ROBIN ADAIR
VANCOUVER ISLAND – As we move towards the holidays, I’d like to take a moment to thank the Business Examiner for providing me with this platform to express opinions on the hot topics of the day. As a retired journalist this is a wonderful opportunity which I embrace every month with great enthusiasm.
Also, as one-half of the Victoria Rumble Room team (along with John Juricic) I’d like to thank the 2.4 million viewers who’ve checked out our video podcast over the past three years. It all began as a remedy to the Covid lockdown and has evolved steadily with a growing audience. We really appreciate the support we’re getting on a variety of platforms where our show is featured.
So, let’s now reflect on 2024 where so much has happened in politics and public attitudes. There is no question that a conservative tide is rolling across western society. The return of the mercurial Donald Trump to the White House underlines a seismic shift that’s being acutely felt in Canada in general and BC in particular.
Blue collar workers represent a huge voting block and they’re clearly pulling away from left-leaning elitism to the lure of the populist promises of the right. Average voters are not impressed that the fastest growing sector in the workforce is public service their taxes are paying for. There’s fatigue about massive programs, skyrocketing debt and growing unemployment.
Young people who have been largely shut-out of the housing market and denied the high standard of living enjoyed by their parents are understandably disillusioned. They increasingly don’t buy-in to the progressive mantra that everyone should pull together for a common purpose and be content with low wages and dim prospects. Young people want more and seek the promise of advancement and prosperity in a country where free enterprise and innovation will flourish.
So, what can we anticipate in 2025? I’d suggest a lot of upheaval from south of the border as Donald Trump begins his “America First” campaign by driving thousands of illegal immigrants across our border to an uncertain future. Trump is also expected to be tough on trade and demanding about Canada’s military capacity. Our current federal government is going to be hard pressed to respond, especially as enmity clearly exists between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and this combative US President-elect.
And what will be the outfall of this shift to the right and on-going pressures on Canada’s economy. First, closer to home you can anticipate David Eby’s BC NDP will attempt a more middle-of-the-road approach to ward off the upstart BC Conservatives. But this may be complicated by a new survival deal with the progressive Green Party which keeps the New Democrats in power in return for pet “Green” projects.
Federally, it’s anticipated next year’s campaign will see Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives cascading across the country, electorally drowning either a hapless Trudeau or any luckless stand-in waving the Liberal banner. It’s clear that change is coming but where the Tories take the country is still open to speculation. My hope is that we see the economy placed on top of our countries priority list with new opportunities in business, industry, energy development and innovation. We need a government that champions Canadian values and culture while dismissing woke-ism and polarizing labels like exploiters, settlers and colonizers. Change is the only thing you can count on in life so fingers crossed that a much-needed realignment occurs quickly in 2025.
Ending on a festive note, John and I wish you all a Merry Christmas (yes, we can still say “Christmas” in Canada) and Happy New Year brimming with promise and prosperity for all!
Robin Adair is Co-Host Victoria Rumble Room, a current events video podcast attracting a cumulative audience of over 2 million views. Adair worked as a TV and radio reporter, anchor and commentator for 25 years including 17 years at CHEK TV in Victoria. Later a government relation consultant, conference coordinator Adair also served as a political pundit and media commentator. Always community minded, he was the Chair of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (2006) and Chair of Camosun College Board of Governors (2008). In 2010 he served as the General Manager of Communications and Protocol for the City of Vancouver during the Winter Olympic Games. For these past three years Robin Adair has produced and co-hosted Victoria Rumble Room, a current events video podcast attracting a cumulative audience of over 2 million views.
