Don Martin: Liberal majority hopes melting away, but far too early for Conservative giddiness
Now, now Conservatives. Don’t go getting all giddy about governing again this fall.
True, Justin Trudeau’s bid for a majority is in a meltdown as the Liberal leader’s scare tactics miss their mark on Conservative leader Erin O’Toole’s forehead, his policies fall far short of wow-worthy and his bad luck gets worse on the Afghanistan evacuation crisis.
But despite today’s gushy headlines – ‘Is Canada on the verge of O’Toolemania?’; Liberal MPs getting ‘nervous’; ‘Is a Conservative minority even possible?’ – there are still 100,000 campaign kilometres ahead, vote-deciding debates to survive and many gaffes to endure before talk of regime change can get real.
Besides, lousy leadership luck fluctuates – which likely means Conservative leader Erin O’Toole’s worst days are still to come when vacationing Canadians are back home and actually paying attention.
Still, this is a real race now - a campaign where a knocked-back Trudeau looks more scripted (if that’s possible) than usual and less prime ministerial than O’Toole, who has confounded expectations by projecting a picture of calm while unveiling a bizarre policy tilt left into union-wooing and business-bashing policies aimed at eliminating fear factors about him being leader of a knuckle-dragging party.
On Tuesday the Liberals attempted to reset after a lousy weekend where cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland was flagged by Twitter for spreading manipulated media in a video misrepresenting O’Toole’s position on private health care.
They unveiled a plan for Trudeau to be riding to the rescue of wanna-be homebuyers struggling to buy obscenely overpriced houses they won’t be able to afford once interest rates rise.
Alas, it was all staging and no sale.
Giving young buyers a tax break to close purchase deals and slapping a curb on foreign ownership won’t boost housing construction now going flat-out to ease the chronic supply shortage. And the welcome move to criminalize blind-bidding, which is driving the price spiral far over asking prices, falls squarely inside provincial jurisdiction.
The details also seem less than the grand announcement seemed to indicate. Trudeau tweeted that his plan would build, preserve or repair (emphasis mine) 1.4 million new houses. Whoa-oh. This wasn’t the clear drift of the script where he pledged to increase the housing supply without mentioning that it might simply involve repaired siding or replaced roofs.
But the day’s new developments in Afghanistan poses the most daunting leadership headache for Trudeau now that U.S. President Joe Biden – who has yet to do a single favour for Canada - refused to extend the U.S. pullout deadline beyond next week even as the Taliban are shutting down Kabul airport access.
This will leave Trudeau smack in the middle of the campaign when the Taliban start taking serious revenge on those who helped their Canadian enemies during our combat mission there.
And make no mistake. The interpreters and fixers who helped Canadian troops and reporters need and deserve a ticket out now because their lives are in extreme danger under Taliban rule.
I know this from some personal experience. When I was on patrol with troops in 2007 in the wilds outside of Kandahar, the soldiers suddenly moved far away from me as we entered a valley a sniper distance from a series of boulder-strewn hills.
I jokingly asked them why the sudden separation because, after all, none of us had showered for days. They gave me a serious look and said my press attire made me look a lot like an interpreter. And given the huge bounty given to any Taliban who killed an interpreter, they didn’t want to be between a sniper and the patrol’s most lucrative target. Specifically, me.
With the window of opportunity closing to get them out, this coming seven years after our combat mission ended, Trudeau’s failure to act when evacuation action was still possible could leave him with blood on his hands before election day.
In some ways, this overdue response is the norm for a Trudeau government that usually acts only under extreme pressure if it acts at all. And being fronted by a leader who has become an irritating cliché-o-matic machine in justifying a pandemic election call during a foreign affairs crisis without a coherent re-election rationale has knocked the party back on its heels 10 days into the campaign.
If this Trudeau leadership wobble continues to worsen for another few weeks, the Conservatives may have the right to get giddy about governing.
That’s the bottom line.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
Significant police presence as Israeli flag flies at Ottawa City Hall
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.
Local Spotlight
Thieves caught on camera stealing pet chicken from North Vancouver backyard
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
'Reimagining Mother's Day': Toronto woman creates Motherless Day event after losing mom
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
Chris Hadfield inspires youth musical in Sudbury
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
Federal government bans watercraft from Manitoba lake popular with tourists
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
Toronto-area dessert shop featured by Keith Lee forced to move after zoning complaint
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.