Bored politicos are speculating on Chrystia Freeland’s fate and on how Mark Carney might enter the Liberal cabinet. Seriously? Take a break.
If you will, a summer dispatch from a childless cat lady (except I have no cats, and I prefer the term single girl) who writes to inform that we’ve officially entered stupid season in federal politics.
It’s a time when the national conversation could and should be about literally anything other than what is, or rather, what isn’t, happening in Ottawa.
But for now, bored politicos (they collectively need a banana and nap) are resurrecting their favourite parlour game: speculating on the future career prospects of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, by further speculating on the ways and means by which Mark Carney might somehow enter the Liberal cabinet and join the team.
But no, the talk show hosts wanna talk about the “Freeland factor.” Fine, let us examine once more all the ways dumping the current finance minister would be akin to the prime minister shooting himself in the foot.
Combine this with a persistent cost-of-living crisis that has a money-stressed population laying blame on whoever happens to be in charge at both the provincial and federal levels; and a perceived failure on the part of Trudeau to adequately respond. They’re also not listening to whichever political messengers are being sent to defend this government’s record. Jettisoning a lieutenant when the problematic general endures solves nothing.
Further, is the prime minister really going to swap one of his few remaining heavy-hitting female cabinet ministers for a man? Note that last year’s major cabinet shuffle, aimed at resetting Liberal fortunes and achieving nothing of the sort, maintained its gender parity in spirit only. The most senior ranks were filled by men, more junior roles went to women. Anita Anand was demoted from defence, leaving only Freeland and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly in the top tier. To replace Freeland at this stage would further alienate female voters, once a rock-solid support base for Trudeau but more recently breaking for both Poilievre and the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh. Jettisoning the finance minister would be folly. If only because it’s 2024.
Jettisoning the finance minister would be folly. If only because it’s 2024.
It’s time to confiscate the politicos’ screens, bundle them into the back of a station wagon with little more than analog toys, a playlist, and directions to the cottage. They need some summer rest. And so do we.