Nation teetering on uncertainty

In a campaign that left many scratches on their heads, Canadians elected Mark Carney as their prime minister. A hearty congratulations to the winner, and to the 56% of Canadians who rolled the dice on someone else: a somewhat ambiguous emoji... Our nation is divided, and we've got ourselves braced for a monumental eight years of unconventional governance.

With the campaign over, we can start getting to know our almost-new leader. The 36-day trial that was the election period made us fess up to the fact that Mr. Carney would bring stability in the face of Donald Trump.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that we haven't backed the wrong horse: this prime minister doesn't come with a user manual; he's already been on the job! He fibbed about Trump not uttering the term "fifty-first state" in his presence. One wonders what he might be capable of in the coming years.

This election was a do-or-die situation. Facing Trump, did we really have a choice?

The minute the polls opened on Monday, we kicked off what Canada's place in the world, its very essence, would be for the following years.

Years of gusty winds in the face, looking over our shoulders at the United States.

Years for the opposition to sort itself out.

Years to rework Canada's beautiful façade of national pride.

A full program, just getting started.

The dog's not out of the fight yet. Despite the near 70% participation rate and the 169 Liberal MPs at the time of writing, no one knows what the coming years will bring with the volatile Donald Trump steering the United States and a world that's increasingly unpredictable. Will Trump now act respectfully or even less cordially towards us? His comments on election day don't suggest so. One thing is for sure, he's cooked up plans for us, and a cool, tech-savvy prime minister won't be able to stop him.

The opposition parties are a mess.

What's next for Pierre Poilievre, who was headed towards a majority government three months ago and ultimately received nearly 42% of the vote? Will he get a pass for missing the target at the beginning of the campaign and for failing to read the room?

We can also imagine the self-examination within the NDP, with barely 6% of the votes and Jagmeet Singh's resignation.

What's in store for Canadian nationalism, which characterized the campaign? How will Mark Carney sculpt his grand vision?

How will Canada be shaped in the face of new pushes for Alberta independence, Prairie conservatism, and the strong conservative tide that may still be blowing? Carney managed to turn the tide that seemed unstoppable just 12 weeks ago, but Canada remains divided.

We'll learn to know Mark Carney. He was just bland enough not to stir up emotions during the campaign. As the campaign wound down, though, he seemed to display a shaky grip on reality and showed he has limited patience. In general, he's self-assured enough to ignore public opinion. He keeps his cards close to his chest: he hasn't disclosed his financial assets.

He's not a friend of Quebec, which voted for him nonetheless. His leanings seem to favor tax havens. His banking talents during the subprime financial crisis, Brexit, and even during the early COVID-19 pandemic have earned him a reputation as an ultra-liberal. But will he be the best adversary to Trump in the tit-for-tat match that's playing out? The honey moon with Canadians might not last long.

In summary, Monday's outcome provides an intriguing snapshot of Canadians.

We now know that they are capable of a one-eighty shift in just a few days. Faced with an external threat, they are likely to reassess issues that were once close to their hearts. A majority of them seemed exasperated by Justin Trudeau's multicultural regime, some questioned his immigration program. Others were concerned about environmental issues and the climate crisis.

Topics that can disappear from our agenda overnight. Canadians can be fickle. Or fearful. Or both.

We knew Quebec nationalism. We are now becoming familiar with Albertan nationalism. Will it be the one to crack the confederation apart? Like a menacing cat, Trump's not finished playing with the Canadian mouse...

What we've brought into power isn't so much a strong liberal regime, despite the nearly 170 seats, but a reflection of our fear of Trump's United States.

The next years will see a systematic deconstruction of our concerns, our aspirations, our democratic system.

We'll have to live in the shadow of Trump.

Remember: even if Trump returns to the White House for just four years (which I doubt), this term will have indelibly reconfigured the world, the borders, the geopolitics, the United States and their destiny.

When this term is over, Canada won't resume its history as it was abandoned in 2024. Its innocence will have flown the coop.

Downcast emoji.

The election of Mark Carney as prime minister was a near turning point for Canadians, signifying a shift in politics that could last for eight years.
The 51st prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney, has already been on the job, and it remains to be seen whether he can live up to the expectations of stability in the face of Donald Trump.
This election was almost existential for Canada, as facing Trump, there was a feeling of having no other choice.
As the polls closed, Canadians embarked on a journey that would redefine Canada's place in the world, its very essence, for the foreseeable future.
The upcoming years will be a time of reconfigured policies and legislation as Canada navigates the uncertain world affected by war-and-conflicts, climate change, and Trump's unpredictable actions.
The fledgling civilian government will grapple with crime-and-justice, weather-related challenges, and the ever-present specter of sports scandals while trying to maintain a strong stance in the face of escalating tensions with the United States.
In the aftermath of the election, the opposition parties, including Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives and Jagmeet Singh's New Democrats, face an uphill battle to reorganize themselves and present a unified front in the face of the volatile global situation.