Donald Trump has posed numerous threats to Canada's prosperity, both short-term and long. Yet one of the greatest long-term dangers is largely self-inflicted: the risk that when Trump finally departs, Canada will slump back into its favorite easy chair, as if nothing has changed. This complacency is already evident.
The Return of Complacency
The disbanding of the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations after Joe Biden's election was a low-key astonishing moment, suggesting that Canada assumed Democratic administrations are always friendly. Now, under Mark Carney's technocratic leadership, we seem to be repeating this pattern, lulled into a medium-income catatonia despite Trump's unpredictability. The amount of pure fantasy passing for politics in Canada is extraordinary.
Vancouver's MLB Dream
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim wants a Major League Baseball team and has asked for wealthy potential owners to come forward. This seems backwards—shouldn't billionaires be petitioning City Hall? Forbes reported that repeated requests to Sim's office went unreturned. While credible owners like Ryan Reynolds are reportedly interested, it's unclear why MLB would choose Vancouver over similar U.S. markets with more corporate money and taxpayers willing to fund stadiums.
The World Cup in Vancouver is projected to cost at least $625 million for seven soccer games, possibly reaching $1 billion. Subsidizing a stadium for a league with an average salary of US$5.4 million may become even less popular. Some politicians' brainless sporting fantasies do come true, alas for taxpayers.
Quebec's Political Fantasies
Quebec politicians support bringing back the Montreal Expos, but most insist it must be at no public expense. With an election approaching, other fantasies abound. A Léger Marketing poll found the Parti Québécois and Liberals nearly tied at 31% and 28%. If the PQ abandoned its promise of a third sovereignty referendum, support would surge to 39%, while Liberals would drop to 25%.
These examples reflect a broader trend of unearned decadence—a belief that Canada can afford grandiose projects without sacrifice. The country must awaken from this fantasy before it's too late.
