Releasing the Pressure A Little

Canadian politics rose to the top of the news in Canada today, a relatively rare occurrence, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced, during a press conference outside his residence, that he intends to resign as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party.

You know that already. You also likely know what that verb ‘intends’ means. A quote from his speech, taken from the Globe and Mail:

“I intend to resign as party leader and as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process. Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process,” Mr. Trudeau said.

So, to be clear, this is an announcement of an intention to resign from those two offices, an intention with no date set for its fulfillment. There is one date that has been set, as the Globe also reports that The Puppet….er, Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, has granted the Prime Minister’s request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

Thus, the Parliament of Canada will not meet, and Mr. Trudeau will not face the people’s elected representatives, until two months after the new US presidential administration has taken office. I note – just in passing – that the 119^th Congress of the US, the one that was elected into office last November 5, began its session on January 3. Congress will not meet every day until the next Congressional elections in 2026. Each house of Congress meets only on the days determined by – wait for it – Congress.

Why am I bothering to write and post all these things you can read/hear about in a million places?

Good question.

I think it is a hope that if I type it all out I will be sufficiently less pissed off about Trudeau’s Latest Folly that I can get on with my day.

“When one is in office one has no idea how damnable things can feel to the ordinary rank and file of the public.” – W. Churchill, 1948

Addendum: After posting this I found myself thinking more about Churchill. (Evidence, perhaps, that writing the above got my mind off that other PM.)

At no time during Churchill’s term as Prime Minister in World War II was the British Parliament prorogued. It met, and Churchill gave notable speeches, on days that German bombs fell on London. He did face a vote of no confidence on 2 July, 1942, prompted by the fact that the Brits were getting their asses kicked right across the globe. In simple terms, the British people’s representatives questioned his government’s handling of the war. He won that vote. Handily. One can read an entire transcript of the debate in Parliament that preceded that vote here. It’s remarkable, with extensive and highly detailed questions and remarks from a variety of MPs, as well as statements from military officers, concluding with a long speech by the PM. Truly remarkable. Democracy.