Editorials - April 4, 2025

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has spent a lot of time recently chatting with American press and attending fundraisers, ostensibly under the intention of advocating for Albertans in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Her choice of press outlets include far-right Breitbart News, where she acknowledged in an interview that she had asked U.S. officials if they could pause tariffs for the time being, which could help elect a more sympathetic Conservative Prime Minister. She also assured Breitbart that “the perspective that Pierre would bring would be very much in sync with, I think… the new direction in America.” The statements instantly got Canadians’ backs up, leaving Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre to try to sidestep Smith’s insinuation that he aligns with Trump.

 

Attending partisan events in any country under the official banner of the province seems to be stretching the office of premier, but especially during a federal election at a time when partisan politics and binational relationships are at a fevered pitch. Premier Smith may be trying to assuage the American “Make America Great Again” movement, but it may come at the expense of Poilievre’s election polls. – DS

Pierre Poilievre was once the frontrunner to be Canada’s next Prime Minister. Polls showed him with a commanding lead, and after years of Liberal missteps, a Conservative government seemed inevitable. But politics, like boxing, is unforgiving. Now, with the Liberals surging under Mark Carney and electoral defeat a real possibility, Poilievre risks echoing Marlon Brando’s famous lament in On the Waterfront: “I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody.”

 

Poilievre’s strategy thrives on anger over the cost-of-living crisis and relentless attacks on the carbon tax. But when the Liberals replaced Justin Trudeau, Poilievre’s campaign failed to effectively recalibrate.

 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s rhetoric about annexing Canada through economic pressure and tariffs has dominated headlines. A leader intent on forming a government might be expected to defend Canadian sovereignty. Yet Poilievre hesitates, wary of alienating hard-right voters who admire Trump. His reluctance raises questions about whether he is prepared to lead on the world stage or if his political instincts are failing him when it matters most.

 

This is where On the Waterfront offers a striking parallel. In the film, Terry Malloy, a boxer turned dockworker, must decide whether to stand up to Johnny Friendly, the corrupt union boss controlling the waterfront. Poilievre now faces his own dilemma. He built his brand as a fighter and relentless attack dog, but when it comes to confronting the modern-day Johnny Friendly - Trump - his punches are pulled.

 

With the Liberals gaining momentum, Poilievre watches what once seemed like a certain victory slip away. Unless he adjusts, history may remember him as the Conservative leader who had it all in his hands, only to fumble at the final hour. His supporters believed he was the one who could finally take down the Liberals. Now, they’re left wondering if he can even stand his ground. – SBS 

The recent decision by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) to suddenly scrap comedian Amber Ruffin from this year’s annual dinner is not just a break from tradition - it’s a damning statement on who is allowed to joke in America’s halls of power.

 

This isn’t the first time the WHCA has abandoned comedy. In 2019, they skipped a comedian entirely, opting instead for historian Ron Chernow. But in that case, they at least made their intentions clear from the start. Here, they booked Ruffin, touted her as the “ideal fit for this current political and cultural climate,” and then abruptly changed course. The justification? WHCA President Eugene Daniels claims that this year’s focus should be on journalism, not “the politics of division.”

 

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was built on the principle that powerful people should be able to laugh at themselves, even when - especially when - the joke stings. So what changed? Ruffin is Black. She is queer. She has been critical of Donald Trump and the broader right-wing movement. And now, at a time when Trump may once again be lurking around the edges of the dinner, Ruffin is suddenly out.

 

If the WHCA truly wanted to show its commitment to journalism and free expression, it would have doubled down on Ruffin. It would have defended her right to skewer those in power, as many comedians have before her. Instead, it caved to an unspoken pressure to keep things “safe”. But safety and truth rarely go hand in hand.

 

The ability to laugh at oneself is not a partisan value. It is, or at least it should be, an essential part of leadership and democracy. 

By silencing Ruffin, the association has sent a clear message about whose voices they deem acceptable and whose they do not. 

And that’s no joke. – SBS