KIng Charlie

I’m known for being somewhat anti-royalty. But I’ve changed my tune as King Charlie has shown his support for Canada in the face of repeated insults from U.S. President Donald Trump. You know, like our becoming the 51st state. As reported on the internet, “In mid-February, Charles issued a message commemorating Canada's Flag Day. Over the past few weeks, he has worn Canadian military medals while visiting a Royal Navy vessel, presented a ceremonial sword to his Canadian attendant and planted a maple tree behind Buckingham Palace. Those who watch King Charles closely see an increase over the last little while in signals and royal symbolism in support of Canada.”
      This past week, our Prime Minister Mark Carney met Charlie at Buckingham Palace. The king sported a red tie for this meeting. Says Judith Rowbotham, a research professor at the University of Plymouth in southwestern England, "There is no way [King Charles] choosing a red tie was accidental.” Adds royal historian Justin Vovk, “It actually can play a huge role, because it's an expression of what we call soft power.” Meanwhile, Charlie’s daughter-in-law Princess Catherine, appeared at church wearing a red outfit with white pearls, representing the colors of the Canadian flag. During the same service, Charlie sat on a chair made of Canadian birch with maple leaves engraved on its legs. Ralph Goodale, Canada's high commissioner in the U.K., states, "On Commonwealth Day in London [Catherine] wore Canada's colours. And so did the U.K.'s Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. In diplomacy, symbols are important."
         Oh yes, there’s this too: Charlie recently revealed a music playlist that includes a track from British Columbia native Michael Bublé.
              Even Tom Freda, director of Citizens for a Canadian Republic, a group that wants to get rid of the British royalty as head of state, is softening, saying, "The recent royal performance has blown apart the argument that “an outdated constitutional connection to an overseas royal family somehow offers us protection from the U.S.A.”
            While in the U.K., Prime Minister Carney met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In a separate meeting in Paris, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron. On returning home, he called a snap election, saying he needs a strong mandate to deal with the threat that Trump’s tariffs pose to our economy. Trump’s open hostility toward his northern neighbour, one of his country’s closest partners, has certainly affected the Canadian political landscape.
           You know, it’s interesting that after dominating the polls for some time, the Conservative Party of Canada now finds itself the potential underdog. Their leader, Pierre Poilievre, has led the polls since 2023, with analysts predicting a win for his party in the next election. But with the Liberals catching up to him, following Trudeau's resignation and the rise of Carney as Liberal leader, it’s going to be a closer election than expected. The polls have narrowed spectacularly in Carney’s favor since he took over the Liberals, and now analysts are calling this Trump-overshadowed race too close to call. Carney is being hailed for his financial expertise and the defiant stance he’s taken against Trump, vowing retaliation against U.S. tariffs and stating that Canada will never become the 51st US state.
         As political pundits have pointed out, it was not so much that people favored the Conservatives, it was more they were dissatisfied with Trudeau. Now, with Trudeau gone and Mark Carney in place, the polls have the Liberals ahead: a recent online Angus Reid poll puts the Liberals at 42% public support, with the Conservatives at 37%. “We moved from an election where people wanted change to an election that’s really much more about leadership,” said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs.
           Carney states, “It's time to unite as a nation. To build our economy. To create resilience and strength that puts the prosperity of Canadians at the forefront of every decision. Pierre Poilievre pretends we have to choose between fighting climate change and growing our economy. His simplistic and misleading Axe the Tax inaction won’t work and would cost families more. We can make Canadian families better off, we can fight climate change together and build the strongest economy in the G7.”
               Meanwhile, Poilievre has been criticized for his populist style of politics and has drawn comparisons to Trump. He’s now shifting his style, trying to distance himself from Trump. It may be too late.
               April 28th is election day. I know how I’m voting. How about you?

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