Roundup: Whose vanity project was bigger?

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Day after day in Question Period, we are being subjected to this constant narrative by the Conservative questions that the government – and more specifically Justin Trudeau – is just one big vanity project. Apparently there isn’t a day that goes by that Trudeau or one of his ministers isn’t trying to burnish their own profile, apparently, and the facts aren’t going to dissuade them from this narrative. The State Dinner in Washington? Apparently the president inviting Trudeau’s mother and in-laws was vanity. Trudeau stopping by that boxing gym in New York while already there on business, and seeing disadvantaged youth there? Vanity. Chrystia Freeland’s appearance on Bill Maher’s show while in LA to talk trade with local officials? Vanity. And now it’s the Destination Canada video that Trudeau appears in (never mind that it’s not about him)? Vanity. You can see where this is going. And the new word that Candice Bergen has been dropping to complete this narrative? That all of this supposed self-promotion proves that Trudeau is like a Kardashian. Oh, it’s not an insult, she suggests disingenuously, because the Kardashians work hard at promoting their brand, so obviously that’s what Trudeau is trying to do. So the obvious question to the Conservatives is that if Trudeau is simply busy with all manner of vanity projects, then what the hell was Stephen Harper’s web show 24/Seven? How is that not his own personal reality show à la Keeping Up With the Kardashians? While Trudeau has a personal photographer (Harper had at least two), he isn’t filming his exploits to promote himself under the guise of “a day in the life of a prime minister” or using taxpayer dollars to do it. But the Conservatives haven’t gotten past this notion that because Trudeau is photogenic and charismatic – something that Stephen Harper was not – it must mean that he’s not a Very Serious Person™. The problem is that the electorate didn’t buy that narrative during the election, and Trudeau has proven that he’s got the chops to do the heavy lifting for the job, he’s in the House of Commons more than Stephen Harper ever was when he was PM, he’s taking questions from the media, he’s made himself available, he’s answering questions, and I daresay he’s been more focused on the Canadian brand than his own personal one, but hey – it’s all self-promotion and “vanity.” It’s completely tiresome. That’s not to say that there isn’t a problem with the way Trudeau is using his popularity within his own party to turn it into a cult of personality, and there is a very big problem brewing as he is looking to reshape his party’s constitution to solidify that. That’s a huge problem. But it’s not something that the Conservatives can go after him in QP, and rather than try and find something of substance that they can hammer him on, we are subjected to this inanity instead.

Good reads:

  • During his trip to Fort McMurray to see the devastation, Trudeau announced that the region will get additional EI benefits.
  • Shockingly, NDP MP Murray Rankin is calling on the Senate to amend the assisted dying legislation if the government won’t.
  • The government will have few means to speed up any bills in the Senate that they want passed, seeing as they no longer have a caucus there.
  • Patrick Brazeau talks about trying to take his own life.
  • The government will unveil the parliamentary committee on national security oversight before summer, before more consultations on amending C-51.
  • While the Bloc are trying to get additional resources from the Board of Internal Economy, the NDP are at Federal Court over their satellite offices.
  • Here’s a look at some of the policy resolutions coming up at the Conservative convention that deal with issues currently before parliament.
  • Brent Rathgeber cautions against adopting any electoral system that gives more power to parties over individual MPs.
  • Robyn Urback is having none of the Sophie Grégoire Trudeau issue, but Ashley Csanady is more conflicted on the role of a prime ministerial spouse.
  • Chris Selly gives a good accounting of some of the problems we’re having with the assisted dying debate, and the desire to turn the decisions over the courts.
  • Susan Delacourt compares what Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau have in common.
  • Andrew Potter says everything I’ve always wanted to say about the electoral reform debate, starting with the apparent ignorance of the minister in charge.

Odds and ends:

The government has agreed to a pay equity settlement with StatsCan employees.

Over in the Ottawa Citizen, I compiled this week’s Gargoyle roundup of smaller stories on the Hill.