As the Globe and Mail and (especially) Maclean’s magazine continue their almost hysterical anti-Trudeau coverage, would it be too much to ask that they correctly note, for once, that the decision to expel Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpot was made by the Liberal caucus, not the Prime Minister. Speaking of the former, will her image as the savour of Canadian democracy fade somewhat now that there is increasing evidence that she also expected her views on matters other than Lavalin to prevail. In particular, she has admitted that she felt that the work she had already done on developing a framework for relations with Indigenous people should have been adopted by the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett – who instead launched a round of consultations with Natives.
Conservatives "Blowing Smoke" over Carbon Tax
The federal Conservative leader and Conservative Provincial Premiers continue to rail against the federal carbon tax that was introduced on April 1st, claiming – in a totally dishonest fashion – that it is a major tax grab which also threatens to destroy our economy. To the contrary (as has been widely reported), the federal government will be returning 90% of the increased carbon tax to its citizens and will use the other 10% to help fund green initiatives. If the Conservative politicians are really concerned about costs, they should pay more attention to climate change which is having a far greater adverse impact on our economy and the cost of living.
Ford's Narrow View of "All the People"
Doug Ford’s “government for all the people” of Ontario continues to take steps that belie its slogan. It would appear that “the people” do not include – for example – those with autism, those attending school, or those seeking help for drug addiction. When the Ontario Association for Behavioural Analysis expressed concern about the funding for those with autism, the Conservative Minister responsible (Lisa McLeod) told the Association to get on board or face “a long four years.” When the Minister of Education announced the planned increase in class sizes in Ontario, she tried to promote this as a positive step that would make students more resilient. But, the most outlandish – and despicable – example of the actions and rationalizations of the Ontario Government relates to the funding of drug treatment centres. A press release from the province proclaimed that its commitment to those struggling with drug addiction is evident from the approval of 15 consumption and treatment sites in communities with high need. Not mentioned in the release was the fact that the government is cutting funding for four heavily used overdose prevention sites and rejecting two others – actions that will almost certainly lead to more drug-related deaths.
The Sexual Pendulum Has Swung
To close with a story from south of the border – and one not involving Trump – a leading candidate for President in 2020, Joe Biden, is in trouble because of an incident that took place in 2014. A former Democratic member of the Nevada Legislature claims that Biden came up behind her and kissed her on the back of the head, leaving her feeling “uneasy, gross, and confused.” While any form of sexual assault is not acceptable, it seems surprising that a woman who was 35 years old at the time should have such a strong emotional reaction to Biden’s action. It is a well-known axiom that when the pendulum swings it always over corrects and that certainly seems to be the case now that the “Me Too Movement” against sexual harassment is in full swing. It seems evident that any male who has ever done anything remotely questionable in the past can expect to have it brought up and subjected to the more rigorous standards of today. It is only a slight exaggeration to foresee a situation in which a politician or senior executive is forced to resign in disgrace when it is disclosed that while a student in Grade Two, he leaned forward, grasped the ponytail of the girl seated in front, and dipped it in his inkwell.