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1/25 Today 
Conservatives choose a new leader
I was happy to join smart political minds like @MelissaLantsman, @DPinBC, @irbrodie, @howardanglin & @Sean_Speer in @JohnIbbitsonâs excellent @globeandmail column on the partyâs future
#cpcldr #cdnpoli https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-will-mackay-or-otoole-lead-the-conservatives-it-doesnt-matter-not/
Conservatives choose a new leaderI was happy to join smart political minds like @MelissaLantsman, @DPinBC, @irbrodie, @howardanglin & @Sean_Speer in @JohnIbbitsonâs excellent @globeandmail column on the partyâs future
#cpcldr #cdnpoli https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-will-mackay-or-otoole-lead-the-conservatives-it-doesnt-matter-not/
2/25 I want to expand on the points in that column & elaborate on how conservative philosophy & policy intersect with electoral strategy of the @CPC_HQ
If you ignore strategy you get to watch Liberals govern
If you ignore your principles you get to become the Liberals
conservative philosophy & policy intersect with electoral strategy of the @CPC_HQ If you ignore strategy you get to watch Liberals govern
If you ignore your principles you get to become the Liberals
3/25 Hereâs a start. At the risk of unfairly singling out @konradyakabuski, virtually every assumption in the story below is wrong
Conservative electoral coalition is very different than Brian Mulroneyâs day. Too many commentators are stuck in 1980s https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-can-the-next-tory-leader-steer-clear-of-stinking-albatrosses/
Conservative electoral coalition is very different than Brian Mulroneyâs day. Too many commentators are stuck in 1980s https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-can-the-next-tory-leader-steer-clear-of-stinking-albatrosses/
4/25 The notion that a majority or plurality of Canadians yearn for a government that is âfiscally conservative, socially progressiveâ is false
Only place where this peculiar view dominates is among the credentialed overclass that controls too much of our public discourse
Only place where this peculiar view dominates is among the credentialed overclass that controls too much of our public discourse
5/25 Iâve often found those calling themselves âfiscally conservative, socially progressiveâ arenât fiscal conservatives at all
Instead theyâre status-conscious types who like sounding serious without saying anything risky. But ask them what programs theyâd cut & you get a
Instead theyâre status-conscious types who like sounding serious without saying anything risky. But ask them what programs theyâd cut & you get a
6/25 Letâs dig deeper on fiscal. Essential to recognize the personal relationship that Millenials and Gen Z have with debt is fundamentally different than Boomers.
Their experience is so different, they might as well be living on different planets
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-210-x/2010000/t098-eng.htm
Their experience is so different, they might as well be living on different planets
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-210-x/2010000/t098-eng.htm
7/25 Boomers came of age and took out their first mortgage an era when prime rates soared over 15%! It scarred them
Most Millenials & Gen Z have never known a prime rate above 5%. Have always been in debt & expect to always be in debt. Donât like it but are resigned to it
Most Millenials & Gen Z have never known a prime rate above 5%. Have always been in debt & expect to always be in debt. Donât like it but are resigned to it
8/25 This has helped shape our generational politics. For 20 years there was a broad political cosensus that tough fiscal decisions that might be unpopular in a vacuum, were both smart & necessary
Just look at Paul Martinâs Liberal (!) 94 budget https://financialpost.com/opinion/william-watson-the-budget-that-changed-canada
Just look at Paul Martinâs Liberal (!) 94 budget https://financialpost.com/opinion/william-watson-the-budget-that-changed-canada
9/25 That the Trudeau Liberals abandoned this principle is not (entirely) about their moral failings
It is about a recognition that political consensus in Canada has changed & that people no longer believe thereâs a greater good that justifies the cuts https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/trudeau-plans-deeper-deficits-if-he-wins-power-again-in-canada-1.1323723
It is about a recognition that political consensus in Canada has changed & that people no longer believe thereâs a greater good that justifies the cuts https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/trudeau-plans-deeper-deficits-if-he-wins-power-again-in-canada-1.1323723
10/25 But donât take my word for it. Guess what âalbatrossâ Justin Trudeau spent the entire closing stages of the election attacking Scheer and the Conservatives over?
Was it abortion?
Climate Change?
It was all attacking about Doug Ford and CUTS https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/10/01/justin-trudeau-sounds-off-against-premier-doug-ford-over-labour-unrest-in-ontario-schools.html
Was it abortion?
Climate Change?
It was all attacking about Doug Ford and CUTS https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/10/01/justin-trudeau-sounds-off-against-premier-doug-ford-over-labour-unrest-in-ontario-schools.html
11/25 In contrast, social issues donât shake as many CPC votes loose
If you believe that even mild objections to our wild-west abortion laws are misogynistic OR that we have to destroy oil jobs to stop climate Armageddon, you long ago priced yourself out of CPC voter coalition
If you believe that even mild objections to our wild-west abortion laws are misogynistic OR that we have to destroy oil jobs to stop climate Armageddon, you long ago priced yourself out of CPC voter coalition
12/25 Partisans from all persuasions know the Liberals donât campaign on social issues to shake voters from Conservatives...
