The Republican convention scenario could not have been scripted better if it had been written in Hollywood.
By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Times on July 22, 2024.
OTTAWA—What a difference a day makes. Donald Trump now appears unbeatable.
Even senior Democrats are reported to have quietly conceded the election which has the younger congressional leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seeing red.
The Republican convention scenario could not have been scripted better if it had been written in Hollywood.
The week leading up to the four-day love-in in Milwaukee, Wisc., was awash with negative news about the mental acuity of U.S. President Joe Biden. Numerous Democrats, including at least 17 members of Congress, came out publicly calling for the president to step aside in time to secure a replacement for the November vote.
Then, there was an attempted assassination attempt on Trump on July 13.
Trump himself said the bullet would have struck, but at the last minute he turned his head to review details of a graph on immigration that had been exhibited as part of his presentation.
That subtle shift saved his life, and the bullet intended for him instead hit and killed a former fire chief. News reports said Corey Comperatore used his own body to shield his wife and family from the attack.
His last words were “Get down,” before Comperatore was struck dead by a bullet intended for the former president.
His wife, who described her husband as a hero, refused to take a call from President Biden after the attack. Instead she said her husband was a lifelong Republican, and he wouldn’t have wanted her to talk to Biden.
Even the previously absent Melania Trump was part of the narrative. Within hours of the attack, she penned a long letter suggesting that it was time for all Americans to rally around the theme of unity.
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion—his laughter, ingenuity, love of music and inspiration. … Donald, the generous and caring man I have been with through the best and the worst of times.”
Even Melania sensed this was a historical moment for Trump. Expect to see her at his side soon even though, notwithstanding her penmanship, she has been absent from all his recent trials, travails, and campaign trails.
But she obviously understood the import of the failed assassination attempt.
“The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached beyond the political divide—thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or woman with a loving family.”
While Americans were rallying around Trump, Canadian premiers were gathered for their usual annual whine fest.
This year’s theme was “federal creep.”
According to premiers, they are unhappy with the fact the national government is bypassing them to get municipal housing agreements to kickstart construction in the midst of a housing crisis.
Why would the federal government waste time to partner with the provinces who are largely responsible for the current shortage of available, affordable housing?
They inherited the social housing file with plenty of cash from the federal government in a transfer of responsibility that happened almost 40 years ago.
Since the transfer, social housing momentum has stalled in many provinces. Ontario has received billions of dollars for housing with very little new construction to show for it.
At their annual meeting last week in Halifax, the provinces also attacked national dental care as another infringement on their authority.
They would not dare touch medicare because it is deeply entrenched and valued by Canadians.
But that didn’t stop premiers from also opposing the federal government’s promise to establish a national school food program.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford told a press conference that his province is feeding many more children with fewer dollars than the proposed federal program.
The Council of the Federation meeting was not surprising as every year provincial premiers get together to demand more money with less accountability.
The council was formed on Dec. 5, 2003. In its founding document, it acknowledges that Canada was created in 1867. But beyond that, they don’t even include a Canadian flag in its circular flag logo.
They complain about duplication, but there is no reason why a country with only 39 million people cannot have a school lunch program, dental care, medicare and childcare.
Maybe the premiers need to upload some responsibilities, and get out of the way.
Canadians need and want a national vision for Canada.
Now more than ever.
Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.
