A price to pay

As a veteran with 30-plus years of service I find Trudeau’s response to a wounded warrior in Edmonton disgraceful.

If our Veterans are “asking for more than you’re able to give right now,” I strongly suggest that military intervention either at home or abroad be removed as an option in diplomatic solutions to world problems. In case readers don’t know or have forgotten, military intervention is usually the last option for a nation that is considering internal “Aid to the Civil Power” or military action against some other country. There is always a price to pay for such action. However, now that we can’t afford to look after our wounded warriors, let’s take the option off the table. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau championed the Kinder Morgan pipeline in the face of hostile opposition, fine words alone don’t butter any parsnips.

If B.C. remains intransigent, the prime minister must invoke the “work for the general advantage of Canada” provisions of the Constitution and complete the project without further delay.

To this end, Trudeau could do no better than emulate his father, who, when asked what action he proposed to meet the Quebec Crisis of October 1970, said “Just watch me” and followed it up by, inter alia, invoking the War Measures Act and calling out the military in aid of the civil power.

When asked how he would justify such apparent overkill to the “bleeding hearts” he simply replied “Let them bleed.” And behold, the crisis soon passed.

I agree with Coyne, but at the same time Ottawa should have promoted — as many have — “erasing” the border between B.C. and Alberta when it comes to resource development and management.

I was briefly optimistic when B.C. miraculously elected an NDP government. If ever, this should be the time for regional interest to rule. Andrew Coyne and Kelly McParland suggest that it is time for Mr. Trudeau to take action in support of Kinder Morgan in the face of the latest obstruction thrown up by B.C. Premier John Horgan. In a recent letter, a reader points out that, at present, there is no “deed” for the prime minister to do. The pipeline has been approved and should be built.

It seems to me that there is a very good likelihood that the prime minister will be challenged to take action later in the building process. That will occur when B.C. protesters seek to impede construction using acts of civil disobedience. Then Mr. Trudeau might very well need the prompt and effective services of the troops, whose veterans are fighting a legal battle with his government seeking more support than his government is “able to give.”

Interesting times indeed.