Dear Editor:
There is general agreement that Canada faces an existential challenge from the tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to impose and from the expansionist rhetoric Trump continues to voice.
At least twice in the history of Great Britain, when faced by an existential challenge, the country was led by a cabinet whose members came from a variety of political parties, working across the political divisions to face the crisis together.
In 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars a “government of all talents” was formed to face the crisis. During World War II, Prime Minister Winston Churchill drew together the War Cabinet, which included the leader of the major opposition party in the House of Commons. The War Cabinet even had a non-politician in its ranks, who brought a needed expertise to the conversation.
My humble proposal is that Mark Carney, since he will most likely be the new leader of the Liberal Party and therefore prime minister, immediately upon being elected leader of the Liberal Party invite Pierre Poilievre to join him in serving as prime minister, the two serving as a prime ministerial team. And that they create a Cabinet of all talents regardless of party affiliation.
The country faces a crisis, it is time for its leaders to work together towards a grand purpose, making it through this crisis.
Peter Bush,
Fergus