Will Canada Have Its Own Donald Trump?

Kevin O’Leary Photo: CBC

There can be no denying the effect of US culture on Canada. Most things trendy manage to find their way north across the border. I don’t just mean the great music and films that can be seen here, but the concept of taking a successful project and duplicating it. If a show with rabid gerbils running a cupcake store to raise funds to pay for treatment while spying for ISIS is popular in the US, you can pretty much count on a Canadian version.

Now O’Leary is floating a trial balloon to see what the reaction is to him throwing his hat into the ring to be the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Currently Donald Trump is carving out a new niche in the American political landscape; a shoot from the lip, over the top, no limits approach to politics by a non-politician. And what do you know, right on cue Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary, a friend and admirer of Trump, is testing the political waters.

Recently O’Leary, a former panelist on Dragons Den, offered to invest one million dollars in the province of Alberta’s oil industry if the left of centre premier of the province resigned. Nothing like a bit respect of the democratic system. Needless to say the duly elected premier declined the offer.

Now O’Leary is floating a trial balloon to see what the reaction is to him throwing his hat into the ring to be the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. After a shellacking in the last general election, CPC leader and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper stepped down. It is assumed the new party leader will elected in eighteen months, giving hopefuls plenty of time. Like Trump, O’Leary is a non-politician, seen as an outsider, he would face several former ministers who are assumed to be interested in the position.

Both O’Leary and Trump tout a businesslike approach to running a country. It is my opinion that to attempt to do so would have disastrous consequences.

Both O’Leary and Trump tout a businesslike approach to running a country. It is my opinion that to attempt to do so would have disastrous consequences. For one reason a company head can fire employees deemed unsuitable, but the leader of a province, state or country cannot simply do away with citizens he or she deems to not be carrying their weight. Would O’Leary roundup welfare recipients and pack them off to another country? Or just cut off their payments and leave them to die in the streets. Conservatives are often fond of waving the bible in people’s faces. Well, according to Mark 14-7 The poor you will always have with you. That is one difference between running a corporation and a country.

Another is that a business leader has great freedom to do what he or she wants, those who disagree can be let go if necessary. It may cost something, but in the end what the boss wants, the boss usually gets. Those who may cause a country leader grief are elected officials and, as Mr. O’Leary found out, are much harder to get rid of.

I think business leaders should stick to turning profits and leave the task of running a country to politicians.

DCMontreal – Deegan Charles Stubbs – is a Montreal writer born and raised who likes to establish balance and juxtapositions; a bit of this and a bit of that, a dash of Yin and a soupçon of Yang, some Peaks and an occasional Frean and maybe a bit of a sting in the tail! Please follow DC on Twitter @DCMontreal and on Facebook, and add him on Google+