It has been said含羞草研究社攎ainly by Americans含羞草研究社攖hat the U.S. leads and the rest of the world follows. And judging by some of the changes Canada has experienced over the last 20 years, there may be some truth to that.
There含羞草研究社檚 no denying含羞草研究社攄espite popular, pro-Canada rants such as those delivered by Rick Mercer, Maple Leaf-waving, chest-thumping patriotic beer commercials and the current international round of 含羞草研究社渃ool Canada含羞草研究社� Trudeaumania II, Canada is much more American than it used to be.
Like the U.S., we have a Supreme Court that makes or breaks laws put in place by our elected officials, we are becoming a more litigious society, our last prime minister acted more like a president at odds with Congress in his relationship with the House of Commons than the mere leader of the party with a majority in Parliament. And don含羞草研究社檛 get me started with the level of control U.S. companies have over our economy.
Sure, we still have many key differences含羞草研究社攍ike a medical insurance system that works, a social safety net, a federal law allowing you to marry who you love regardless of gender, sane gun laws, beer with real alcohol levels, and, of course, Coffee Crisp.
But as Justin Trudeau含羞草研究社檚 daddy once said, living next door to the U.S. is like being in bed with an elephant. We have to be careful when it rolls over.
So, it含羞草研究社檚 not surprising we now have our own version of a self-absorbed businessman-turned-television celebrity who wants to run the country.
But to say former Dragon含羞草研究社檚 Den TV investor Kevin O含羞草研究社橪eary is Donald Trump light, is rather insulting含羞草研究社攖o the word light.
While Trump wants to build a wall to keep Mexicans out of the U.S.含羞草研究社攑eople he described as rapists含羞草研究社攁nd ban Muslims from entering the country含羞草研究社攏ot to mention insulting anyone who questions him, including more than half the U.S. population i.e. women, O含羞草研究社橪eary has so far only targeted Alberta NDP Premier Rachel Notley for his version of headline-grabbing quips. And he did it with a shockingly polite, albeit insulting and self-serving gesture.
In a nutshell, he含羞草研究社檒l invest $1 million in the Alberta oil sands if Notley quits.
To paraphrase former U.S. vice-presidential candidate Lloyd Benson when he famously responded to his Republican counterpart Dan Quayle in an election debate when Quayle invoked the memory of former president John F. Kennedy: Sir, I heard Donald Trump and Kevin O含羞草研究社橪eary is no Donald Trump.
O含羞草研究社橪eary may be muling a run for the Conservative Party leadership but if he carries through I can含羞草研究社檛 see the Canadian electorate investing their votes in his political venture.
Talk about 含羞草研究社渏ust not ready.含羞草研究社� O含羞草研究社橪eary would make political lightweights seem like veteran Ottawa heavyweights.
O含羞草研究社橪eary含羞草研究社檚 consideration of a run for leader of Her Majesty含羞草研究社檚 loyal Opposition seems more like a ratings bid for whatever show he含羞草研究社檚 currently hosting than it does a serious bid to emulate 含羞草研究社淭he Donald.含羞草研究社�
While Trump is a billionaire who figures he knows better, O含羞草研究社橪eary, as he himself pointed out recently, is not. He just played a billionaire on Dragon含羞草研究社檚 Den.
It seems he含羞草研究社檚 not a politician either, he含羞草研究社檚 just playing one to keep his name in lights.
Alistair Waters is the assistant editor of the Capital News.
