Noteworthy: President-elect’s rhetoric isn’t funny, even if he’s actually joking

By Bruce Penton on January 7, 2025.

Donald Trump keeps joking – hope so, anyway – about Canada becoming the 51st state. The incoming U.S. president is somewhat unbalanced, true, but could he actually go ahead and try to do to Canada what Vladimir Putin is doing to Ukraine? Canada wouldn’t stand a chance if he ordered an invasion, but everyone around him is so afraid to say ‘no’ to the man that he might consider a hostile takeover attempt of Canada to be a feather in his cap.

The annoying part is that some news outlets, even some in Canada, are giving the Trump/Canada story credibility. As if it’s possible. What a load of crap.

â€¢ The shrapnel from the bombshell caused by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from the Trudeau cabinet on Dec. 16 was still flying through the air when Justin Trudeau himself created more hysteria in Ottawa on Monday by saying he was resigning and would stay on as Liberal leader – and by extension, prime minister – until a new leader was chosen.

His departure from the federal political scene was inevitable – a matter of when, not if, following the Freeland resignation – and now Canadians prepare for a federal election during which Pierre Poilievre and his CPC compatriots will undoubtedly form the next government.

The immediate first step for the Liberals is to pick a replacement leader, and that doesn’t make Poilievre the happiest guy in the country. The Conservative leader had an in-the-bag, slam-dunk election victory over Trudeau because of the PM’s immense baggage, but now Poilievre will have to take on an unknown leader, one who might not be as vulnerable.

Many middle-of-the-road Canadians who couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Poilievre, but couldn’t stomach the thought of voting for Trudeau, were in no-man’s land. The NDP and Green? Maybe. Stay home on election day? Likely. Now, however, those centrists who are part of the anti-Poilievre crowd may have an option now that Trudeau is no longer in the picture.

â€¢ Put me in charge of sports television production for a few days and there would be one major change to coverage of hockey, football games, etc. Instead of zooming in on the face of a coach in the middle of an obscenity-filled tirade against the referee, my rule would be that the cameraman has to focus elsewhere in the playing area.

It doesn’t take a genius to read lips when the camera is so close to the coach’s face. A viewer can easily figure out what’s being said and it’s embarrassing, especially if young children are watching the game. In a similar vein, those bumper stickers on cars being driven around Medicine Hat with “____ Trudeau” should be destroyed. Do people have absolutely no class anymore?

An obscene bumper sticker is not the best place to display your anger toward a politician. It’s at the ballot box.

â€¢ With its clientele being the most vulnerable members of our society, the Mustard Seed will have great difficulty in finding a location where it is welcomed with open arms by neighbours. Eventually, it will be tough call for the politicians involved, but a call that must be made. I guess that’s why the pols get paid the big bucks.

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Jason Wright has been quoted as saying “it’s all about finding a solution that works for the surrounding residents, as well as finding a solution that also takes care of those that are most vulnerable and making sure they get the help they need.”

Uh, that would be in downtown Utopia, Alberta.

No matter the location, however, it is unlikely it will ever ‘work’ for nearby residents. NIMBY being what it is (that’s ‘Not in My Back Yard’), finding a place amenable to a majority of people in the neighbourhood would be akin to Trudeau and Poilievre going together on a ‘bromance’ vacation to the Bahamas.

Tonight, the topic will be on the agenda at a meeting at the public library theatre room starting at 5:30 p.m. Co-hosting the event are the Mustard Seed and Medicine Hat Community Housing Society. Let organizers know ahead of time of your intention to attend so proper space can be arranged.

â€¢ Short snappers: OK, it can stop snowing any day now. â€¦ Welcome to Medicine Hat to the Police Service’s new deputy chief, Rajnish Saini, who started duties on Monday. â€¦ Since a recent MH News poll said respondents were ‘concerned’ or ‘very concerned’ about crime levels in the Gas City, it can be expected Saini will bring some new ideas and approaches to making Medicine Hat a safer city. … Luke Littler, just 17, has turned the British darts world on its ear by winning the world championship and creating a little bit of Lukemania. Globe & Mail columnist Cathal Kelly says Littler “looks like a 30-year-old who makes his living doing something that involves a lot of sitting.”