Immigration

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday December 5, 2024

Pierre Poilievre Prepares His Performance for King Donald

In the glittering halls of Mar-a-Lago, where gilded mirrors amplify the sheen of power and influence, a diplomatic drama of 18th-century proportions unfolds. At the centre of this spectacle is Donald Trump, enthroned anew with the promise of a second reign, enjoying a resurgence of power and adoration that borders on the divine. His court teems with nobles—heads of state and political aspirants—each vying for his favour with calculated gestures and rhetorical flourish. Among them, Pierre Poilievre emerges as the noble in waiting, preparing his stagecraft to one day perform before the King himself.

For now, Poilievre watches from a distance, sharpening his rhetoric and polishing his policy ideas, all designed to catch the King’s eye and signal allegiance to his agenda. As Justin Trudeau makes his own appearances at the royal court, dining with Trump amid the glittering chandeliers and discussing tariffs, borders, and fentanyl, Poilievre critiques from afar, casting himself as the future emissary of Canada who can truly secure the King’s favour.

In the art of courtly intrigue, one must not only match the monarch’s will but anticipate and amplify it. Poilievre, aware of this, has taken to out-Trumping Trump in some respects. His calls for a cap on asylum-seekers and a crackdown on “false refugees” echo Trumpian themes of border security but with a sharper edge, a Canadian twist. Where Trump thunders about “building walls,” Poilievre sketches plans for “boots on the ground, scanners all around, and a stronger border.”

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This isn’t mere imitation; it’s competitive loyalty, an audition before the King’s inner circle. Consider Trump confidant Mike Waltz, one of Poilievre’s most prominent American boosters. Waltz has been singing Poilievre’s praises in the court’s antechambers, perhaps whispering into the King’s ear about the young noble’s potential. If Poilievre’s policies seem bold—like re-instituting visa requirements or detaining asylum-seekers for expedited hearings—they are meant to show not just competence but allegiance, a readiness to align Canada’s policies with Trump’s vision.

As Poilievre prepares his audition, Trudeau continues his own courtly dance, meeting Trump at Mar-a-Lago with polished deference. His rhetoric about “shared responsibilities” at the border and “partnership” on issues like illegal firearms smuggling is the language of a seasoned diplomat, carefully avoiding provocation while securing Canada’s interests. Yet, the courtly commentators—the press and the public—view his performance with skepticism.

The nobles gathered around the proverbial roundtable scoff at Trudeau’s claims that border security measures were “already in the works” before Trump’s tariff threats. The Liberal government’s budget reflects cuts, not expansions, to border enforcement, and the sudden flurry of meetings and announcements smacks of reactive appeasement. The King’s court, after all, values strength and decisiveness over perceived hesitation or duplicity.

Unlike Trudeau, who must juggle diplomacy with the optics of national sovereignty, Poilievre has the luxury of opposition. His performance need not be tempered; it can be theatrical, bold, and uncompromising. His rhetoric about Canada’s “disorder” at the border and the supposed “taking” of Canadian jobs by asylum-seekers is a deliberate appeal to the King’s sensibilities. It is the kind of language that fills the mirrored halls of Mar-a-Lago with murmurs of approval.

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Still, Poilievre’s ambitions are not without risks. His policies remain vague, as critics like Campbell Clark of The Globe and Mail have noted, and his attempts to out-Trump Trump could alienate Canadian moderates. Yet, Poilievre is betting on a broader alignment with Trump’s court, one that could position him not just as a Canadian ally but as a transnational partner in a shared vision of populist governance.

The opulence of Mar-a-Lago beckons, and one can almost picture the scene when Poilievre finally secures his audience with King Donald. Powdered wigs metaphorically in place, jewels glittering in the Florida sun, the noble and the monarch will exchange witty banter, each testing the other’s resolve and vision. Poilievre, the aspiring vassal, will make his case: that he can govern Canada in a way that complements Trump’s vision for America, that he can fortify the northern border, and that he can bring order to what he describes as Trudeau’s chaos.

For now, Poilievre’s performance plays out in the Canadian court, where his policies and rhetoric are honed under the watchful eyes of his critics and supporters. But the ultimate test will come when he steps into Trump’s mirrored hall and delivers his lines, not as a noble in waiting but as a would-be peer.

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In this diplomatic drama, the stakes are high, and the roles are clear. Trudeau is the polished envoy, playing his part with practiced elegance but struggling to maintain credibility among his peers. Poilievre is the ambitious rival, rehearsing his lines for the moment he can step into the spotlight. And Trump, the King of this glittering court, watches it all unfold, his favour as capricious as it is coveted.

The question remains: When Poilievre’s moment comes, will his performance dazzle the King—or will it merely reflect the glitter of the room?

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