Roundup: A marginal, ineffective drug announcement

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A pattern is quickly emerging from the Conservatives as they roll out policy in this election – it’s all marginal, and it’s all populist, with little to no actual sense in the real world. First it was peanuts worth of tax credits for home renos (with zero economic justification), then a promise to ban “terror tourism” (with no real workable way to do it that would meet the Charter test). Yesterday was little different, with a lame announcement about tough-on-drugs, claiming that their anti-drug strategy is “working” (Really? How?), misrepresenting the issue of legalisation (with rhetoric that suggested that if they criminalise smoking that’ll help stop the problem), and throwing a bit or money at a fairly useless measure while ignoring proven steps like safe-injection sites, which not only reduce harm but do help get addicts into treatment. So with that, I’ll leave it to Dan Gardner to eviscerate this proposal:

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/631237498203561984

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/631238055802736640

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/631243919854964745

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/631244615224569857

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/631245901890199552

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/631246164130566145

https://twitter.com/dgardner/status/631247495054671872

On the campaign:

  • Here is the Tuesday campaign trail roundup.
  • As stated, Stephen Harper went for the tough-on-drugs message, promising money for a toll-free hotline for parents, and funds for RCMP drug lab investigators.
  • Thomas Mulcair got the support of some Quebec union locals that normally support the Bloc, and he agreed to a bilingual Munk Centre debate on foreign policy; Harper later agreed to the French Consortium debate (but not the English), triggering the Globe and Mail debate as well.
  • Justin Trudeau reiterated his open government pledges of merit-based Senate appointments, transparent MP expenses and Access-to-Information reform.
  • Kady O’Malley gives us a recap of key party messages – and things they’re not talking about.

Good reads:

  • What’s that? The F-35s might not meet the performance standards of the current CF-18s? You don’t say! (Those Super Hornets are looking mighty fine…)
  • Here’s a closer look into the politics of legalizing pot.
  • The Correctional Investigator is concerned about federal prison deaths in Nova Scotia.
  • Here’s a look at the spin around oil sands development.
  • Kady O’Malley gives her set-up for the return of the Duffy trial.
  • The Conservatives have revived their “Voter Outreach Centre” name when they call voters.
  • Economist Stephen Gordon looks at the NDP’s “universal childcare” proposal and shreds it.

Odds and ends:

This attention-seeking independent candidate’s YouTube video has been getting, well, a lot of attention because he’s annoyed with his local Liberal riding association.

Former Liberal MP Scott Andrews formally announced his run as an independent, but won’t answer questions about the sexual misconduct allegations.