Beyond Polarity

IT’S A TOUGH JOB being Katie.

Katie Telford (KT) is the power behind the curtain that runs the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC); as Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), she corrals what goes where and who does whatever within the ranks of a bulging federal bureaucracy.

As we watch the slow-motion disintegration of the LPC, we find ourselves speculating on how a day in the life of KT unfolds. This not yet 50-year-old political juggernaut must get up in the morning, shake her head and ask herself, how am I going to convince the boss to quit? To save the Liberal kingdom and its ‘progressive’ values, she needs to remove the erstwhile prince.

KT doesn’t appear to be the pandering type. So, what would she be whispering in his ear, at this critical moment in time? Or has she now resorted to yelling, fed up with his excuses and antics? 

Gerald Butts decamped to the private sector in 2019 (still decrying allegations he pressured the Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould on les affaire SNC-Lavalin), leaving KT in charge of the PMO. It’s a testimony to KT’s talent, and perseverance, that’s she’s been able to keep the Justin-Trudeau-Liberals-in-Ottawa shite show running for this many seasons. But Canadians know, and surely she must know, it’s time to call it quits. Trudeau’s not going to improve with more aging; he’s overdue to exit centre stage.

Without a doubt, KT had a covert hand in setting the location for the most recent Liberal caucus retreat in Nanaimo, on the eastern flank of Vancouver Island. If KT was really serious about expunging her boss from leadership, she could have chosen the other side of the island—Tofino—her boss’s favourite beach. Instead of taking a walk in the snow like daddy, the prince could walk the long western shores, get washed out to sea, to be rescued by an aging Sea King.  

Hold on, that’s our fantasy. A true friend of the prime minister wouldn’t be so callous. 

But seriously, what must she be saying to the boss? 

We can only speculate:

You must name a successor, right now! Our loyal troops are deserting. Jagmeet Singh’s ripped up our deal. We’re now on high alert.  

Nah, that’s unlikely. There have been insiders who have tried, and even the most loyal have been punished for doing so. That approach didn’t work out so well for U.S. President Joe Biden’s closest advisors either…until it did. 

Boss, this job is getting tedious. You aren’t having fun. Our superhero needs a promotion!

Appeal to Trudeau’s ego, suggest the prime minister job isn’t sufficiently challenging or spiritually uplifting for a man of his talent and depth. Poke the Aga Khan, the United Nations, the Keilbergers—someone, anyone—to lure Trudeau away from politics. Extend to him the rare opportunity to single-handedly make the world a better place!! Great idea KT, but you need a third-party opportunity to surface and thus far, it hasn’t.

Boss, your flanks are exposed. It’s time to call in reinforcements! If Pierre Poilievre is hell-bent to make this next election about carbon tax, let’s prepare to do battle. 

This idea has legs: Mark Carney, venerated economist, is the carbon tax wizard. And loyal Liberal that he is, Carney’s willing to saddle up and gallop his white steed into a Liberal camp in disarray and direct the traffic. 

A touch of KT brilliance: Carney’s employed by the LPC. He’s not a public servant in an official government job; he has no annoying obligation to disclose.  This tactic also means Carney can keep investing for Brookfield Asset management, retain his role as a United Nations special envoy on climate action and finance—and handily stickhandle the conflicts. 

No doubt KT had something to do with the formal title conferred on Carney—drum roll—he’s the newly appointed chair of the Leader’s Task Force on Economic Growth. How clever! There’s no risk Carney will throw a shadow over the boss. It’s the PM’s task force—the “Leader’s”. And it’s only a task force; if things go awry, or Carney signals he’s serious about throwing his hat into the political arena, unwelcome competition can be neutralized with the stroke of a pen. 

Or maybe we are just imagining all this...

It’s true, nevertheless, KT helped coach Trudeau (the younger) into his role of a lifetime; a political mid-wife that stepped up her game since the lad took office in 2015.

And today, as Trudeau’s political wife, KT still stands by her man. Maybe KT goes to bed at night, wedges thick plugs into her ears, and sleeps as well can be expected under the circumstances. And upon waking, as always, KT dons a flak jacket to confidently lead the troops into another day of partisan battle. Crazy making stuff. It’s gotta be tough. You’d think there’s a limit to any relationship.

And as the 2024 class of the LPC withers, and with no heir apparent, what should a political wife do?

Think of the kids, KT.

BEYOND POLARITY is the consensus opinion of the writers Donna Kennedy-Glans & Don Hill. If you haven’t already, please subscribe — scroll down on your phone or tablet, or look to the right in the panel beside this post. Enter your email to FOLLOW, a wheel spins, hamsters get fed.