[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Barrister]

Andrew Scheer wins Conservative leadership: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-leadership-race-winner-1.4134575

Scheer isn't terrible.  I did rank him on my ballot (and I only went to the top five). But he just has the flavour of being a dull, compromise candidate.  It's telling he trailed on every ballot except the last one.  He has my support, but not my enthusiasm.

[Grey Fox]

wow, Jean Charest 2.0

[crazy canuck]

The results show a Conservative party deeply divided.  It will be interesting to see if Scheer is the Harper 2.0 that is advertised and can hold it all together or whether the Reform extremists in the party will overwhelm him.  Harper could keep them in control because he had been one of them.  But I am not sure a young Scheer can.  We will see.

One troubling thing is he seems to have American influenced speech writers - from the CBC report - "Scheer promised to keep the party true to its roots, working for average Canadian families and not "Ottawa insiders."  What does that mean?

The other troubling thing is he is against carbon taxes.  He says the Conservatives need to develop a climate policy so I will hold judgment to see what that is.

[viper37]

The other troubling thing is he is against carbon taxes.  He says the Conservatives need to develop a climate policy so I will hold judgment to see what that is.

At this point, the damage is done.  Going the other way would not have positive effects compensating the negatives of the tax.

I would offer all the provinces an opt-out if they develop their own system though.  Quebec, Ontario and Alberta aren't affected by the tax, so in the future, if another province wants its own system, let them out.

If the government truly invests the revenues from this tax into R&D for a green economy (I highly doubt it, it's not what Quebec has done, and it does not look it's what your party aims to do either, prefering expensive trips over the global economy), it would be positive though.

[crazy canuck]

The other troubling thing is he is against carbon taxes.  He says the Conservatives need to develop a climate policy so I will hold judgment to see what that is.

At this point, the damage is done.  Going the other way would not have positive effects compensating the negatives of the tax.

I would offer all the provinces an opt-out if they develop their own system though.  Quebec, Ontario and Alberta aren't affected by the tax, so in the future, if another province wants its own system, let them out.

If the government truly invests the revenues from this tax into R&D for a green economy (I highly doubt it, it's not what Quebec has done, and it does not look it's what your party aims to do either, prefering expensive trips over the global economy), it would be positive though.

Not sure what you are referring to.  The BC carbon tax works as designed.  It is tax neutral while putting a higher cost on carbon.

[Monoriu]

I don't know much about this Scheer guy, but a quick google suggests that he isn't a Canadian Trump.  I am relieved 

[crazy canuck]

I don't know much about this Scheer guy, but a quick google suggests that he isn't a Canadian Trump.  I am relieved 

It is not much comfort if someone passes that low bar.  For sure Scheer is no Trump.  But he was backed by social conservatives and so it will be interesting to see what his platform of "freedom of expression" means.

[saskganesh]

I don't know much about this Scheer guy, but a quick google suggests that he isn't a Canadian Trump.  I am relieved 

It is not much comfort if someone passes that low bar.  For sure Scheer is no Trump.  But he was backed by social conservatives and so it will be interesting to see what his platform of "freedom of expression" means.

Probably just means unpopular opinions that he personally agrees with.

Scheer's a social conservative. There's a constituency for that, but not enough to get him elected. Trudeau is probably feeling pretty smug at the moment.

[Barrister]

I don't get the "Scheer is a social conservative" angle.  He ran as "Harperism with a smile" as his overall platform and philosophy.  Yes, he gained the second ballot support of social conservatives, but only as a kind of compromise candidate.

[Monoriu]

It will be alright.  Canadian politicians are ok.  They already have same sex marriage and abortion rights etc, and I highly doubt if those can be rolled back. 

[Valmy]

It will be alright.  Canadian politicians are ok.  They already have same sex marriage and abortion rights etc, and I highly doubt if those can be rolled back. 

I just want to point out we also have same sex marriage and abortion rights.

[Jacob]

I just want to point out we also have same sex marriage and abortion rights.

Abortion rights, sure. Actual access? Sometimes.

[Grey Fox]

We don't really have abortion rights tho, we have abortion access.

[crazy canuck]

We don't really have abortion rights tho, we have abortion access.

The reason women in Canada have access to abortion is because the law gives them the right to choose to have an abortion.

I don't get the "Scheer is a social conservative" angle.  He ran as "Harperism with a smile" as his overall platform and philosophy.  Yes, he gained the second ballot support of social conservatives, but only as a kind of compromise candidate.

Yes, he ran as Harper with a smile, but it remains to be seen whether he can silence the social conservatives in the same way Harper did.  Early signs are that he will not.  Harper was emphatic that the abortion question was settled and that women had the right to choose.   When Scheer was asked whether he would allow the abortion issue to be raised again, he avoided the question.

The reason you don't "get the Scheer as a social conservative angle" is probably the same reason you think Pence is bland. 

[Monoriu]

We don't really have abortion rights tho, we have abortion access.

If my boss declares that I am a slave, he won't pay me, but consistently deposits my salary into my account anyway, that's good enough for me