Tony Blair says Canada will become an economic and political powerhouse.

Canada is poised to become an economic and political powerhouse in
the world, former British prime minister Tony Blair said Friday.

In a speech to an oil and gas industry crowd in Calgary, Blair
forecast that Canada's energy reserves and, what he called its "modern
spirit," make for a bright future. "I often say to people, Canada will become one of the most powerful nations in the world."

Blair also cautioned that Canada's growing power will require greater obligations. "As power grows … so does more responsibility," he said. "What you need to do is carry with it your optimistic spirit."

While I think becoming a powerful nation is a good thing, I hope that Canada does not develop into a hated Empire, and continue the tradition of aid and peace keeping only. That last role was broken when prime minister Paul Martin send troops to Afghanistan, and was made worse when the Stephen Harper conservative government changed that mission into one of combat.

No wonder the hawkish Tony Blair is urging Canada to stay in Afghanistan in this very un-Canadian of roles.