not want to be annexed by the US. What the Trumpist Conservative opponent of Carney makes of all this would be interesting to know. How would Trump even annex Canada and make it part of the USA? Would he negotiate? That Canada would see the benefits of being part of the USA at least in Trump's mind. Or conversely, would he use military force to take the country?

This is where the comparison with Britain facing Hitler comes into play. And where the saying "Cometh the hour, cometh the man" comes into play. Mark Carney is acutely aware of the threats Trump poses to Canada. Carney made a rousing, even Churchillian speech to his fellow Canadians recently. It was as follows:

"America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever will be part in any way, shape, or form of America. We didn't ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves". This is an ice hockey term, as a sign you are willing to fight.

It would seem Providence has picked Mark Carney. Who will stand up to the clear and present danger of Trump? Carney is a man who will not stand by and see his country fall to the threats of the orange mad man to the south. Time will tell if Carney can go toe to toe with Trump.