It’s never easy to dip a toe into politics these days. Approving—or disapproving—of anything a leader says is like stepping into quicksand. Yet, sometimes, you can’t avoid it. Much like those annual, ahem, “digit”-al exams, politics can be uncomfortable, but necessary.

South of the border, Donald Trump is back in the spotlight, and love him or hate him, there’s no denying he’s got a knack for shaking things up. Canada, meanwhile, seems to be stumbling through a political fog, struggling with rising taxes, energy debates, and leadership uncertainty. Could it be that we might learn a thing or two from Trump’s unapologetic, albeit unconventional, playbook?

Say what you will about the man, Trump knows how to wield leverage. He understands how to turn the tables in a way that leaves allies and adversaries alike guessing. His recent maneuvers—targeting BRICS countries, flirting with Greenland, and reigniting discussions about Arctic and trade routes—aren’t random. They’re part of a strategy to keep America competitive, secure resources, and protect its global dominance. Like it or not, his approach works. Abrasive? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.

Here in Canada, we’re staring down challenges that require a strong backbone and bold ideas. The carbon tax is set to rise again, and our leadership is stuck between doubling down on policies many Canadians are weary of or backpedaling and admitting missteps. Meanwhile, Trump toys with us like a cat with a mouse, knowing full well how vulnerable we’ve become.

But here’s the kicker: Trump’s unpredictability forces people to think bigger, act faster, and confront realities they’d rather ignore. Maybe it’s time for Canada to adopt some of that boldness—on our own terms, of course. We don’t need to be a U.S. state or adopt Trump’s tactics wholesale, but we do need to wake up, take stock of our resources, and start playing smarter on the world stage.

The world is watching, and so is Trump. Let’s not be the mouse that gets cornered. GW