The sad story of Canada

Canada's media-backed Liberals win again, as Trudeau's legacy, identity politics, and state-funded press shape national direction and elections.

- TOM PASKAL

We'll get to Monday's election and Canada's dismal hopes for the future, but first some background.

Pierre Trudeau was a popular Prime Minister of Canada last century. Many loved him, and some hated him, but he was definitely charismatic. He also had style, buying himself the historic Maison Cormier in Montreal, and driving around in his vintage Mercedes 300 SL. I met Pierre once by accident as he was walking alone, down Montreal's famous Rue St Denis during a street festival. The old guy stopped at an outdoor trampoline, and proceeded to amuse and amaze the onlookers with his athletic skill. We shook hands.

Unfortunately, Pierre had a favourite son who died skiing in an avalanche in Canada's Rocky Mountains. He was swept into a glacial lake and his body never found. Pierre had loved and hoped so much for him, that he was devastated, and his sadness so profound that he himself died a couple of years later.

Pierre was loved by so many, that on the night of his funeral, the Maison Cormier lawn was covered in glowing candles and flowers placed there by those who cared deeply for him. I know, because I happened to be walking by around 10pm that night. There were only a handful of us still there, and I saw a car drive up and watched his ex-wife Margaret and son Justin step out and walk toward the house. I heard their audible gasp as both of them paused, teared up, and slowly went into the house. Justin was 29 at the time, and still a high school teacher.