Day three of the campaign, and in the post-debate glow, there was some damage control on a part of a couple of leaders. Justin Trudeau was in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, to promise new measures to help small business, including the “swipe fees” that those businesses are charged for transactions.

Andrew Scheer was in the GTA, and he announced his plan to revive the Harper-era transit tax credit, but to rebrand it as “Green.” The problem, of course, was that it’s a nigh useless measure that disproportionately benefits the wealthy. (Fact check here to show that Scheer’s rhetoric is misleading, plus a thread from economist Lindsay Tedds). He also had to defend himself and do damage control over his meltdown during the debate on Indigenous issues and his contention that they hold major projects “hostage,” but he nevertheless refused to back down from the basic contention even if he tried to say that he didn’t mean to use those exact words. So that’s something.

https://twitter.com/kevinmilligan/status/1172519241918099459

https://twitter.com/kevinmilligan/status/1172548996570734592

Jagmeet Singh was in downtown Toronto to promise to cap cellphone bills – a policy that has no actual specifics as to how he would do it and what the impacts would be – before giving a speech to the Canadian Club to tell them that if he forms government, it won’t be “business as usual” in Ottawa.

Other election stories:

• Here’s a fact check on Trudeau’s figures around poverty reduction.
• Here’s the reality check that Scheer’s talk about refugees “jumping the queue” is false, and he’s conflating different systems.
• Here’s a further exploration of how Scheer’s claim of offering “tax-free” parental leave benefits is misleading.
• Here are reviews of the Maclean’s debate on the performances of Andrew Scheer, Jagmeet Singh, Elizabeth May, plus, what the closing statements said about it.
• Adam Vaughan is calling out Conservative misinformation over claims the government plans to tax home sales.
• While Scheer was travelling in “Ford country” sans Ford yesterday, the PC leader in Nova Scotia is distancing himself from Scheer.
• Also, Scott Moe is saying he won’t endorse anyone in the election (even though he’s a card-carrying Conservative).
• The Conservative candidate in Brampton had to apologise for homophobic posts he made over social media back in 2010.
• The National Post has a tongue-in-cheek look at how to tell the NDP and Green platforms apart.
• Elizabeth May says they’re “re-vetting” some of their candidates, and says Pierre Nantel is a “sovereigntist” not a “separatist” (except they’re the same thing).
• Another Green candidate is being accused of belittling the Holocaust.
• Maxime Bernier ousted one of his candidates because he wanted Bernier to denounce the racists who have made a home in the party.

Good reads:

• The former civilian intelligence director of the RCMP has been charged with violating the Security of Information Act, and it’s a really big deal.
• Andrew Leach evaluates the NDP’s environment platform and finds the inconsistencies, omissions and outright impossibilities therein.
• Kevin Carmichael wonders about the silence that central bank governors keep and wonders if they shouldn’t speak up more frequently.
• Carmichael also sounds the alarm on the main parties’ proposals around housing prices, and why they’re setting up for more risk in the Canadian economy.
• Chantal Hébert looks at how the assisted dying legislation suffering a defeat in Quebec courts puts pressure on Trudeau ahead of the French-language debates.
• Colby Cosh delves further into that reading, and what the post-election government will need to do to comply with the original Supreme Court of Canada ruling.

Odds and ends:

The Deputy Auditor General has won a prestigious bagpipe competition.

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