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The Niagara Independent, March 6, 2020 \u2014<\/em>\u00a0 Former Timiskaming MP John MacDougall remembers the overwhelming feeling of relief on February 29, 1984, the day when PM Trudeau took his walk in the snow.<\/p>\n Sitting in the House of Commons chamber, the rookie MP representing an immense northern Ontario riding stretching from Lake Temagami to Moosonee, sensed Canada was teetering on a precipice \u2013 and from his vantage point, MacDougall worried that Pierre Trudeau was nonchalantly (perhaps intentionally) pushing the country over the edge. On that February 29th<\/sup>, he along with many Canadians were relieved to learn Trudeau was choosing to leave politics and walk away from the mess he had created.<\/p>\n In 1982, John MacDougall was swept to his bi-election victory on a wave of anti-Trudeau sentiment. Many Canadians had grown angry at how the Trudeau Government altered the face and character of Canada \u2014 Trudeau marshalled policies that buried the country in debt, weakened the country\u2019s resource and business sectors, and gave rise to regional tensions and a separation movement. Today, MacDougall assesses the state of his country and, sadly, he sees a similar landscape. In 36 short years, now by a hand of a younger Trudeau, history is repeating itself.<\/p>\n \u201cPierre Trudeau was a brilliant individual; his son not so,\u201d says MacDougall, who is animated when comparing and contrasting the father and son Trudeau \u2013 and Canada then and now. \u201cThere are two striking similarities between them that sum up their approach to governing. There is an arrogance in Justin that I saw in his father. It\u2019s a disrespect for anyone with a contrary view. Pierre had a dislike for Parliament and he didn\u2019t like Question Period and was often rude to MPs. He ran the country from his Prime Minister\u2019s Office. It is fair to say Justin holds that same contempt for the House of Commons. He would rather speak with Gerald Butts and his PMO staff than consult with MPs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBoth also love big government \u2013 the bigger the better. They like a model of government like China where leaders dictate, where they can put in place laws and regulations and government programs that will control people from cradle to grave. Of course, big government comes at a cost. But that doesn\u2019t matter for either of them. With Justin and (Bill) Morneau I hear echoes of Pierre\u2019s finance minister Alan MacEachern when he laughed at us and said \u201cWhat\u2019s a deficit?\u201d They have no regard for the taxpayer, no regard for the country\u2019s economy. It is likely due to Trudeau\u2019s upbringing.\u201d<\/p>\n MacDougall won the \u201982 bi-election and was re-elected in \u201984. In 1988, he was the only PC MP from northern Ontario to be returned to Ottawa in the great Canada-US Free Trade election, overcoming the strong fears of what the new trade deal might mean for the resource-based regions of the country. MacDougall spent his time in Ottawa championing both the development of resources and the livelihood of single-industry small town Canada. Today he is troubled for northern Ontario and rural Canada.<\/p>\n \u201cPierre wanted control of the resources and he attacked the oil and gas sectors with the National Energy Program. Justin is even more damaging to the sector. This government is not listening to resource industries. It is introducing new regulations and new approval processes that will not permit industries to do their jobs. I see that Justin spoke at the Prospectors and Developers (Association of Canada) conference and said it is time for Canada\u2019s industry to transition from a resource economy. Seriously, Canadians are to transition from these industries when countries such as China, Russia and India increase their wealth from developing resources? Like Pierre, Justin doesn\u2019t consider the impact his policies are having on the resource sector, on rural Canada. I\u2019d like to ask him what is going to happen to the hundreds of single-industry towns dependent on resource development across our country?\u201d<\/p>\n MacDougall acknowledges politics today is a lot different from when he was in Ottawa. \u201cIn many ways the world has gotten smaller. There are more outside influences factoring into Canada\u2019s politics. Lobbyists and special interest groups are well funded and are involved in every aspect of our government. We have seen international lobbyists impacting our country\u2019s economy \u2013 for example, how the Rockefeller Foundation is closing down Alberta\u2019s oil sands. It has become much harder for MPs to have a voice on issues affecting their ridings. There are too many hidden agendas being played out by people beyond our borders \u2013 including at the U.N.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMPs\u2019 voices has also been silenced by today\u2019s Party discipline. Pierre Trudeau called MPs \u201cnobodies\u201d and his son has the same attitude: MPs are to be seen and not heard. I was fortunate to serve under Brian Mulroney who respected his MPs\u2019 concerns for their constituents. We had votes in the House where we could vote our conscience and vote for our constituents. Today, every vote is whipped and the Liberal backbencher must support the Government or else. If you represent a mining or oil town, you cannot speak up for your constituents\u2019 concerns about the damage the carbon tax is doing to your community. The strict party discipline is one-step closer to dictatorship, to Trudeau\u2019s China-styled government.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked to sum up his thoughts on the Trudeaus \u2013 both Senior and Junior \u2013 MacDougall is reflective, \u201cI have been fortunate to live and work through the years in a Canada that is a source of great pride. But today I look at the next generation, and the debt and counter-productive policies in place in Canada, and I know they will not have the same opportunities for work or quality of life. I do feel for the younger generation and I feel for those in rural Canada. I have that same, sick feeling in my stomach that I had in 1982 when I ran. We live in the greatest country, yet we are squandering Canada\u2019s riches.\u201d<\/p>\n John MacDougall\u2019s remarks are recorded from two conversations this past week, on the anniversary of PET\u2019s \u201cwalk in the snow\u201d and on March 3rd.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Photo Credit:<\/em> Pierre Trudeau (Chiloa\/Flickr) and Justin Trudeau\/Facebook<\/em><\/p>\n Chris George<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0is an Ottawa-based government affairs advisor and wordsmith, president of\u00a0CG&A COMMUNICATIONS<\/a>. Contact:\u00a0ChrisG.George@gmail.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n