"The deficiencies of this government are too many to number, no matter how you're counting, but the most important of them all is this - if Canada is back, this isn't where anyone worth talking to wants to be."
I wrote these words exactly one year ago regarding our federal government and its lack of substantive accomplishments. I'm open to ideas, but after 12 more months of being weighed and measured, I find this government to be even more wanting.
Let's begin with the small business tax changes. The fundamental argument was that wealthier Canadians were using CCPCs to effectively pay a lower bracket of income tax; other commentators, both right and left, also pointed out that small business tax breaks discourage growth for which there is ample evidence.
After so many fumbles, this was the flagship policy that would show everyone the Grits weren't all show and no substance. They needed a win.
Then every facet of this policy was bungled. Consultation was hidden from view, which made the government appear untrustworthy. Answers by both the PM and the finance minister in Question Period became laughably bad, as ever more evidence of their own foibles - a villa in France? - came to light. In a twist worthy of Blackadder, the detested policies were encased by $200,000 covers. At the announcement, Morneau and Trudeau looked exhausted and defeated.
This government, elected with no small amount of goodwill from key demographics like small business owners and entrepreneurs, has managed to position themselves in mortal danger with less than 24 months of power.
Every dreamer they marshalled has been beguiled: aboriginal advocates, election reformers, and even the youth, for whom Trudeau is the minister, are all gazing at an executive that is tone deaf, insincere, shallow and cowardly.
The point bears repeating: Trudeau, Morneau, and the merry band of cabineteers have held power for less than two years. They promised a $10 billion deficit, a new engagement with premiers, a reset with aboriginal groups, a better deal for Canada in NAFTA, a depoliticized military procurement system and a re-emergence of "middle power" Canada on the world stage. Can anyone defend the Liberal's record on these or other topics without serious caveats?
At this point, even cartoons beg the mercy rule, with the classic line "that's all, folks." But that's not all, folks.
There is still at least 18 months of governing before the election platforms kick off, which will grow in sound and fury on all sides of the aisle, the country and the political spectrum soon enough. Both opposition parties have new leaders that can easily siphon off support from the Liberal tent. And with the Grits' record of fumbles, ammunition will be plentiful.
I honestly believe we received a prophetic view of Prime Minister Trudeau circa 2019 through this latest debacle. He made his announcement as far from Parliament as possible, he fielded serious challenges that were directed point blank at his finance minister who was present, he kept insisting that it was a privilege to speak to him directly and as the challenges continued he lapsed into his feel-good rhetoric which had no bearing on the topic at hand.
The recurring phrase of the Tories' attack ads in 2015 was "he's just not ready," and sunny ways have not propelled the country to prosperity.
If Trudeau wants a second majority, he'll need to find real substance.
