Does Canada really need or want another Liberal majority government?
Rt. Hon. Everyone knows your table is set. You have made your two crucial appointments: Justice Mahmud Jamal to the Supreme Court of Canada and Inuk leader Mary Simon to Rideau Hall. Both are excellent choices. Each has high symbolic value, Jamal being the first jurist of colour in the history of the high court and Simon our first Indigenous governor general. About time for both, I say. You got your priority legislation through Parliament before it rose for the summer, except Bill C-6. Thats the Criminal Code amendment to ban conversion therapy; the bills fate  it is still before the Senate  wont affect an election one way or the other. Last weeks Nanos Research survey is as good an indicator as any. It has your Liberals at 38.1 per cent nationally, Erin OTooles Conservatives down at 23.6 per cent and Jagmeet Singhs NDP at 20.4. The CBCs poll tracker, which averages the major polls, has it Liberal, 35.2; Conservative, 28.4; NDP, 19.0. Another poll accumulator, 338Canada, is virtually the same: Liberal, 36.1; Conservative, 28.3; NDP, 19.4. One might think, prime minister, that after your six years in office, support in the 35 to 38 per cent range is nothing to celebrate. But its not too shabby, given the reality of five parties competing for votes, combined with a distorted regional distribution of support. The Tories are your only real threat and, despite recent erosion in Alberta, they continue to command far more support than they need between Ontario and the Rockies (a region with 62 seats) and not nearly enough in the big provinces of Ontario (121 seats), Quebec (78) and British Columbia (42). The 35-38 range is a heck of a lot better than the 33.12 per cent you got in the 2019 election. Had it not been for the rallying-around effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, your government would have been hard-pressed to survive for even six months. Yes, you have beaten the odds. Since Confederation, federal minority governments have lasted an average of 479 days. Today is the 600th day since your minority was sworn in, and the polling fraternity is of one mind  you are on the cusp of a majority government, like the one you enjoyed from 2015 to 2019. This brings me to my real reason for writing, Mr. Trudeau. Yes, this fall may be your last opportunity to exploit the sweet spot of post-pandemic public approval to regain a majority government. Do we really want to create a replica of your 2015-19 majority  over-promising, underdelivering and (shall we say?) Just asking. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Your steadfast admirer,  Etc., etc.