Carney skating with Oilers in stark contract to Conservative rival choosing to sit in cheap seats with everyday Canucks
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The joke around the political world Thursday was that the Edmonton Oilers hadn’t seen that level of power on their ice surface since Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky left town.
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As he prepares for an expected election call Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney not only has the clout to get the best seats in the rink to see the Edmonton Oilers, but also to get on the ice and skate with them.
That’s just what he did Thursday before the Connor McDavid-led crew suited up against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Place. For a Canadian, that’s power. When Carney bragged in an online video last month that he was “connected,” he wasn’t joking.
The Edmonton-raised former goalie, who got into a game with Harvard University back in the day, said it was a “dream” come true, having been a fan of that legendary team his whole life. It was the perfect metaphor for what this expected election will be: A tale of two classes. First class and the working class. One guy hangs out with the team on the ice, while the other guy hangs out with regular fans in the stands or on the outdoor rink.
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Flash back to last month at the Four Nations Face-Off in Montreal, where Carney’s chief rival to be prime minister, Pierre Poilievre, was at the first Team Canada game against the U.S. with his family sitting not in the first row or in a corporate box at Bell Centre, but in the cheap seats.
No taxpayer-funded jet flew him there, either.
It’s a good illustration of the reality of this campaign. Carney recently said some of his greatest weaknesses include being an “elitist” and a “globalist,” which he said “happens to be exactly what we need.” Poilievre, meanwhile, said Carney “sold out Canadians jobs, investment and energy production” when he was chair of the board at Brookfield Asset Management.
This election could end up being class warfare. White collar versus blue collar. The guy who flies on corporate jets and puts carbon taxes on regular people against the guy who wants to cut those taxes. The guy who parties with elites and admires Greta Thunberg against the guy who is more comfortable with farmers and fishermen.
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That tone was noticeable this week in Ottawa when Liberal cabinet minister Jonathan Wilkinson said, “Who is best placed to deal with President (Donald) Trump?
“I would make the observation that a leader that has actually dealt with the 2008 financial crisis, has dealt with Brexit, was the governor of the Bank of England, who has been in the business community very many years is probably better suited to do that than somebody who has undergraduate degree and sat in the House of Commons ever since,” he added.
The problem with that kind of snobbery is lots of Canadians don’t have an undergraduate degree, but still pay taxes, contribute to society and vote.
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It offers insight into how some Liberals not only see Canada, but the people they are working for as well. Carney and former prime minister Justin Trudeau kind of represent the haves, while the have-nots in society struggle to pay rent or mortgages or put groceries on their table. There may be some who are tired of seeing those in the gold seats living the good life, while regular Canadians wonder if they’ll have to line up at the food bank this week.
Some of this arrogance was on display when Carney skated with the Oilers because that is not something the public would get to do.
Poilievre also played hockey as a kid and if you look on his Facebook page, there’s a picture of him on the ice posing with shinny players in Greely, Ont., in 2019.
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But Carney wins the bragging contest by skating with the Oilers.
“It was cool to meet him,” said Oilers superstar McDavid.
Carney was caught on video shooting some pucks on the net, making some passes and clearly having a blast. It must have been fun for him, but he should know that he’s only there because of the position he holds.
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The Oilers and the NHL have not responded to questions about how Carney ended up on the ice. Does it mean the Oilers are supporting Carney in the upcoming campaign? Will they offer the same chance to others?
Was the No. 24 jersey that Carney was wearing representing 24 Sussex Drive?
Lots of mystery there and lots of fun for Carney, who was also seen this winter skating on Ottawa’s Rideau Canal. But these shots with Oilers stars would be like scoring a hat trick in the political arena.
However, it will be Canadians who will soon decide if they want another photo-op prime minister using the job to fulfil personal fantasies or one who fights off the temptation to use the power of the office for personal kicks and instead spends time trying to make other people’s dreams come true.
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