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By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday August 2, 2024

A Midsummer Night’s Snooze: A Tale of Political Slumber on Foreign Interference

Act I: The Enchanted Woods of Ottawa

In the enchanted woods of Ottawa, where political dreams and realities intertwine, our tale unfolds. The Canadian political leaders, akin to Shakespearean characters, find themselves in a midsummer night’s reverie, oblivious to the machinations of foreign entities.

Scene I: The Court of King Trudeau

King Justin Trudeau, the noble but distracted ruler, holds court with his advisors. His recent efforts to establish the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force are met with mild applause, but his mind is elsewhere, captivated by visions of climate summits and grand speeches.

Trudeau: “We have established SITE, my lords, to guard our elections from foreign sprites. But let us not fret too much; the fair summer calls us to lighter endeavors!”

Scene II: The Mischief of Puck Poilievre

Enter Puck Poilievre, the mischievous Conservative sprite, who delights in stirring trouble and pointing fingers, but prefers the comforts of ideological battles over addressing the ethereal threats of foreign interference.

Poilievre: “King Trudeau, why fret over these unseen shadows? ‘Tis better to joust with taxes and pipelines, leaving these foreign phantoms to their devices!”

Scene III: The Dream of Duke Singh

Duke Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic fairies, drifts into a dreamy state. While his heart is noble and his intentions pure, he too finds solace in the magical woods of social policies and justice, rather than the murky depths of election integrity.

Singh: “Let us dream of fairer wages and homes for all, for the meddling of foreign lands seems but a distant whisper in these enchanted woods.”

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Scene IV: The Counsel of Titania May

Queen Elizabeth May, the wise and green Titania of this tale, alone speaks of the perils of ignoring the foreign sprites that dance around their democratic bower. Yet, her warnings are but the whispers of the wind in the ears of the slumbering leaders.

May: “Beware the whispers of foreign realms, for they seek to twine their tendrils into our sacred boughs. Our democracy is no playground for these tricksters.”

Act II: The Spell of Complacency

In a moonlit glade, the political leaders gather, lulled by the soothing summer breeze and the harmonious chirping of crickets. Oberon, the spirit of Complacency, casts his spell, and one by one, they fall into a deep slumber, their dreams filled with visions of grandeur and domestic triumphs.

Oberon: “Sleep, dear leaders, in this midsummer’s embrace. Let foreign meddling fade into the mist, for what harm can whispers do to those who dream so soundly?”

Act III: The Awakening

As the first light of dawn pierces the canopy, the spell begins to lift. The leaders stir, groggy but blissfully unaware of the night’s machinations. Yet, the woods whisper truths they choose not to hear, for the comfort of dreams is a powerful balm.

Trudeau: “Awake, my friends! Let us return to our courtly duties, assured that all is well in our realm.”

Poilievre: “Indeed, let us joust anew, for the day is bright and full of promise.”

Singh: “Let us champion the cause of the common folk, for in their dreams lies our strength.”

May: “Beware, though, the lingering whispers of the night, for they may return when least expected.”

Epilogue: The Bard’s Reflection

And so, the tale of political slumber continues, with leaders more enchanted by the dreams of summer than the pressing whispers of foreign interference. The enchanted woods of Ottawa remain a place where reality and dreams blur, and the threats of foreign lands are but distant murmurs in the midsummer night’s snooze.

Thus, the fair democracy of Canada lies, a midsummer dream, beneath the watchful yet weary eyes of its leaders, ever hopeful that their slumber will not be their undoing. (AI)