April 16, 2025 - Trust is the bond of unwritten yet binding agreement between the electorate and the elected that the elected government and its leader will care for the governed and serve the public common good, not crave for more power and serve one’s personal interest and ideological agenda devoid of humanity.
Perhaps more than ever, the time-honoured teaching, “public office is a public trust,” assumes greater importance at this critical political moment in Canada. As the 12-day home-stretch for Election 2025 comes to a close, Canadians will be choosing from among six political leaders vying to be the 25th Prime Minister.
Repeated poll surveys to date indicate only two are serious contenders: Liberal Mark Carney and Conservative Pierre Poilievre. Hence, this Commentary focuses on the two, reviewing their collective credentials and scrutinizing available public records on them.
Ostensibly, uppermost in the minds of the voters is the burning ballot question: Who of the political leaders can they trust “to take on Trump and sustain a government that is unifying, standing up for Canada and is taking focused action to build a better economy?"
The Right Honourable Mark Carney – The 24th Prime Minister of Canada
Re: Liberal Mark Carney
In this regard, Mark Carney is the embodiment not only of genuine trustworthiness but also the requisite competence and compassion. He has the talent and experience in economics and finance and the record of success managing financial crises in Canada and England. He has the business acumen and discipline, both in the public and the private sectors, that will attract investments and business confidence. He is hard working, work-oriented, possesses a positive outlook mixed with humor, and reassuring. He is a beacon of integrity and humility and has sensibility for the common public good and a deep sense of purpose. He is a scholar and statesman.
All these, in turn, engender optimism and hope among most Canadians – now still filled with angst, anxiety and feelings of betrayal amidst Trump America – who are resolute and determined to work together and weather the perilous economic storm. To assert Canadian sovereignty, leadership and values of fairness and ‘build a better world for all’ in this changing world order.
“Values (s): “Building a Better World for All” is the title of the book Carney wrote and published in 2021, nearly four years ago, where he reflects that he is an economist not because he loves economics but because he “cares for people;” where he “attacked finance-driven capitalism more broadly, for losing sight of society’s needs.”
Most certainly, he has the wherewithal of a value-laden leader who inspires solidarity and trust.
This brings me to the first part of the title of this commentary, “Mark Carney: Most Trusted Canadian.” You may call it, understandably, an election slogan since the country is in election mode. Yet, it is not! It is the caption below his photo in the article, "One-on-One with Mark Carney," published by award-winning Canadian journalist Julia Belluz on April 21, 2011 in Reader’s Digest (Canada) when Carney received the Editor’s inaugural award, long before he became Prime Minister this year and a decade earlier before his self-authored book mentioned above. Let me share the following paragraphs from this essay to give readers some insights about his deep purpose in life, humanity, reassuring simplicity, and trustworthiness:
“After a few years on Bay Street – a culture, he claims, that was ultimately too materialistic for his liking – he caught the eye of David Dodge, then Bank of Canada governor. Carney had no experience in central banking, but Dodge was impressed by the 38-year-old academic and businessman and reportedly even told a friend, “I just hired my successor.” In 2003 Carney joined the Bank of Canada as deputy governor.
“But something about Carney caused observers around the world to pay attention to him and to conflate Canada’s financial success during the meltdown with its new bank governor. Time magazine went so far as to include Carney on its list of the world’s most influential people of 2010.
“Carney also takes a direct approach with his audience. He introduces humour wherever possible… and talks about the economy in the same plain language he uses to discuss what he eats for breakfast.”
No wonder he is seven points ahead of his nearest contender in the polls!
Re: Conservative Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre has a long political experience – active in former Reform Party; worked for Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper; MP since 2004 and a cabinet minster for two years; and Leader of the Conservative Party and the Opposition since 2022.
Said Conservative and Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith in a media interview taped with far-right media host in the USA on March 8th: “Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre would be ‘very much in sync with … the new direction in America’ and that Canada and the United States would ‘have a great relationship’ for as long as Poilievre and Donald Trump were in office.”
