2025-09

Saturday April 26, 2025 | Newsletter 29

As we wrap up the 2025 federal election campaign, Canada is finally ready to fill the six-month void where leadership should have been. It all kicked off on the U.S. election day when voters decided to hand the keys back to a criminal, sending Trudeau’s already shaky government into a tailspin. In a desperate attempt to win back support, Trudeau’s team rolled out expensive “tax relief” schemes that even his Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland couldn’t back. The resulting fallout had Trudeau wheeling through the holiday season with a disastrous budget tied to the roof of his metaphorical clown car, which predictably crashed on January 6, 2025, when he finally called it quits.

Even after resigning, Trudeau hung around a little longer while Parliament stayed shut and Trump threw his usual tantrums—with tariffs and insults aimed right at Canada. Meanwhile, the Liberals scrambled to find a new leader, while provincial Premiers did their best impression of keeping things together. Enter Mark Carney, the guy with the impressive resume and the task of steering Canada back on track. But first, he has to survive the federal election. Time to brush off the distractions, and the disruption of Timbit Trump and get down to business.

With the April 28, 2025, election looming, this week has been all about setting the stage. The Liberals have a slight lead in the polls, while the other parties are busy trying to make their pitch. Here’s a look at what’s been going down this week.

Monday April 21, 2025
Re-run of the week – July 30, 2022: “Checking Off Apologies”
The week began with the somber news of Pope Francis’s death, prompting reflections on leadership and reconciliation in Canada. His legacy of advocating for Indigenous rights resonates as the nation grapples with its own political challenges in the lead-up to the election. Visit the Pope Francis Retrospective Gallery.

Tuesday April 22, 2025
“Campaign Promises vs. Reality”  As the candidates ramped up their campaigns with promises of tax cuts, the underlying reality of potential spending cuts raises eyebrows. Voters are left questioning the sincerity of these commitments, emphasizing the need for transparency as the election approaches.
YouTube: Austerity is Coming

Wednesday April 23, 2025
“NATO Commitments Under Scrutiny”  Trump, Rubio, and Poilievre are shown grappling with NATO’s 2% GDP spending target. Poilievre’s past criticism of Liberal defence spending now rings hollow, as his own commitments mirror theirs. With global tensions rising, voters are left wondering if these targets will lead to meaningful action on national security. Other partners are committing to 3 to 4% as a consensus forms for Canada to up our commitment to a new improved level of defence laggard.
Youtube: PPs 2% Promise

Thursday April 24, 2025
“The NDP’s Dilemma”  Jagmeet Singh faces a critical moment as the NDP’s poll numbers dwindle. While he has achieved some policy victories, the party needs a dramatic turnaround to regain traction. Time is running out for Singh to solidify his leadership and vision for the NDP. With the election race turning into a two party competition the third, forth, fifth and even sixth parties are veering on complete irrelevance.
Youtube: NDP Prop  Shop

Friday April 25, 2025
“Trump’s Shadow in Canadian Politics”  Canadians are pondering which candidate most mirrors Trump, as if the answer isn’t glaringly obvious. The question pops up frequently in hyper-partisan conservative posts and the comment sections of mainstream op-eds. A popular jab suggests, “Carney is Trump’s guy because he’s weak.” Meanwhile, in more grounded circles, Pierre Poilievre’s style and tactics have drawn comparisons to Trump, sparking concerns about how this might sway voter sentiment in the upcoming election.
You Tube: Pre-Electlion Day Reflection

“Elephant in the Election Room”  Featuring a beaver holding a “Vote 2025” sign, staring down a Trump caricature. This imagery illustrates the chaotic political atmosphere and the pervasive influence of Trump’s persona over Canadian politics. Voters must navigate their choices carefully as they consider the implications of such influences.
YouTube: The 2025 Federal Election Elephant

This week has really put the spotlight on the tangled web of this election, from pondering leadership to the messy business of defense spending and party politics. As April 28 draws near, Canadians are going to have to think carefully about their choices, since each one could have a big impact on the nation’s future. After the election, don’t be surprised if a leader or two—or maybe even three—decide to exit stage left, especially if one of the top parties (looking at you, Liberals) grabs a majority. If Canadians wake up to a solid mandate on Tuesday (hint: Carney), we might see some chit-chat between the White House and Ottawa by the end of the week. Let’s toast to finally closing up the power vacuum in Canada and crossing our fingers for a government with a strong majority backing it.

April 21-26, 2025 Animated Feature

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