Former Reform Party leader Preston Manning says the greatest threat to Canada was its own federal government, and advocates for a more decentralized federation.
Manning made his comments to host Faytene Grasseschi on her eponymous interview program. The conversation was recorded in December, but posted online on Sunday.
"We have a weak and incompetent national government, and that's a threat to the current state of the country and to the nation on a bunch of fronts," Manning said.
The former Calgary MP lambasted the current administration's "fiscal irresponsibility" and "neglect of the resource sectors," arguing these factors have severely damaged Canada's international reputation.
"We don't have the smartest government," Manning said with a grin.
Manning pointed to the federal debt skyrocketing from $600 billion to $1.4 trillion over the past seven years, calling the task of restoring fiscal responsibility "extremely difficult, but it has to happen."
The former opposition leader sees a silver lining in the dark clouds over Ottawa. Manning believes Canada's vast natural resources, particularly in the energy, agriculture, mining, forestry and fishery sectors, represent the country's greatest opportunity for economic recovery and global influence.
"I think the big opportunity for Canada, particularly to restore its own economy, but to have an international contribution, is in the development of natural resources."
The MP for Calgary Southwest from 1993 to 2002 called argued that even urban Canadians have a vested interest in the resource sectors, as they generate jobs and economic activity in cities through manufacturing, services and intellectual capital.
Manning called for a reduction in federal intrusion into areas of provincial jurisdiction, citing the Canada Health Act, federal impact assessments on resource projects, and the federal government's direct dealings with municipalities as examples of overreach.
"There's about three or four areas where you've got massive intrusion of the federal government in provincial areas of jurisdiction. It creates a lot of friction and disunity. And I'd like to see an Act Respecting Provincial jurisdiction whereby you amended all those statutes--repealed, some of them, to reduce their intrusiveness."
Manning believes this shift towards greater provincial autonomy would improve healthcare, natural resource management and federal-municipal relations.
The former opposition leader also reflected on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that it eroded public trust in experts and highlighted the fragility of Charter rights during emergencies. He praised the Alberta government for investigating the province's pandemic response and strengthening protections in the Alberta Bill of Rights.
Looking ahead to the 2025 federal election, Manning encouraged Canadians to get involved in the political process, emphasizing that every vote can make a difference. He recounted close election results from the 1990s, where a few hundred votes swung the outcome.
"You never know how important your vote may be, which is a reason to make sure that you that you do vote," he said.
The Edmonton-born Manning, who was one year old when his father Ernest became Alberta premier, wrote Do Something! in 2020 to encourage Canadians to get politically engaged.
"More and more Canadians have to decide, are you going to get involved in the politics of your country? Or put it in the reverse, if you choose not to involve yourself in the politics of your country, you will be governed by those who do so," Manning explained.
"If you don't like the current direction, or if you don't like what is being done, your alternative is to if you just stay out, you'll get more of the same, but if you get involved, then there are opportunities for change," he added.