Dear Editor:
Early in his career Pierre Poilievre took on the role of “attack dog.” It was a natural fit for his personality and his inclinations. Although he is now a “leader” of a political party, he does not act like a leader. His words and actions remain those of an attack dog.
Attack dogs divide, they do not unite. They are always looking for an opportunity to frame themselves as a saviour. It does not matter if playing on the fears of one group means that they trample on the rights of another or if they create division between groups. Image is everything. Power is everything.
Attack dogs like Poilievre, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and U.S. President Donald Trump will always be focused on planning their next attack. It is the way they see the world. It is the way they act within the world.
The leader of a country needs to be able to work with the leaders of the other parties. People voted for them too. A leader of a country needs to represent everyone within the country. They count too. A leader of a country needs to be able to work with other countries. We live on a global stage.
When asked how he would react to Trump’s tariffs, Poilievre side steps by saying that he is not the prime minister. However, he continues to audition for the role by talking about axing the plans of others. That is what attack dogs do. They oppose the plans of others. They do not create their own.
Canadians are facing unusual times and we need unity. We need to act together. We need leaders who are capable of thinking their own thoughts and not just opposing others. We need to assert our independence by reaching out to the world at large.
We do not need an attack dog.
Joanne Mitchell,
Fergus