As a child of a border town; someone who has lived within a hundred miles of the Canada/U.S. border for most of his life; a proud Canadian with many American friends on both sides of the U.S. political divide; and an author/speaker on ‘leadership’, watching the increasingly divisive nature of politics in both countries saddens me. I wonder when true leaders will actually do what they should and that is to unite those they lead together in the best interests of each country. Both the U.S. President and Canadian Prime Minister should be working night and day to bring both countries together as neighbors and as the tremendous allies and trade partners they have been since 1876.



Last week’s horrendous murder of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk in the U.S. has become a lightning-rod for divisiveness across the continent. Whether individuals loved him or hated him, no one should be rejoicing over the public murder of a young father and husband. That’s just wrong. But anyone that suggests that they either agree with Kirk’s style or position on political and societal issues, or disagrees, they draw aggressive ire and/or sheer hate from those that do or don’t agree themselves.

The U.S. government has claimed that those who are bad-mouthing Charlie Kirk in the media will be expelled or banned from entering the U.S. Using government agencies to quell free speech that doesn’t meld with party lines is a frightening notion.

In Canada, the political divide manifests itself on social media platforms by the minute. Coverage has been palpable in terms of the Charlie Kirk murder. On both sides of the border the ‘left versus right’ firestorm grows in epic proportions daily, driving extreme levels of hate into politics and into personal lives. ‘If you didn’t like Charlie you must be a lib!’ or vice versa are the calls. On social media platforms the death of a young father has become more about left versus right than about a violent crime, or about right versus wrong. Threats have been received by at least one Democratic Utah state official – blaming her for Kirk’s death. Even Elon Musk has publicly claimed, “The left is the party of murder.” That really helps!

American Republican Party officials at various levels have appeared in mainstream and social media clips making incendiary claims about ‘lefties’ and violence. Some Democratic Party representatives and influencers have made inappropriate comments about Kirk, as opposed to simply proclaiming that murder is never right.

In government and in life in both our countries, the left blames the right for everything that goes wrong then takes credit for everything that is successful, and the right does the same to the left in reverse.

Then many faceless, nameless, gutless morons on social media continuously target elected officials from both parties – or anyone that may take an alternative position, with threats and calls for violence. Some the threats of death are quite concerning.

At the highest level of the political sphere, the President of the United States openly blames the ‘radical left’ for Kirk’s death. He said, “The radicals on the left are the problem, they’re vicious and they’re horrible.” He went on to make a martyr out of Kirk by promising to present him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, offering a state funeral and ordering the flags to half-mast in his honour. He didn’t have a lot to say, nor did many other GOP officials, when a Democratic state politician and her husband were murdered in Minnesota in July. He also joked about Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband being beaten nearly to death with a hammer in 2022 and made light of the plot to kill Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer that same year.

Conversely, former President Joe Biden once said, its “time to put Trump in a bullseye”, not long before a sniper fired a shot and wounded him in Ohio in 2024. He said he didn’t mean for his rival to be assassinated when he made the remark but was referring to the Presidential campaign. However, in the wild-west environment of this age, it wasn’t a bright thing to say.

Members from both U.S. political parties have made comments that could be perceived as inflammatory when it comes to political violence that has been perpetrated on the opposing party. None of this is healthy and widens the political divide tremendously. At the same time, officials on both sides have routinely and maturely condemned political violence, as they should.

Healthy debate over a drink and walking away friends, is largely gone when it comes to politics. Personal and political issues seem more inextricably linked than ever, causing many friendships and family relationships to suffer accordingly.

Whatever happened to respectful political disagreement and debate, and then doing what is best for the ‘people’ as opposed to what is best for the individual and/or party? Why are most political votes largely split along party lines? Do the Conservatives (Republicans) or Liberals (Democrats) not ever get it right in terms of their proposals? It’s always a ‘one for all and all for one’ scenario.

The Late Senator John McCain defended Barack Obama at a public meeting during the 2008 Presidential campaign; was a close friend of Joe Biden on the other side of the Senate; and gave the famous ‘thumbs down’ to a GOP health care proposal because he didn’t agree that it was the best thing for Americans. Now THAT is a level of true leadership that is rarely seen in my view.

Our House of Commons ‘Question Periods’ are a clown show at times. Immature hooting and hollering are the norm when either party is trying to make a point. Votes are almost always along party lines as well. The running of election campaigns that are almost solely based on the criticism of opponents and their ideas rather than the ‘Here’s what I think we need to do to improve the lives of Canadians’ approach. True leaders in either party at any level should vote with their hearts. Sadly, we don’t see that very often.

Promotional processes in both private and public sector organizations typically involve candidates describing their skills, experience, and intended contributions to an interview panel. Slamming the other participants was always a kiss of death on any panels I sat on. But when it comes to electing Premiers and Prime Ministers most of what we hear from candidates is them telling us why the other candidates ‘don’t know what they’re doing.’

If there was ever a time in our history as Americans or Canadians that we needed elected leaders at all levels to lead by example – maturely, objectively and honestly; do what’s best for our independent countries; and at the same time try to maintain the best of relationships with our largest and oldest allies – militarily and economically. Currently, we hear talk of tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, bigger tariffs, no tariffs, and annexation threats by the President. It’s hurting both Americans and Canadians economically.

It would great to see Trump and whoever from the Democrats…maybe Obama (I don’t even know who their leader is anymore) stand side-by-side and face the nation to ask for calm, peace and unity, internally and with partner allies. And similarly in Canada, with Carney and Poilievre doing the same, all followed by state and provincial officials following suit. Can you imagine?

No, you can’t. Because such positive historical events will never happen. But there is nothing stopping all of us from doing our best to not propagate the vitriol and further the divide. We need unity, not conflict at these difficult times.

We are better and deserve better than this.