Dear Americans: I feel really bad for you and the crap your leader is saying in his desperate attempt to sound leaderly.

In Canada we have the benefit of having voted in someone who was born and raised for just this sort of situation so I would like to loan him to you:

Justin Trudeau is the son of one of Canada’s most popular prime ministers. Imagine JFK filled two terms and then you guys voted in JFK Jr.

I don’t agree with a lot of his decisions and he has broken promises so he’s not perfect by any means but DOES know how to do his job.

And right now, the job of any leader of any country right now is supposed to be twofold:

1. Reassure people that their government will take care of them.

2. Set a good example and motivate others to do the right thing and help each other.

You guys haven’t had that.

I’d like to pass on some of the words of Justin Trudeau, which are the things your president should be saying to you.

Let’s start with this one: “to mitigate the economic impacts of the virus, all levels of government are working together.”

“I know that you’re worried. You’re worried about your health, about your family’s health, about your job, your savings, about paying rent, about the kids not being in school. . I know that you’re concerned about uncertainty in the global economy....” - Justin Trudeau

“The steps being taken to keep you safe have an economic impact.

But what is also true is that we are in the enviable position of having significant fiscal firepower available to support you. This is in addition to the measures we’ve already taken.” - Justin Trudeau

“Every order of government is working to stop the spread of the virus. Businesses and citizens are taking precautions. We have outstanding public health authorities who are doing an outstanding job.

We will get through this together.”
-Justin Trudeau

“For far too many people, home isn’t a safe place to be. For others, it is somewhere they are isolated and alone. And for too many more, they have no place to go at all. Tough times fall first and hardest on the most vulnerable in our communities. But we can change that.”

“Let me take a moment to speak directly to kids. I know these past weeks have been tough. You haven’t seen your friends, you’re not able to go to school, you’ve been hunkered down with your parents and you’re watching the world you know change radically.”

“Reach out to Kids Help Phone. You can call them or text them, text at 686868 or call 1-800-668-6868 or go online to http://kidshelphone.ca . They are there to listen, they are there to support you, they are there to make sure that you know that you are not alone.”

“We promise to help get through this tough time. If you can’t go home because it isn’t safe, or because you don’t have a home, we’re not going to forget you. We’ll work with the organizations you rely on, and we’ll have your back.”

“the bottom line is this: whomever you are, whatever you need, we’re here for you. And if you’re fortunate enough to have a little extra to spare right now, I’m asking you to join in and be part of the solution.”

“Throughout the country and throughout the world, people are putting up rainbows to remind neighbours that better days are yet to come. If you’re in Montreal this evening, look at the Samuel de Champlain bridge. It will be lit up with the colours of the rainbow.”

“We know that what we do now to hold things together, to give people the ability to stay home, to isolate, to hold through this difficult time, is key to how we will come back stronger afterwards. But we need to stick together, and we need to do it.”

“Let me take a moment to recognize again, the incredible work of our nurses, doctors, technicians, and other healthcare professionals. They are on the front lines of this and they’re doing a remarkable job. We need to support them and keep them healthy as well.”

“We are going to be sending money to indigenous communities for them to use the way they need to keep their communities safe through COVID-19 and support to access to supplies they need and get through this difficult situation.”

I’m quoting all of these snippets from his daily speeches in front if his home, where has been isolating with kids playing single dad and caring for his COVID19 positive wife, not because I’m a big fan of his. But because these are things everyone should be hearing.

The fundamental job of government should be to care for and reassure its people. Trudeau is only doing his bare bones JOB by saying reassuring, confidant things into a microphone once a day. But the UK and US don’t even have that right now.

Ultimately, Canada is going to do the same thing as the US and the UK - tell people to stay home, close public venues, and send people money. So everyone should deserve to listen to The Reassuring Things Leaders Should Say.