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He said he thinks Trump’s surprise success in vaulting to the front of the Republican leadership race is a reflection of a populist movement underway in the U.S.

It could happen in Canada, he added, but it’s not what he’s trying to do.

“It’s an interesting observation; I can see why people would say it, but that’s not what motivates me,” O’Leary said.

Rather, O’Leary is contemplating politics for two reasons: Canadian graduate students are telling him they think they need to leave Canada to make their fortunes, and he has strong objections to the job done so far by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

Earlier this week, he offered to invest $1 million in Canadian energy companies if Notley would step aside as premier. Notley fired back, saying a Toronto businessman had no business telling Albertans how to vote.

“She said, ’Bring it on,”’ O’Leary said. “I’m bringing it on.”

No matter what people may think of it, the energy industry drives the Canadian economy and if it is suffering, it’s the company CEO — in this case the premier — who is blame, he said.

“You should not be allowed to manage (the Alberta economy) or be the premier of that province unless you have made payroll for two years in a company with sales of over $5 million,” he said.

“…I say the same for the prime ministership, I say the same for any leader of any province. If you haven’t made payroll, you have no right to sit in that seat.”

O’Leary acknowledged

That, he acknowledged, would disqualify many past prime ministers, including former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper — someone about whom O’Leary seems to have mixed feelings.