There was a big difference between Ontario's leaders' debate in North Bay and the Conservative leadership debate in Ottawa. Susan Delecourt writes:
It may not be fair to compare them, but the first Ontario leaders’ debate on Tuesday was far superior to last week’s debut debate between the federal Conservative leadership candidates.
Here’s one big difference: the Ontario leaders spared some words for lives lost and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last Thursday night, anyone listening to the Conservative leadership debate would have thought the only damage wreaked by the pandemic was on the poor convoy protesters and all of those Canadians forced to get vaccinated.
The Ottawa debate was among enemies:
What last week’s debate definitely demonstrated was the depth of division among the contenders — particularly between the front-running Pierre Poilievre and former Quebec premier Jean Charest.
If it was just a personality clash, that division might be shrugged off as the intensity of competition, a demonstration of the personal stakes in this race.
But the competition is really all about the personality of the party. Under Charest, Aitchison or even Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, the Conservative brand would be more or less like it has been for decades: strong on fiscal conservatism, law and order, and steeped in institutions. It would likely be more than simply the “I Hate Justin Trudeau” party.
Last night's debate was between opponents:
There were clashes, sharp ones even, among the four on stage, but all four — Ford, Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Green Leader Mike Schreiner — talked about practical policy issues and getting Ontario back on its feet after the pandemic.
They all talked up collaboration, too — even, imagine, with Trudeau’s government in Ottawa. Ford fondly recalled his nightly calls with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
The federal Conservatives are taking their cues from American Republicans. That's a recipe for electoral disaster.
Image: Global News
4 comments:
It would appear Premier Ford has learned a lot about the importance of appealing to the political middle instead of to the extreme right. I hope Ontarians also want a government which governs from the middle instead of from the extreme right or left.
CD
We'll find out what they want in two weeks' time, CD.
Why do ones that really matter seem to happen when no one thinks it does? Ford should have been a one-term footnote. it puts me in mind of that question about holding more than one thought. My mother was wrong.
These days, John, success in politics seems to rest with those who can play one note -- over and over again.
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