Canadians sure seem angry these days.
They are booting provincial governments from office at a regular clip. They are electing leaders who make no bones about wanting to destroy the status quo and wage war with other governments.
Attitudes against immigration and multiculturalism are expanding and hardening. The far right seems to be getting a hold, albeit a small one for now.
The traditional Canadian value of politeness appears to be giving way in increasingly large amounts of anger.
Electorally, six of the seven provincial elections during the past two years have seen the incumbent governing party booted. Five of those “change” elections saw right-leaning parties elected.
Another provincial election – in Newfoundland – is just around the corner and another “change” election could coming. A federal election looms this fall and, for now, the incumbent Liberals appear to have their backs against an increasingly large wall.
Alberta is threatening all kinds of grief against any other government that gets in its way of delivering oil and gas for export. Premier Jason Kenney has vowed to halt or limit the flow of refined gas to B.C. because of his inflated view of what B.C. is doing to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe supports Kenney’s actions and has said his province will not come to B.C.’s aid should the proverbial taps be turned off.
For his part, B.C. Premier John Horgan is trying to get a court ruling that says his government can control what Alberta can send through a pipeline or via rail car through B.C.
We have the strange and contradictory situation of B.C. arguing that Alberta cannot determine what “can” flow through that pipeline - yet at the same time arguing that B.C. can actually determine what “can’t” go through that same pipeline.
Kenney – ignoring the old military strategic adage that it is risky to wage war on two fronts – is threatening to sue the federal government over its plan to overhaul the environmental assessment process for natural resource projects.
Again, Kenney is arguing that only Alberta has jurisdiction when it comes to regulating those projects (oh, and for added measure, he is demanding the federal government scrap its ban of oil tankers in northern waters).
Kenney is also picking a fight with another province – Quebec - for its refusal to allow the Energy East pipeline through its borders.
Finally, Kenney, Moe and Ontario Premier Doug Ford – himself a populist right-wing “disruptor” who is cutting social services and other government programs – are vowing to take the Trudeau government all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada when it comes to the proposed carbon tax.
They don’t like the tax one bit. Of course, if Conservative leader Andrew Scheer forms government in October, that issue may become moot.
In short, there is a lot going on. A lot of screaming and yelling.
Fighting, suing and inward looking. These traits may be about to replace the time-honoured Canadian slogan of “peace, order and good government.”
Keith Baldrey is chief political correspondent for Global BC.
