Gather 'round, friends, for I bear good tidings. Last year at around this time, I made a bunch of predictions for what was coming in the year ahead. And boy, was I right.
Okay, okay. Maybe only some of it. But who could have foreseen everything that happened this year in advance?
In the spirit of the season — to really take a hard look at myself, and how great I am, I mean — it seems like it's a good thing to go back and see what I thought last year, and then we can laugh at how things really turned out.
So let's do it.
You can find my predictions column right here, if you want to get all the way up to speed. Otherwise, I'll just paraphrase my predictions.
First let's do the things I got right, so I can feel good about myself, then we'll look at the things I kinda-sorta got correct. Then, we'll see what I completely nerfed on, and question whether I'm really qualified to sit atop the throne of Nostradamus.
The Good:
- We did not get jetpacks this year, nor flying cars. Nailed it!
- I predicted electoral reform would be killed, the government would pay little price. I think that's mostly right. If they've paid any price for dropping this plan, it's that it's one of many broken promises. I did also say Maryam Monsef, who led the file, would be shuffled out of cabinet, which I was half-right about. She was shuffled into another department. As the one doing the judging around here, I'm going to declare this a total victory.
- If you're able to read this, it means I was right and there was no nuclear holocaust and we're not living in a radioactive wasteland. Congrats, everyone! There are still a couple weeks left in the year, but I'm confident we're going to make it this last bit without being atomized in a massive nuclear exchange. The second half of this prediction was only applicable if I was wrong on the first half.
- I figured there'd be some health story this year that would be reported everywhere but probably be wrong. It hasn't been disproven yet, but here's a recent one on how drinking between three and seven cups of coffee will cut your chance of dying. Well, cut your chance from dying from certain illnesses, it's not going to make you immortal. Which almost exactly fits the mold of health stories that's reversed every few months. And do you remember the miracle Zamboni treatment for MS? Turns out that was total bullshit. Starting to think health news isn't trustworthy.
- Elizabeth May would stay on as leader of the Green Party, I said, for she is the party and the party is her. She is eternal, and I was right.
The Iffy:
- So, I said the 6/49 numbers for the third drawing of February would be 04-11-15-21-27-33. The actual numbers were: 03-04-08-12-13-46, with the bonus number 26. So, I guessed one number correctly, which means I wasn't completely wrong. I'll say I'm very glad I wasn't right, though. I didn't play these numbers for the drawing, and I would have lost my mind if I'd been correct but not won the money. Bullet: dodged.
- Kevin O'Leary wouldn't be the leader of the Conservative Party, I thought, which was correct. But I also said we'd miss him, which was wrong. Turns out his absence has been wonderful. Oh well, can't win them all!
The Yikes:
- I said Kellie Leitch was going to win the Conservative leadership, and only bomb once she was in the big chair. That was hilariously off-base. She lost quite badly, and has since essentially disappeared from the political scene. While I was completely wrong, I can't say I'm sorry about the outcome. Silver linings!
- Last year, I said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would get away with hosting private fundraisers with wealthy donors, and not pay a price. I think I really whiffed this one. The party instituted rules to curb these things. While we can debate the strength and effectiveness of those rules, I think he paid a price. It also set the party up to be vulnerable to all sorts of other scandals, big and small, this year. This Liberal government has paid a real price for the appearance of how close they are to the wealthy and well-connected. Which is good, I think. But I was a touch too cynical to see that coming.
- I also said Tom Mulcair would stay leader of the NDP. That's an oopsie. A big, big oopsie. But I was right that Charlie Angus wouldn't be leader! Still, way wrong.
Anyhow, that's it. All things considered, not too shabby on the trivial stuff. On the serious substantive side? Well, not great. There's always next year, though. So, keep an eye on this space in the new year, where I'll try once again to guess lottery numbers months in advance, and if I'm lucky, make a joke or two that lands.