There won’t be a clean ideological fix here. Everyone will have to go outside of their comfort zone.
Nuance & compromise.
Those words – and the meaning behind them – have been largely abandoned in politics as of late.
But as Canada faces the threat of economy-wrecking 25% tariffs that could be imposed by the Trump Administration as soon as February 1st, we will need to rediscover nuance and compromise real fast.
Why?
Because every party has something to offer when it comes to getting Canada through this crisis, and every party has areas in which they will need to accept some things they disagree with.
Here are some examples.
The Conservatives have been proven right when it comes to pipelines. Canada made a horrendous error by failing to get pipelines built across our nation, which has left us dangerously dependent upon the United States. The Conservatives have also been proven right when it comes to their criticism of the overly ideological green agenda of the Liberal government. That agenda has left Canada vulnerable and has cost us tens of billions of dollars in energy sector investment. Getting Canada through this crisis will require listening to Conservative voices when it comes to energy and the need to build pipelines.
At the same time, the Conservatives are going to need to give on issues like government intervention and the budget deficit. To get pipelines built quickly, and to initiate a long-overdue military buildup, Canada will need to utilize emergency legislation and run large deficits. Further, Canadian companies and consumers will be battered by the tariff attack coming from the U.S., and significant government spending will be required to save jobs and preserve the finances of Canadians.
The Liberals & NDP will also need to make compromises.
The Liberals & NDP will be right to propose significant government spending to help deal with the U.S. tariff attack. Support for individuals and businesses will be necessary. Now is not the time for our country to be focused on ‘tightening our belts,’ because tightening your belt isn’t your main concern if you don’t have any pants.
However, the Liberals & NDP will need to accept that they were wrong to prioritize an ideological green agenda at the expense of growing the energy sector. They will need to be willing to support the rapid construction of pipelines, repeal anti-pipeline legislation, and overlook some environmental assessment rules to get things done fast.
And the naive ‘pacificist’ view that is held by some on the left and right fringes (including by many in the NDP), will have to go out the window. Canada needs to spend tens of billions immediately on building up our military so Canada can face a more dangerous world from a position of strength. We need to learn from countries like Finland that are training more of their citizens to learn how to use firearms, which means treating law-abiding Canadian gun owners as an asset that can help make our country stronger, rather than as a scapegoat for crime.
Bringing Canadians together
These compromises will be difficult.
Many people view any kind of compromise with their political opponents as a loss.
However, there is another way to look at it.
Our shared identity as Canadians should override our party identification, especially now as we face a serious threat to our prosperity and our sovereignty.
Instead of looking at a compromise as a loss, we can look at it as bringing together the wisdom of Canadians to improve our nation.
If we incorporate the best ideas of the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, and more, our country will be better off and will emerge from this crisis as a more prosperous, self-sufficient, and secure nation.
Whatever else we may call ourselves, we are all Canadians, and thus all part of the same broader Canadian family.
Now is the time for our family to work together, embrace the importance of nuance and compromise, and utilize the best ideas Canadians have, regardless of where on the political spectrum those ideas may come from.
Spencer Fernando
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