CBC News senior writer Aaron Wherry (March 29) observed that “Smith’s comments raised the question Poilievre might be more open to a greater level of continued integration with the United States.” He added the following quotes on Poilievre:
1) University of Toronto political science professor Eric Merkley: "there are some stylistic similarities between Poilievre's approach and MAGA (Trump) politics;"
2) faculty Emily Laxer at York University: “Trump and Poilievre are primarily similar when it comes to …their communication styles… and share a fondness for derisive nicknames;" and
3) Ontario Conservative Party strategist Kory Teneycke, at an Empire Club event: "He looks too much like Trump. He sounds too much like Trump. He uses the lexicon of Trump, pointing out the Tories’ “Canada First for a Change” is too similar to Trump’s “America First” mantra.”
A much earlier display by Poilievre of his Trumpian style and predisposition was also evident during the Conservative leadership race in 2022 when Former Quebec premier Jean Charest highlighted: “Poilievre's prior attacks on the Bank of Canada and the chief electoral officer, thereby undermining confidence in government institutions.”
CBC News senior reporter John Paul Tasker’s observation (April 10th) reflects Poilievre’s recent echo of Trump’s talking manner and emptiness: “Despite stating no Canadian leader can control Trump, Poilievre also said he will work to ‘end the tariffs on Day 1 after the next election’ if he wins.”
Except, recall that Trump also said he would end the Russian war on Ukraine on “Day 1” of his inauguration. He almost succeeded in “selling” Ukraine to Russia, but for the steadfast leadership of Ukraine President Zelensky with the support of European leaders. Last Palm Sunday, Russia attacked again; Trump’s Day 1 means more than 90 days now.
Would Poilievre just surrender Canada’s sovereignty in whole – trade policy and geography – to U.S. President Trump? That would most certainly end the tariff war before ‘Day 1’ ends.
Moreover, “Poilievre thrives on conflict and has attacked major media outlets” as when he said “he'd fire the governor of the Bank of Canada, defund the CBC, and invoke the ‘notwithstanding clause’ to override judicial rulings…”The latter is a tacit admission he is prepared to enact laws contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Long-time Toronto Star columnist Rick Salutin in “Dissecting the political desires of Poilievre…wrote (April 11th): “Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre tends to be highly Trumpy in his language. He rattles on about Canada First, … rhapsodizes over the size of his crowds… It made his “pivot” to snarling at U.S. President Donald Trump a tad implausible. It can’t be easy to suddenly turn and attack Trump without alienating the many Trumpistas in your own base… …I don’t think I’ve seen Poilievre mention doing things for each other through institutions like government. Cutting taxes and regulations is pretty much his answer to every challenge. Don’t count on that house anytime soon.”
Summary
Mark Carney has been in office as Prime Minister a few short weeks, having assumed the post at a time Canada is in the midst of imploding economic crisis due to U.S. President Trump’s unjustified and disruptive global tariff war. Already he has shown his mettle at this critical moment in our nation’s life. He has stood to U.S. President Trump and his twin existential onslaughts to our economy and sovereignty to protect Canadians.
Let me end with this concluding paragraph from Mark Carney: Most Trusted Canadian:
“Beyond that, some have high hopes for Carney’s future. Former roommate Chiarelli, a fellow Canadian, remembers the time he and Carney got to meet (a) visiting alumnus….at Harvard. ‘Carney,’ says Chiarelli, ‘has the wit and charm of a leader…He is a very confident guy and he’ll do what he sets out to do… That guy’s going to be the prime minister… And it may come true because he just cares so genuinely about what he’s doing.” Prescient!
Mark Carney defines and gives full meaning to the nobility of trust in politics!
Editor's note: Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, P.C., O.M., LL.D., Sc.D., M.D. M.Sc. is a retired lung specialist, professor of child health, and former MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, and cabinet minister. He graduated from the University of the Philippines, did postgraduate training and studies at the Children’s Hospitals of Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and spent a sabbatical year as Visiting Professor at the University of Arizona Medical Center. He is the author of articles and chapters in medical journals and textbooks and columnist for community newsmagazines. Widely lectured in Canada and abroad, he spoke in June 2003 on “The Global Threat of New Infectious Diseases” at the G-8 Science Ministers/Advisors Carnegie Group Meeting in Berlin. He volunteers on the Advisory Council of Immigration Partnership Winnipeg and the Board of St. Paul’s College Foundation at the University of Manitoba.
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