The Alternate Universe Debate

By Spencer Fernando, Exclusive to the National Citizens Coalition

An uninformed observer of the recent Liberal leadership debates might have found themselves mildly impressed, albeit somewhat disinterested.

The candidates were mostly respectful towards one another.

They proposed ideas that seemed relatively moderate.

Moreover, they reproached the incumbent government for its shortcomings in pivotal areas such as economic growth and national defence.

For example, one candidate “said he would focus defence spending in Canada and then gestured to the other candidates and while suggesting that this government has sent those funds to the U.S.”

That candidate “also focused his message on fostering economic growth while suggesting that the economy under the current government was weak.”

Further, that candidate noted Canada’s economic ‘growth’ has been largely illusory, based on an expanding population rather than productivity gains, saying “our economy over the last five years, has been driven by the big increase in the labour force which was largely because of the surge in immigration.”

“Our economy was weak before we got to the point of these threats from President Trump, that's why we need big changes … to how we're managing our economy,” he said.

Another candidate called for Canada to rapidly speed up the process of hitting the 2% NATO commitment from seven years (2032) to two years (2027).

That same candidate also “promised to train more doctors, nurses, research practitioners and allow their credentials to be recognized across the country.”

Another candidate promised to defend all of Canada’s key sectors: "As prime minister, I'm not going to negotiate any of those sectors away. I'm going to stand up for people in every single province and territory."

Holding the government accountable for a weak economy, an underfunded military, the failure to recognize foreign credentials, and advocating for industries nationwide are all expectations Canadians have from a debate among those aspiring to lead the Opposition.

However, this was not a debate among contenders for the Leader of the Official Opposition.

It was a debate among contenders for the leadership of the incumbent party, with the objective of prolonging its tenure.

The candidate who highlighted Canada’s economic frailty under the current government has spent half a decade advising the same government.

The candidate who called for hitting the NATO target faster and recognizing foreign credentials spent five years as Deputy Prime Minister and four years as Finance Minister – years during which Canada failed to meet the NATO target and subsequently set the unambitious goal of achieving it by 2032, while many foreign credentials remained unrecognized.

The candidate advocating for the protection of all sectors in all provinces spent eight years in the federal cabinet—including one and a half years as Government House Leader—during which the government frequently enacted legislation that stifled the growth of the oil and gas sector in Western Canada and impeded pipeline construction, thereby rendering us perilously dependent on the United States.

So, while the Liberal leadership debate could seem impressive when divorced from any broader context, it was jarringly out of step with current political reality.

We do not inhabit an alternate universe where the Liberals are the Opposition.

We reside in a reality where the Liberals are the governing party.

And the people on stage were not plucky outsiders leading a fight against an opposing party, they were largely campaigning against much of their own record.

Of course, this is not to suggest that all of their ideas are without merit. It is somewhat encouraging to observe that even those closely associated with the Trudeau era are acknowledging some of the significant missteps made during that period.

But it is difficult to convince people you represent change when you’re trying to extend your party’s time in power beyond the decade mark.

At some point, people will begin to wonder why those who struggled to get it right for a decade should be given yet another chance.

Spencer Fernando is one of the most popular and prolific political voices in Canada. He is a writer and campaign fellow for the National Citizens Coalition. Join the mailing list to receive his exclusive weekly columns in your inbox.

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