Occasionally, events transpire that seem scripted to illustrate the political weirdness of Canada’s present moment. Recently, there were two. The first occurred when the prime minister himself appeared at the recent Juno Awards to present Joni Mitchell with a Lifetime Achievement Award, praising her as a Canadian icon.
Now, Mitchell ranks among the first tier of musicians of the popular era, and she richly merits whatever accolades come her way, but what stood out here was that she is 82, older even than the Baby Boomers; Mark Carney at 61 is a spring chicken by comparison. Meanwhile, she took the opportunity to return Carney’s praise, while lamenting the political conditions in the United States…where she continues to reside.
