Commentary
It’s almost time to bid farewell to 2023, and ring in 2024. I and my fellow columnists will be sharpening our pencils (or, as we do these days, typing on our computer keys), gazing into imaginary crystal balls, and making New Year’s predictions.
What’s the future for Canada’s three major party leaders in 2024? Let’s gaze into the hazy, misty crystal ball and see!
One of my favourite year-end political cartoons was drawn by Robert Winsor McCay. His father, Winsor McCay, created legendary comic strips like Little Nemo in Slumberland, Dream of the Rarebit Fiend, and animated shorts like The Sinking of the Lusitania. The son, who had his own talent and ability, occasionally went by the nom de plume Winsor McCay Jr. This was not only completely understandable, but also an important marketing tool.
McCay’s 1938
cartoon about Father Time is a masterpiece. The years between 1936 and 1940 are represented on a type of clock or political barometer. Communism, Democracy, and Fascism are positioned on the left, centre, and right, respectively. Father Time points to 1938, which sits at midnight under Democracy. Five pertinent issues are listed: machine age, war threats, Supreme Court issues, capital and labour troubles, and unemployment.
Although this political cartoon was created less than a year before the Second World War, its central themes are eternal. Left versus right. The struggle for ideas. Threats to democracy. The march of history. Father Time oversees our world until he’s too old and tired to continue at year’s end.
This encapsulates what many of us saw and experienced in 2023. From the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 5 to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that started on Oct. 7, the emotional range has been raw and unfiltered. It’s gone from joyful to tearful, hopeful to hopeless, clarity to cloudiness—and so much more.
The general consensus of 2023 is to make it disappear as quickly as possible. Indeed, some of our major party leaders would be pleased to file it deep into a government drawer and throw away the key. Others have a different perspective.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a miserable 2023. It was largely his own doing, of course. The Liberals have
tanked in the polls. Political controversies related to China, India, a Nazi being honoured in Parliament, and more have frustrated many Canadians.
What does the crystal ball hold for Trudeau? His leadership style hasn’t changed much in eight years. But his departure from Ottawa seems unlikely, and a walk in the snow
doesn’t appear to be forthcoming. Unless he undergoes a massive transformation in 2024, it will likely be more of the same
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who props up the minority Trudeau government through the three-year supply-and-confidence agreement, has had ups and downs. His party’s poll numbers have occasionally been close to the Liberals, but have
declined as of late. Most policies included in the agreement, including national pharmacare and three days of voting in elections, are either non-starters or moving at a snail’s pace. The NDP’s multi-year financial struggles may finally be
ending next year, but that remains to be seen.
The crystal ball’s 2024 prognosis for Singh is unclear. Bringing down the Liberals would cost him influence with an unpopular government, but removing this albatross could potentially revitalize his political career. He’s currently committed to his coalition with Trudeau, but reportedly
won’t enter a new one after the next federal election. Which is basically what he said during the 2021 election, and we know how that turned out. The future is in his hands.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, in contrast to Trudeau and Singh, had a strong 2023. His
lead over the Liberals has been in double digits since late September. His
political messaging through videos, speech, and social media posts continues to resonate with Canadians from all walks of life—and
received international attention. Infrequent political controversies haven’t had long-lasting negative effects. People are more impressed with his leadership skills and political vision than ever before. He looks, acts, and sounds like a prime minister in waiting.
Poilievre can’t rest on his laurels in 2024, and surely won’t. The crystal ball seems to indicate if he continues to walk on the same path and uses the same political and communications strategies, another good year is in store for him. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Will my predictions come to fruition? We’ll find out.
Happy New Year!
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
