While Maxime Bernier’s social media committee continues to demand attention (yesterday’s missive was to declare “political correctness” dead in Canada – in both official languages), all eyes will turn to Andrew Scheer as the party’s policy convention gets underway this week in Halifax. There is all kinds of talk that they’ll come away from this more united than ever – one of those kinds of meaningless phrases that parties seem to trot out whenever they face the slightest bit of internal criticism or difficulty, and usually before and after there’s some kind of rift or someone gets tossed. But depending on what Bernier tries to do with his acolytes at the convention, we’ll see if his tone or messaging changes after the convention is over, or if this becomes some new problem for Scheer to contend with – eventually.

As for the policy resolutions, most of the ones we’re seeing discussed are…not very innovative. In fact, most of them seem to be either the usual pushing back against restrictions on their well-worn bugaboos and hobbyhorses (looking to make anti-abortion policies more accepted in the party officially, for example), but so few of them seem to be actually coming from a free market conservative point of view. In fact, a lot of what’s on the list is pretty reactionary, and definitely signals a shift from a party that used to be all about the rule of law, and now seems to think they’re above it (witness resolutions against any payments or court settlements with convicted terrorists – a dig at Omar Khadr).

One could go on – a policy about building Energy East, despite the fact that there is no economic case to do so. Repealing gender identity legislation because they are under the illusion that it compels people to use unconventional pronouns (because apparently the Jordan Peterson crowd is well represented here), Andrew Scheer’s problematic policy of withholding funds to universities who don’t defend speech (but no context there, because you know they’ll rail about Israel Apartheid Week), closing the “loopholes” in the Safe Third Country agreement (no mention of how exactly, or the unintended consequences of doing so), maybe developing a climate policy that won’t involve a carbon tax or cap-and-trade (so you’re in favour of heavy-handed and expensive regulation? Really?), prioritizing CANZUK trade agreements (a rose-coloured view of our colonial past that didn’t really exist economically), treating pornography like a public health issue (Seriously, guys – didn’t you embarrass yourselves with this already at the Commons health committee when you couldn’t articulate a policy out of this fraud) – nothing innovating in here in the slightest. So one has to wonder just what vision there is within the party if this is the best that they can come up with for policy resolutions.

Good reads:

• No big surprise, but Justin Trudeau was acclaimed as the candidate for Papineau in the next election, following the Montreal Pride parade (with Antoni Porowski).
• Trudeau also faced a heckling incident at an event over the weekend which has a bunch of people all hot and bothered.
• Apparently the Cabinet retreat will hear from experts to look at ways of beefing up the election reform bill currently at committee.
• Here are some reactions from Indigenous Canadians about the proposed statutory holiday around residential schools. (Hint: They’re not all in favour).
• The government will publicly keep track of amendments to legislation to correct typos, which I’m surprised they don’t do already.
• One of the reasons the government is appealing that court ruling on charities’ political activities is a fear the ruling could open the floodgates for Super-PACs.
• RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki isn’t sure a handgun ban is the solution to gun violence, but says they’re looking into it.
• There are questions about the future of the Michener Awards for investigative journalism as the GG still hasn’t completed her “review” of events she patronises.
• Legal cannabis sales online may face a number of privacy issues.
• Despite supposedly being protected by a “Good Samaritan” law when people call 911 to report overdoses, they are still being arrested when they do.
• David Moscrop thinks the current state of the Conservatives is indicative of a lack of discipline. (I’m sure you know by now my feelings differ).
• Murad Hemmadi offers a thoughtful take on the issue of removing statues and the “immutable” canon of history.
• My weekend column wondered if a statutory holiday to remember residential schools is really the best way to go about it if people only use it to go to the cottage.

Odds and ends:

Not only is Quebec now in a provincial election, but New Brunswick is also getting underway with theirs.

Thank you Montreal for opening your streets for Pride as we marched for the love and equality we ALL deserve. A bientôt 👋🏼🏳️‍🌈❤️ pic.twitter.com/at24V9TDJx

— Antoni Porowski (@antoni) August 20, 2018

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