Canada is facing a serious problem in a MAGA world.
The nation’s “dearest” and “closest” friend has started a damaging trade war by imposing heavy tariffs on most goods being imported into the United States of America – the home of unfettered capitalism.
The impulsive man-child who treats America’s most lucrative bilateral relationship like a yo-yo is the mercurial, Make-America-Great-Again, baseball-cap-wearing US President Donald Trump.
Threats and uncertainty are the defining features of Trump’s aggressive foreign policy, which undermines the idea that he is the “peace now” candidate compared to his predecessors.
Adding to the anxiety in Canada is the fact that, at this crucial moment, the second-largest country in the world is being led by a caretaker government with a lame-duck prime minister at the soon-to-be-expired helm.
This is not the ideal situation for a normally calm nation of over 40 million people to be in as they deal with a bullying figure causing chaos south of the border.
The governing Liberal Party is currently consumed by a leadership race to choose a new leader after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau steps down.
As the race to replace Trudeau by March 9 gains momentum, it seems that the Liberals are looking for a political savior in the wrong places.
There is a growing sense of unease among many Canadians about the present and future, especially regarding the high cost of housing and food, as well as a feeling that the relationship between citizens and their government has disappeared.
Politicians in Canada have often promised to make life better for “ordinary Canadians” in order to win elections, but recent polls suggest that the Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, is likely to become the next prime minister after years in opposition.
The leader of the New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, has failed to connect with Canadians looking for real solutions to urgent problems, keeping the party stuck without progress.
The Liberals are desperate to hold onto power and have turned to two leading candidates, Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney, who seem more concerned with maintaining the status quo than making meaningful changes.
Neither Freeland nor Carney have the charisma or appeal of a true leader, and their performances in the campaign trail have been lackluster.
The upcoming federal election will likely focus on the themes of change and hope, as governments typically have a limited lifespan before a new beginning is sought.
Freeland and Carney will try to present themselves as agents of change, but their ties to the current government and establishment may make it difficult for them to distance themselves from past failures.
If Carney wins, he will face the challenge of not holding a seat in Parliament, which could undermine his legitimacy as prime minister.
As Trump continues to press Canada with economic force, the Liberals may need to reconsider their approach and look for a leader who can stand up to the pressure.
They should consider a candidate who embodies the tough, street-smart leadership of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who made smart decisions during challenging times.
The opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Al Jazeera.
