That’s the one.

I don’t know if my memory of that era comports with actual history, but this is how I remember it playing out:

It looked like the Conservative attack ads were going to win the election for them again, just as they had against Dion and Ignatieff. They were ahead and gaining in the polls, and the Liberals seemed to have no response. The slogan was, “Trudeau: he’s just not ready.”

Then the polls stabilized for a few days, and the Liberals released that ad. The polls started rapidly reversing, and the Liberals decisively swept into power. I don’t think I even saw another, “he’s not ready,” attack ad from the Conservatives again after that.

EDIT: One can debate how much of an effect that ad had, and whether Trudeau’s actions matched it’s promises, but for me it will always stick out as a good bit of political strategy.

I remember the John Oliver bit where he laughs at how quaint it was when our media described a 45 day campaign as “grueling.”

I’ll also always remember how the Liberals pulled a judo-reverse on the Conservatives by turning their main line of attack back against them. I knew from the moment I saw that ad with Trudeau on the escalator that the Liberals would win.

As Liberal party leader, it’s Mark Carney, a former central banker and economic policy guru.

As Prime Minister, it remains to be seen. In theory, Carney could take over from where Trudeau left off before Parliament was prorogued. In reality, the opposition parties have already promised to topple the government and trigger an early election.

Our election cycle is much shorter than the USA’s, so even if there’s an election called tomorrow we’ll have a new government and PM by the summer.

Deep End by Spiritbox (Victoria, BC), released 7 March 2025 in English

Hallways by PUP (Toronto, ON), released 12 February 2025 in English

Change Me by DYLYN (Vancouver, BC), released 31 January 2025 in English

I looked back at all the new songs I added to my favourites in Spotify during 2024, and found surprisingly few songs by Canadian artists. Only one, in fact. I don’t think this one song is particularly great material for a popularity contest, but I’ll throw it in anyhow:

Low Tide by Deer Fang (St. Catherines, ON), released in 11 October 2024 in English.

The first few months of 2025 have been way more fertile, so I have three more nominations in the posts to follow (would be four, but I’m assuming that something from Our Lady Peace’s newest album wouldn’t count).

The federal Conservatives are very explicitly a coalition, being formed when the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance merged in 2003.

One of the questions asked elsewhere in this topic is whether a failure in the next election will cause that to splinter again. I can’t even begin to speculate if that’s possible, but I can imagine at least some people are thinking about it.

I know it’s easier said than done. I also believe in not making perfect the enemy of good. I’d rather have the whole population of Canada doing as much as they can, even if it means still buying certain American products on occasion, than only a few people making a 100% break.