Something you may have noticed is the propensity by which Poilievre likes to describe Trudeau as being a communist or a Marxist—there was even video posted on social media of him describing Trudeau as such while door-knocking (in spite of all evidence to the contrary). The so-called “convoy” occupation made frequent references to the current government as being some kind of communist dictatorship, again, in spite of all evidence to the contrary. And once again, Poilievre was at it yesterday when he described the federal government’s plan of leasing properties for housing as “building communes.”

“Communes.” pic.twitter.com/ZS0zlDf581

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) August 26, 2024

Aside from the way he wrote that as describing Trudeau as being in power perpetually, this tends to back to one of Poilievre’s most ridiculous obsessions, which is equating any form of socialism with the so-called “national socialism” of Naziism, yet again, in spite of all evidence to the contrary (this has become a recurring theme).

He is still calling Naziism a socialist ideology, which would fail you in a first-year history course. https://t.co/0SsrMe3S3a

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) August 23, 2024

In no way is Trudeau, whose government faces a minority Parliament, a dictator, communist or otherwise. In the same way, Stephen Harper was not a dictator, and all of the people freaking out who insisted he would never relinquish power had all made fools of themselves by insisting otherwise. But Poilievre’s continued insistence on this kind of behaviour is not only dishonest, it’s the continuation of a campaign of unrelenting lying that legacy media obstinately refuses to address, let alone even acknowledge.

Ukraine Dispatch

Rather than deal with the Kursk incursion head-on, Russia decided to launch hundreds of drones and missiles across Ukraine on Monday, killing at least four people as the strikes targeted 15 regions including Kyiv, and damaged energy facilities that led to more rolling blackouts. A second round was launched overnight. It appears that at least one Russian drone crossed into Polish airspace on Monday, but no word yet on if it has been found.

https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1828129805537325206

⚡️ Kyiv dam has 'no critical damage' after being hit in Russian mass attack, Kyiv Oblast governor says.

The Kyiv Independent reporters on the site confirmed that the dam appeared to have no major damage. https://t.co/QM97Z6i4Jm

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 26, 2024

Good reads:

• Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will be imposing 100 percent tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, plus increase tariffs on Chinese-made steel and aluminium.
• The changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers programme were also unveiled, while Marc Miller said that numbers for other immigration streams are changing.
• And because it was asked repeatedly, ministers all insisted they supported Trudeau, who is rejecting the comparisons with Biden in terms of stepping down.
• The Railway duopoly started resuming service yesterday, now that the labour dispute has been ordered to go to binding arbitration.
• Now that the rail labour dispute has ended, Air Canada’s pilots are threatening their own strike.
• The CBC scrupulously both-sides the issue of civil servants being required to be back in the office three days a week.
• Consul general in New York Tom Clark has not been made available to attend the Government Operations Committee, and Conservatives are howling.
• Historian David Martin recounts how Rideau Hall became Government House in post-Confederation Canada, pretty much by accident.
• Althia Raj is waiting to hear what kind of “change” the Liberals can offer voters if it’s not replacing Justin Trudeau.

Odds and ends:

My Loonie Politics Quick Take looks at the ticking clock facing the government to pass Bill S-7 after CBSA border searches of devices were found unconstitutional.

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