I can still remember verbal fireworks being exchanged between John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson in the House of Commons from my perch above a sitting of Parliament in the visitors' gallery. I was thrilled to be there, witness to what must have been a quite ordinary day in government affairs. And I was watching several giants in Canadian politics exchange political-ideological barbs, contesting one another in public opinion, eager to score voting points. Nothing much has changed in that arena.

Canada still has the two major parties -- Conservative and Liberal -- playing musical chairs in Parliament; one ascendant, the other struggling to unseat them. So far, Liberals have been the government more frequently than have Conservatives. It's the way Canada votes by and large and certainly the way Quebec votes. Historically the Quebec vote has made the final determination on election night.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau was one prime minister that Canadians either loathed or admired. It was he who 'brought home' the constitution and it was with him that Queen Elizabeth II signed the Proclamation of the Constitution Act granting sovereignty and handing it over from Britain to Canada, bringing into law the Canadian  Charter of Rights and Freedoms, sacrosanct under the constitution. We were there, in the crowd, witnessing that historic moment on the lawn of Parliament Hill. 

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Canada 'came of age' as it were, fighting alongside Great Britain in the Second World War -- as part of the British Empire, with the Allied Forces against Nazi Germany and its Axis partners -- and when the constitution was 'brought home'. So much so good, Pierre, but he also alienated Canada's Western Provinces, the oil-and-energy-producing workhorses that contributed hugely to Canada's development  and wealth through the National Energy Program by taking control of a provincial natural resource.

Now, 40 years later, his son has not only been hostile to energy production in Canada, but his duplicity and high-handedness has been responsible for renewing a spirit of separation between Alberta and to a lesser degree Saskatchewan, and the rest of Canada. Portraying himself as a champion of middle-Canada, of women and LGBTQ-2 rights, an anti-racist and a globalist, he has charged Canada with being a racist country. 

A previous Conservative-led government under Brian Mulroney was detested by a large proportion of the electorate. But the Mulroney government alerted the world to the deleterious effects of acid rain, launched a public relations battle against Apartheid, signed a world-class agreement with the U.S. and Mexico to produce the North American Free Trade Agreement, all to the good for Canada. In contrast, another Liberal government led by Jean Chretien elevated corrupt entitlement for the Liberals and for Quebec to a fine art. When the turn came for another Conservative government, Stephen Harper who united two conservative movements into the Conservative Party of Canada, brought the West back into the fold, and raised Canada's international reputation under a well-governed nation, resolutely steadfast, prosperous and forward-looking.

And then came Justin Trudeau, who began teaching drama lessons to Canadians by posturing as a cheerful optimist with a penchant for 'dressing up', for challenging ethical boundaries, for claiming special entitlements for himself and his family, while stretching the boundaries of political ethics as he manipulated the Canadian economy and went on record alienating the West by yanking the energy industry out from under Canada's future.

And then SARS-CoV-2 arrived and with it a government that scarcely knew how to respond, other than to align itself with the omniverous beast that China had become, playing all the wrong cards for Canada. This is a man with utter contempt for Canada's Parliamentary system, and for Canadians in general who find fault with his style of governing, and his very personal style of exhibitionism. But Canada is still a democracy and Canadians -- given the opportunity to throw Justin Trudeau and his party out of power chose instead, despite innumerable scandals he brought upon himself with his questionable ethics and record of disgraceful behavioural choices -- deigned to extend his mandate to govern another term, albeit in a minority position.

Which hasn't impaired his agenda one iota to transform Canada into a 'woke' aggressively progressive trans-national state. Canadians across the country have begun to chafe and rebel against his dictatorial tendencies, forcing mandates upon the country that common sense and realities of situation do not support, influencing peoples' lives in a continually negative manner. His response to the perfectly legitimate complaints of those suffering unemployment and a reduced quality of life thanks to his decision-making is to characterize them as 'racists' misogynists, homophobes, fascists and all-out louts and thugs. Those who disagree with his edicts are 'unCanadian', contemptible creatures he will not speak with since they're beneath his notice. 

Toronto mounted police unit disperses protesters in Ottawa, Friday, 18 February ... Justin Tang, The Canadian Press, via AP

This paragon of self-virtue, manipulator of the public weal, despiser of Canadian values and choices has done great harm to the country, which desperately needs him to permanently absent himself from its government.

Oh, and Jackie and Jillie had a most enjoyable trip through the forest trails this afternoon of a moderate winter day of 0C, wind and heavy overcast.