Scanning the Help Wanted Columns

 It’s laughable, but it’s probably true. Warren Kinsella, who claims to have inside sources, says everyone around him knows it is time for Justin Trudeau to resign as Liberal leader. It is that party’s only hope to “save the furniture.” But the holdup is that they can’t find a suitable new job for him.

This is an unfortunate consequence of electing someone unqualified to high political office. They are bound to cling to it. Other ex-PMs, with law degrees, could easily slip into a position with some top corporate firm. Otherwise, management experience or an M.B.A. might justify a seat on a corporate board. He doesn’t have the academic credentials nor gravitas to look plausible as a visiting professor; the appointment might be more embarrassment than embellishment for a prestigious institution. A job as a lobbyist would be unseemly and look shabby; and, in any case, Trudeau is too egotistic to butter successors up and ask for favours.

 So Trudeau’s tempted to overstay in this job because it seems he will never get another job nearly so good. And it’s not just the money, I’m sure. It’s the blow to his ego. Makes him look like a failure.

Theoretically, the Liberals could appoint him to some cushy position within government. Although, if it were not to some international body, or Governor-General, it would still look like a comedown. But even if Trudeau was appointed to some ambassadorship or the like by a new Liberal leader, it would be barely weeks before the next election. It would become an issue during that election, as Turner’s spate of patronage appointments in 1984 helped sink that Liberal ship. And the appointment would be reversed as soon as the new government came into power, as Mulroney cancelled John Turner’s appointments.

The Liberals are probably looking at a eight to twelve years out of power. That’s a long time to try to make a living as a supply teacher.

Could he be appointed to some sinecure by a helpful provincial government? That’s still a comedown. There is only one Liberal premier in office, Furey in Newfoundland. An appointment in Newfoundland would look fishy, and it is not a big province with many important positions in its purview. And Trudeau has been feuding with Furey, and all the premiers.

He has similarly alienated important foreign leaders: of Italy, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Israel. He has an undiplomatic reputation. No international body is likely to welcome him to a position of leadership, other, perhaps, than the WEF.

The subsidized media might be expected to give him a position as a full-time political commentator or the like. But he has shown no ability to say anything insightful or candid; it would not be a natural fit. The CBC, faced with a new Conservative government, probably wouldn’t dare be so openly partisan. Other outlets probably couldn’t see a business case for it; he’s unpopular, and would compromise their reputation for fairness. Sure, maybe we owe him, but why can’t the next guy take the hit? We’re struggling here. 

You’d think his friends in China or Cuba would offer him something.

Or Disney? How about the lead in a new version of "Song of the South"?