In two weeks, Canada will have a new prime minister. That prime minister will have to navigate a new relationship with the United States, a country which has threatened us with annexation, which has imprisoned Canadians, and which is unstable and dangerous in its instability. In light of that threat, I hope we take two lessons from the last American election.

First, I hope that every person who can vote takes the time to. If those who simply want to live their lives, those who value peace, order, and good government, fail to vote, then the outcome of this election will be decided by those who do make that effort. We can see the results of that to our south. Now’s not the time to attempt to object by abstaining, if there ever is such a time.

Second, I hope that all of us who vote consider carefully what we want. We’re faced with a choice between disruption of the worst sort, that breaks without building, and a chance at building and improving on what we have, no matter how imperfect we might consider it. If we end up with a leader whose greatest concern is wiping out “woke ideology”, as Poilievre and Trump are both so fond of focusing on, one who stokes hate in the country, we again can see the results of that in the US.

The right wing is much the same no matter which country it takes root in. We can see the results of their efforts in the rage and resentment that have taken hold of the States. We couldn’t afford that in the past, and we especially can’t afford that now.