Sunny ways

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday September 4, 2024

Sunny Ways Have Faded, and Imported Joy Won’t Revive Them

As Canadians brace for the next federal election, a sense of disillusionment hangs heavy in the air. The optimism that once defined Justin Trudeau’s “Sunny Ways” has dimmed, replaced by a pervasive malaise. While the Trudeau government seeks inspiration from the recent political shift in the United States, where Kamala Harris has reinvigorated the Democratic base with a message of joy and renewal, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this strategy is unlikely to resonate north of the border. The parallels between our political landscapes are compelling, but they also highlight the stark differences in our current realities.

In 2015, Trudeau’s message of “Sunny Ways” captivated Canadians, promising a new era of progressive politics and hope. However, nearly a decade later, that promise feels hollow. As one commenter in The Globe and Mail aptly put it, the “sunny ways” forecast has given way to “mostly cloudy, dreary days with at times heavy rains and the odd hurricane.” The optimism that once buoyed the Liberal Party has been eroded by economic challenges, a housing crisis, and a growing sense that Canada is stuck in a downward spiral.

The Liberals, desperate to regain their footing, seem to be looking to the U.S. for answers. Kamala Harris’s recent rise as the Democratic presidential nominee has breathed new life into a party that was on the brink of despair. Her message of joy and optimism, coupled with a fresh face at the top of the ticket, has resonated with American voters who are tired of the divisiveness and chaos of the Trump years. But as Globe and Mail columnist Robyn Urback argues, this message of joy is unlikely to translate well in Canada.

Opinion: Joy’ is working for the Kamala campaign, but it won’t work in Canada’s current climate

Why? Because the conditions that made Harris’s message effective simply don’t exist here. In the U.S., violent crime is decreasing, the economy is booming, and inflation is slowing. Americans, while not without their challenges, have reasons to feel hopeful about the future. Harris’s campaign taps into that optimism, offering a vision of renewal that feels both authentic and achievable.

Canada, on the other hand, is grappling with a very different set of issues. Our homicide rate has been steadily rising, housing affordability is at an all-time low, and economic growth is stagnant. One in five Canadians lacks access to regular primary healthcare, and the country’s immigration policies are straining our ability to provide essential services. In this climate, a message of joy and optimism feels out of touch with the everyday struggles Canadians face. As another Globe and Mail reader noted, “Failure does not engender ‘joy,’ and so the Liberals who are responsible for failure across the spectrum of government are the last people to try to tap into that strategy.”

Even if the conditions were right, Trudeau is not the leader to deliver this message. As Warnica points out in The Toronto Star, Harris’s message works because she represents a fresh start—a break from the past. Trudeau, by contrast, is a leader with nearly a decade of baggage. His face is synonymous with the very problems Canadians are eager to escape. A new Liberal leader might have a better chance of rejuvenating the party, but even then, the weight of the government’s past failures would be a heavy burden to overcome.

Opinion: Kamala Harris’s convention offers Justin Trudeau’s Liberals a wake-up call

Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader poised to challenge Trudeau, has tapped into the frustrations of Canadians in a way that Trudeau cannot. His message resonates not because it offers hope, but because it reflects the anger and disillusionment so many Canadians feel. However, as some commenters have noted, while Poilievre might bring change, he does not offer a “happy vision” for the future. His appeal lies in his ability to mirror the electorate’s frustrations, not in providing an uplifting alternative.

So where does this leave the Liberals? The answer, unfortunately, is in a difficult position. The political landscape in Canada is not fertile ground for the kind of joyful, optimistic message that Harris has championed in the U.S. The challenges facing the country are too severe, and the electorate too cynical, for such a message to take root. Trudeau’s “Sunny Ways” have run their course, and trying to import the Democrats’ joy will likely prove futile.

What the Liberals need is not a borrowed message of joy, but a clear and honest acknowledgment of the challenges Canada faces, coupled with a concrete plan to address them. This isn’t the time for platitudes or imported optimism. It’s a time for real solutions and leadership that speaks directly to the concerns of Canadians. The road to renewal in Canada won’t be paved with borrowed joy, but with hard work, tough decisions, and a willingness to face our problems head-on. Anything less will only deepen the malaise that has taken hold of the nation. (AI)