TORONTO – Maybe some sports fans will be offended by my thoughts about Thursday’s English language debate. Their minds were made up before they bought a ticket, much like “hockey fans” going to an arena expecting fights to be interrupted only sparingly by flashes of artistry on skates.
Two “players” who were not physically present dominated the sparring – both immediate former Prime Ministers: Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau.
Harper – the CPC on his behalf – flooded the airwaves claiming that it was he who solved the financial and economic crisis in Canada when the economy tanked in 2008. He had two of the leadership candidates working for him at the time, Poilievre and Carney. Of the two, he preferred Poilievre. The other PM, Trudeau, was present only because candidates depicted his administration as a metaphor for all of the country’s woes.
Poilievre reminded the audience, detail by detail by detail, what Trudeau had done wrong and juxtaposed that with his own equally detailed corrective measures (a plan). Carney did not come to Trudeau’s defense, conceding that the former PM had been “defeated”, gone, and that as an issue, was no longer relevant. The inference was that the public should “trust me” now.
A churlish Jagmeet Singh thrust himself in the role of a pugnacious sparring partner sent on the ice to beat up on anyone who dared impede the team’s goal-scorer from his objective. He “had proven worth” by keeping the Trudeau administration on life support.
Yves-Francois Blanchet’s contribution seemed most realistic: remind all parties that nothing will happen without Quebec’s consent and cooperation – as per constitutional authorities – no matter what the crisis, no matter what the proposed solution. Not anything one likes to hear.
From a strategic perspective, the debate featured interesting approaches by the four camps. CPC’s persistent forays into the field probing with determined targeted attacks without rash sorties. The liberals “turtled”, stressing only that their leader, and only their leader, has the competence to take the country beyond the storm. The Bloc merely said “this is not our fight”, we do not care who wins, just do not be confused about what the ultimate issue is: we either go into the mix with Canada and Quebec as equal partners or you are doomed.
For some reason known only to those accustomed to opening the window and seeing doom and gloom, the NDP thought it productive to lash out at everyone.
It would have been more interesting to discuss facts and figures rather than perceptions and innuendo.
