The first of two editorials on the April 28 federal election.

Donald Trump’s tariffs and his disrespect — the 51st state nonsense — saw Canadians rise to the bait like a rainbow trout chasing flies.

It was game on. Canadians vowed to fight back with rhetoric, counter-tariffs and nationalistic pot-banging. We’re more united than we’ve been since the first Russia/Canada hockey series, but there is no Paul Henderson to score the winning goal — and there is no winning goal.

This federal election campaign has produced plenty of spin about which leader could be our Captain Marvel to vanquish Trump.

It should have been about what Canada might have to give up to escape tariffs, and get on with the diversification of our markets and our economy.

Yes, we were offended by what our friends have done. But the concept of “friends” does not exist in this Trump world.

A recent Associated Press-NORC poll found 45 per cent of Americans consider Canada a close ally, down from 62 per cent in 2023.

Canadians were cruising along, prepared to change the Trudeau Liberal government, before backroom people, money people, spin doctors, advisers and lastly the Liberal caucus realized that they would be doomed with Justin Trudeau at the helm. They knew the Liberals could not beat Pierre Poilievre if they ran on their own record, but believed they could win if they ran against Trump. So, they forced Trudeau out and gave the job to Mark........

© Times Colonist