Unfit to be prime minister

In 2024 Mr. Poilievre showed three stark examples of unfitness to be prime minister. The first was at the funeral for Brian Mulroney. All other speakers were dignified and respectful in their tone and remarks. For example, Mr. Trudeau praised Mr. Mulroney’s accomplishments, including his international leadership to end South African apartheid, the acid rain treaty, and the Free Trade Agreement. He said that Mr. Mulroney “got the big things right”. Mr. Poilievre’s remarks were strident — a campaign-style speech — sharp, intense, and very much out of place at a funeral. It made me wonder if he had ever actually attended a funeral.

Secondly, on October 7, 2024, the first anniversary of Hamas’ mass murder and kidnappings in Israel, there was an event at a Jewish community centre in Ottawa. Speakers included our prime minister, Ottawa’s mayor, Israel’s ambassador, and other leaders. All speakers had messages of support for Israel, for ending the war, and for standing against terrorism. Mr. Poilievre could not resist politicizing the occasion, and, bizarrely, blamed Mr. Trudeau for fostering violence against Jews in Canada. His was an aggressive campaign speech at what was a sombre, solemn and sympathetic event.

Thirdly, on December 3, 2024, and faced with Mr. Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat against Canada, the prime minister called a meeting of federal leaders. Ms. May, Mr. Blanchet, and Mr. Singh all later told reporters they supported the idea of working together to counter the threat. Mr. Poilievre used the media interview after the meeting to attack Mr. Trudeau.

Mr. Poilievre’s unchanging approach, for 20 years, has been venomous, vitriolic, and vituperative, but most disturbingly, he can not change. That, alone, makes him unfit. Also, he consistently relies on conflict, firstly, to gain the support of those who want a government of anger and of grievance, and, secondly, to isolate those who understand the inherent failure of governance based on conflict, anger, grievance. He is not so much running for public office, but, rather, is consumed by and desperate for vengeance. A statesman has none of the above attributes.

Gregory R. Côté, Irvine