I really enjoyed this conversation. It was great to hear O'Toole unmediated and at length. I'd agreed with his position about the dangers of C-10, but it's good to know he's also thinking about positive ways to address "discoverability" concerns re: Canadian content in an updated broadcasting act.
I also loved his dig about pandemic by hashtag. And the "non-tax carbon tax" versus "not a tax... A price," was pretty funny.
This interview shows off a leader who talks like a human being, not a high school valedictorian. Haven't voted for the party since '72, and am still nervous about it, but I have to say I'm even more nervous about a government that resents accountability and transparency.
I can see the comments coming about pandering to partisan politics, but I thought the only failing in this interview was that it wasn't long enough! Great perspective, and Jen's style of questioning is different than the typical attack style used against politicians.
I thought O'Toole did a really good job here, especially on what specifically the Liberals have done wrong with the pandemic, until the last question. The messaging continues to be garbled around climate change, and arguing about the number of believers doesn't help the cause. I actually believe the Cons will have a well defined climate policy that balances support for the Oil and Gas industry, but the messaging really needs work.
Congratulations on scoring the exclusive interview! It's interesting to see how O'Toole is trying to balance different regional interests - he's trying to appeal to Quebec, where C-10 is popular, and he's trying to make inroads in Ontario, which means having a real climate policy (without Albertans feeling that he's surrendered). https://twitter.com/russilwvong/status/1383520928475144195
Based on this, it seems like the CDC's recent guidance may be premature. I'm a little concerned when O'Toole talks about the UK nightclub opening - as Jen noted, there's going to be pressure within the provinces to lift restrictions, and it sounds like O'Toole may be leaning in that direction. The "one-dose summer, two-dose fall" approach is like the marshmallow test.
Of course a big issue with Covid is federal/provincial jurisdiction. I think of the three major components of the response as (1) public health restrictions (primarily provincial, with travel restrictions primarily federal); (2) income supports (primarily federal); and (3) vaccine procurement (primarily federal).
So, I made a promise to myself that I would read the Erin O'toole interview until I got to the first lie. The first lie is in O'toole's first answer, "The governments wants to start restricting...the way people communicate, the way people advocate, the way people build communities, the way people hold governments, police, everything to account [on the Internet]." That's a lie. Mea culpa, but perhaps, understandably, I didn't read any further.
I listen to all the relevant ones. Most don't systemically lie as do today's Conservatives. Are they 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?' No. But most don't manufacture complete falsehoods as does Erin O'toole and most of his Members of Parliament. The only Conservative exception is Michael Chong.
Tell me you're a Liberal without telling me you're a Liberal. There's good and bad apples in every party, Justin, Chrystia, and Seamus lie through their teeth most times there is a microphone in front of them. Justin can't even tell the truth about his laptop brand.
I'm with you on some of the Conservatives, I think Greg McLean is really good one who speaks truth.
Closing note. Substantive, evidence-based criticism of the Conservatives or any party is not--I repeat not--de facto support for any other party. At least, not in my case.
Would I be mistaken to assume that, based on your "what about" the Liberal argument and implying I'm a Liberal that you are a loyal supporter, perhaps even a card carrying supporter, of the Conservatives?
Honestly, the Liberals have made this government out of attacking the Conservative ghost, especially Harper, and making them out to be the right wing bogeymen. That's where the assumption comes from, nothing more.
Myself, yeah I've voted for them in the past, not exclusively (they've really pissed me off the last 2 elections), but far from a card carrying supporter.
I think partisan support of political parties is what divides a country, and partisan hatred of other parties and their positions doesn't help.
What the Liberals do or do not do is not relevant when considering Erin O'toole's behaviour and actions. If a traffic officer pulls Erin O'toole over for speeding, the fact others might have been speeding will not save O'toole from getting a ticket.
I am not a Liberal. I'm in fact a frequent and harsh critic of Liberals and Liberal policy, which on many files, in my view, is very poor.
No, Trudeau, Freeland, and Reagan do not manufacture complete falsehoods as do Erin O'toole and the Conservatives. And, as Erin O'toole did in this interview. There is no equivalence, whatsoever. The Liberals, as do the NDP 'spin' information, but outright lying is very rare.
I've been working, professionally, in politics often with politicians--opposing or supporting them--since 1972, and still do to this day. I doubt I'm delusional. I also know, from our discourse, that I did not assert "Conservatives have monopoly on lies." Please address the claims I make, not the ones you imagine I make.
I really enjoyed this conversation. It was great to hear O'Toole unmediated and at length. I'd agreed with his position about the dangers of C-10, but it's good to know he's also thinking about positive ways to address "discoverability" concerns re: Canadian content in an updated broadcasting act.
I also loved his dig about pandemic by hashtag. And the "non-tax carbon tax" versus "not a tax... A price," was pretty funny.
This interview shows off a leader who talks like a human being, not a high school valedictorian. Haven't voted for the party since '72, and am still nervous about it, but I have to say I'm even more nervous about a government that resents accountability and transparency.
