Every problem in the world can be traced to a single point of friction: the imbalance of expectations.
When people expect one thing and experience another, it creates confusion, frustration, and distrust. Whether in relationships, workplaces, or governments, this mismatch is where problems begin. And in Canada today, that gap between what was promised and what is being delivered has never felt wider.
In 2015, a new government came to power on a wave of optimism, promising “sunny ways,” transparency, meaningful reconciliation, electoral reform, and real action. Canadians were not promised perfection—but they were promised better. Boldness. Change. Leadership that would do things differently.
But here we are, nearly a decade later, another new leader and many of the same faces in the inner circle. For many, the promises now ring hollow. Housing has become increasingly unaffordable, the cost of living is skyrocketing, and some Indigenous communities still boil water to survive. The "middle class and those working hard to join it," once a rallying cry, now feels like a forgotten slogan. Bill C-5 the “One Canadian Economy Act,” was passed, then Parliament went on vacation. National unity is increasingly fragile.
There has been no shortage of speeches, announcements, consultations, and press conferences. But the results? Uneven at best. And that brings me to Yoda – yes, that Yoda. In The Empire Strikes Back, he tells a young Luke Skywalker: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
This line, often quoted but rarely lived, cuts to the heart of the issue. It’s not enough to say you’re trying. Jack Welch defined leadership as attributes times results. It is not measured by good intentions but by outcomes. The real world does not measure governments on speeches – it rewards follow-through.
“Trying” without delivering becomes a form of performance. We see it in policy rollouts that stall, in initiatives that start with buzzwords and end with buried reports. It’s not that governing is easy – it’s immensely hard. But governing without a clear-eyed sense of responsibility and accountability is how nations drift.
Canadians are fair-minded. We understand complexity. But what we need—and deserve—is a government that recognizes the corrosive power of broken promises. A government that understands expectations are not just political tools to win votes, but moral contracts to be honoured with actions that serve all Canadians, not just the folks in the area codes with the most votes.
When expectations are repeatedly unmet, trust erodes. That’s not a partisan point – it’s a human one. If I tell my kids I’ll be home for dinner and I don’t show up, my words eventually stop meaning anything. The same principle applies to leadership at every level.
We need a national culture across all parties that prioritizes delivery over declarations. Less posturing, more progress. Less “we’re trying,” more we did it. As Yoda might say if he were advising Parliament Hill: “More do, less talk, you must.”
The path forward isn't magical or mythical. It's grounded in showing up, following through, and respecting the moral contracts and the weight of what you’ve promised.
Because in the end, it’s not about trying. It’s about delivering on expectations. It’s about doing.