...they do so to terrify progressive voters into holding their noses & abandoning the NDP/Greens for the Liberals in order to block the Conservatives
...they do so to terrify progressive voters into holding their noses & abandoning the NDP/Greens for the Liberals in order to block the Conservatives
13/25 This is not to say that CPC should indulge the most rightward fringe. A Derek Sloan approach 
would be disastarous.
But millions vote CPC precisely because itâs the only party that accepts people with pro-life convictions or unapologetically champions the oil sector.
would be disastarous. But millions vote CPC precisely because itâs the only party that accepts people with pro-life convictions or unapologetically champions the oil sector.
14/25 Mercifully, the Conservative Party does NOT need to win over Greta Thunberg acolytes 
to win an election.
We do however need to win over the votes of a lot of people whoâve been relying on the CERB to pay their bills
to win an election.We do however need to win over the votes of a lot of people whoâve been relying on the CERB to pay their bills
15/25 Trudeau is SPOILING for a fiscal fight. He laid out his ballot question on Friday saying he looked forward to debating âthose in this country who believe we should do lessâ
If youâre more worried about CPC position on abortion than this, I donât know what to tell you
If youâre more worried about CPC position on abortion than this, I donât know what to tell you
16/25 So the new @CPC_HQ leader has an opportunity to break from so old orthodoxyâs and present a new vision that is relevant to todayâs voters
Iâm proud to have worked for Stephen Harper. But we canât just trot out warmed over Harper polices from 10 years ago & expect to win
Iâm proud to have worked for Stephen Harper. But we canât just trot out warmed over Harper polices from 10 years ago & expect to win
17/25 What does a renewed Conservative policy agenda look like. Bigger brains than mine are on this. Iâm partial to reading ideas from smart forward-thinking policy ideas from thinkers like @Sean_Speer , @KenBoessenkool @BenWoodfinden and happy to hear other reccomendations
18/25 For my part, I believe that Conservatives need to embrace smart populism.
Power is now much cultural as it nis political or economic. This power is hoarded by a progressive overclass elite who are all too willing abuse this power to further their own bigotries and biases
Power is now much cultural as it nis political or economic. This power is hoarded by a progressive overclass elite who are all too willing abuse this power to further their own bigotries and biases
19/25 We canât lose battle with Liberals over caring for economic victims of the pandemic
We need to have a plan for BETTER & SMARTER supports for those left behind. Railing on about âdisincentives fo workâ or people âtaking advantage of the systemâ plays into Liberal hands
We need to have a plan for BETTER & SMARTER supports for those left behind. Railing on about âdisincentives fo workâ or people âtaking advantage of the systemâ plays into Liberal hands
20/25 The Liberals will play the gender card hard. Trudeau is actually quite unpopular among men & needs big margins from female voters. We need to fight for them
So whatâs going to be CPC plan for accessible child care? A national socialized plan is a non-starter but so is a
So whatâs going to be CPC plan for accessible child care? A national socialized plan is a non-starter but so is a
21/25 How about a plan for the precariousness of work? The Liberals are playing hard for workers in the gig economy.
What to we say to younger Millenials and GEN Z workers who will never have the luxury of stable benefits and a pension?
What to we say to younger Millenials and GEN Z workers who will never have the luxury of stable benefits and a pension?
22/25 How about blue collar workers - private sector union types who get their hands dirty & whoâve never been invited to join soirĂ©es and cocktail parties of the overclass
Now that NDP has gone full downtown-woke, thereâs no party on the left fighting for blue collar workers
Now that NDP has gone full downtown-woke, thereâs no party on the left fighting for blue collar workers
23/25 When it comes to making these kinds of inroads the @CPC_HQ could learn a lot from Ontario where @fordnation and @MonteMcNaughton have done AMAZING work building bridges with blue-collar workers and private-sector union members who have been abandoned by the Liberals and NDP
24/25 Conservatives must always oppose a carbon tax, which remains as morally repugnant and indefensible as it has ever been.
A Canada-First climate plan that stops playing Boy Scout and recognizes that the worldâs biggest emitters will never play fair would be a great start.
A Canada-First climate plan that stops playing Boy Scout and recognizes that the worldâs biggest emitters will never play fair would be a great start.
24/25 Foreign policy that formally recognizes that China is a brutal & insidious empire builder would be a start
As would immigration policies favouring skilled newcomers or trade policies that moderate free-trade zeal with protections for local labour & supply chains
As would immigration policies favouring skilled newcomers or trade policies that moderate free-trade zeal with protections for local labour & supply chains