I can see the comments coming about pandering to partisan politics, but I thought the only failing in this interview was that it wasn't long enough! Great perspective, and Jen's style of questioning is different than the typical attack style used against politicians.
I thought O'Toole did a really good job here, especially on what specifically the Liberals have done wrong with the pandemic, until the last question. The messaging continues to be garbled around climate change, and arguing about the number of believers doesn't help the cause. I actually believe the Cons will have a well defined climate policy that balances support for the Oil and Gas industry, but the messaging really needs work.
Congratulations on scoring the exclusive interview! It's interesting to see how O'Toole is trying to balance different regional interests - he's trying to appeal to Quebec, where C-10 is popular, and he's trying to make inroads in Ontario, which means having a real climate policy (without Albertans feeling that he's surrendered). https://twitter.com/russilwvong/status/1383520928475144195
On Covid and the end of the pandemic, PHAC has modelling saying that we should aim to lift restrictions when 75% of adults are partially vaccinated and 20% are fully vaccinated. If we lift restrictions too early, say when 55% of adults are partially vaccinated and 20% are fully vaccinated, we'll get a large wave of hospitalizations in the fall and winter. Globe story from April 23: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-with-enough-covid-19-vaccine-coverage-restrictions-can-start-to-lift/ Graphic: https://twitter.com/atRachelGilmore/status/1393239362901524484
Based on this, it seems like the CDC's recent guidance may be premature. I'm a little concerned when O'Toole talks about the UK nightclub opening - as Jen noted, there's going to be pressure within the provinces to lift restrictions, and it sounds like O'Toole may be leaning in that direction. The "one-dose summer, two-dose fall" approach is like the marshmallow test.
Of course a big issue with Covid is federal/provincial jurisdiction. I think of the three major components of the response as (1) public health restrictions (primarily provincial, with travel restrictions primarily federal); (2) income supports (primarily federal); and (3) vaccine procurement (primarily federal).
We seem to be doing okay on income supports and vaccine procurement, but the effectiveness of public health restrictions really varied across the different provinces. The Atlantic provinces have had relatively few cases, Alberta and Ontario really struggled with the third wave, BC is somewhere in between. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-third-wave-of-covid-19-has-flipped-the-health-care-script-in/
That's not what "uncanny valley" means.
Yes, I am aware. I'm just being cute with words.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley
So, I made a promise to myself that I would read the Erin O'toole interview until I got to the first lie. The first lie is in O'toole's first answer, "The governments wants to start restricting...the way people communicate, the way people advocate, the way people build communities, the way people hold governments, police, everything to account [on the Internet]." That's a lie. Mea culpa, but perhaps, understandably, I didn't read any further.
You must not listen to many politicians then...
I listen to all the relevant ones. Most don't systemically lie as do today's Conservatives. Are they 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?' No. But most don't manufacture complete falsehoods as does Erin O'toole and most of his Members of Parliament. The only Conservative exception is Michael Chong.
Tell me you're a Liberal without telling me you're a Liberal. There's good and bad apples in every party, Justin, Chrystia, and Seamus lie through their teeth most times there is a microphone in front of them. Justin can't even tell the truth about his laptop brand.
I'm with you on some of the Conservatives, I think Greg McLean is really good one who speaks truth.
Closing note. Substantive, evidence-based criticism of the Conservatives or any party is not--I repeat not--de facto support for any other party. At least, not in my case.
Would I be mistaken to assume that, based on your "what about" the Liberal argument and implying I'm a Liberal that you are a loyal supporter, perhaps even a card carrying supporter, of the Conservatives?
Honestly, the Liberals have made this government out of attacking the Conservative ghost, especially Harper, and making them out to be the right wing bogeymen. That's where the assumption comes from, nothing more.
Myself, yeah I've voted for them in the past, not exclusively (they've really pissed me off the last 2 elections), but far from a card carrying supporter.
I think partisan support of political parties is what divides a country, and partisan hatred of other parties and their positions doesn't help.
What the Liberals do or do not do is not relevant when considering Erin O'toole's behaviour and actions. If a traffic officer pulls Erin O'toole over for speeding, the fact others might have been speeding will not save O'toole from getting a ticket.
I am not a Liberal. I'm in fact a frequent and harsh critic of Liberals and Liberal policy, which on many files, in my view, is very poor.
No, Trudeau, Freeland, and Reagan do not manufacture complete falsehoods as do Erin O'toole and the Conservatives. And, as Erin O'toole did in this interview. There is no equivalence, whatsoever. The Liberals, as do the NDP 'spin' information, but outright lying is very rare.
If you think Conservatives have a monopoly on lies in political discourse you're delusional
I've been working, professionally, in politics often with politicians--opposing or supporting them--since 1972, and still do to this day. I doubt I'm delusional. I also know, from our discourse, that I did not assert "Conservatives have monopoly on lies." Please address the claims I make, not the ones you imagine I make.