While we’re all waiting for something resembling a Team Canada approach to materialize in the looming U.S. trade-war catastrophe, let’s begin with a quick account of just how close Canada has come to failed-state status.

The House of Commons has been padlocked since Jan. 6. The successor to Canada’s disgraced prime minister will not be known until the Liberal party’s leadership vote on March 9. Within days of the House of Commons’ March 24 return, an anticipated non-confidence vote would officially dissolve Parliament, triggering an election campaign that can legally carry on for 51 days.