There is truth in the political adage that governments most often defeat themselves. But that doesn’t give the opposition a pass on behaving like a government-in-waiting and its leaders behaving like a prime minister-in-waiting.
Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives are failing on both counts.
Conservatives may cast a glance at national polls and think Poilievre can get elected because he’s not Justin Trudeau. After all, eight years ago, Trudeau went from third place to majority government in large part because he was not Stephen Harper. A quest for change is a powerful tide, not easily turned.
Canadians could be going to the ballot box as early as next year and Poilievre should be using this time and his popularity to give Canadians a glimpse of what he would bring to government. Instead, he and his frontbenchers are merely raising questions about their competence.
Last week, when reports surfaced of an explosion on the Rainbow Bridge between Canada and the U.S., Poilievre rose in the Commons to refer to media reports of a “terrorist attack.” It was irresponsible and not worthy of a leader, but on brand as Poilievre saw an opening to politicize a tragedy. When he was questioned about this, he did what he so often does — he attacked the reporter with a juvenile, belligerent argument. Worse, he said he was relying on a CTV social media post — which came 16 minutes after his question in the Commons. Poilievre appeared to be relying on an incorrect alert from U.S.-based Fox News. His supporters cheered him on because he had treated a journalist with contempt. In fact, to most Canadians, he looked petty, fragile, disingenuous and unnecessarily pugnacious.
Previous to that, he and his caucus voted against an updated Canada-Ukraine free trade deal, alleging it would force a carbon tax on Ukraine. It would not. It merely includes language that ensures nothing in the deal prohibits government initiatives to fight climate change and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who badly wants the deal, has already signed it. The result was a Conservative party which had proudly become the first western government to recognize an independent Ukraine had now become the first Canadian party to vote against a measure to aid the country which is entering its third year of war against Russian invaders.
Poilievre has made abolition of carbon pricing a cornerstone of his opposition to the Trudeau Liberals. Getting to that goal includes the bullying of female Independent senators by former leader Andrew Scheer and the current Conservative leader in the Senate, Don Plett (who subsequently apologized.) One of the senators, Bernadette Clement, had been the target of phone and online threats after Scheer posted a photo and the office phone numbers of her and Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain on social media and encouraged supporters to challenge them on why they were delaying a vote on legislation that would exempt farmers from a carbon levy.
Poilievre wants the next election to be a carbon tax election. The climate crisis will have only worsened by then and he owes Canadians a clear, detailed alternative path to fighting climate change. He has so far not provided one. His foreign policy is largely a blank slate. He says it is too early to explain how he would balance the federal budget and he has been vague on issues ranging from medical intervention for transgendered youth to what he meant when he recently condemned “radical gender ideology” which he accused Trudeau of somehow forcing on children.
These are largely unforced political errors by a man who would be prime minister. Or perhaps they do hint at an unfolding agenda once in government. Either way, Canadians should be closely watching a man whose judgment and temperament are raising important questions.
Poilievre has been an effective opposition leader but he’s not auditioning to keep that job. At some point he must give Canadians reasons to vote for him, not merely to vote against Trudeau’s Liberals. For starters, he can begin answering questions without attacking his inquisitor.
