So reading between the lines, it sounds like the frontrunner, Mark Carney, was not harmed by his appearance on the show. Poilievre didn't manage to change many minds and Singh remains somewhat irrelevant.
I guess the other thing I would say on the language issue and the unique qualities of Quebec is that there are (and likely will continue to be) an ample number of Quebecois MPs in the new Liberal Party led government. Surely, Mr. Carney is smart enough to be able to draw on that talented pool to help him to mitigate any deficiencies in his understanding of Quebec. Cultural and linguistic issues aside (and I agree they are important), the problems that Quebec is likely to face in the next few years are not that different from those likely to be experienced by other parts of Canada, indeed the rest of the world. At this point, the country can't afford the luxury of a superficial slick faux populist like Poilievre. It does need someone who is well versed in crisis management, especially one that constitutes an existential threat to all of Canada. I guarantee that Bill 21 would be a sideshow if Quebec were ever to become part of a 51st American state.
I'll pick up on the bit about Carney's talent pool: It is *bizarre* how little we've seen from the broader Liberal team. Carney was joined this morning by François-Phillippe Champagne, who is pretty well-liked in Quebec. And we didn't hear a word from the guy (apart from him glad-handing every journalist who walked in the Bombardier factory.)
Carney is putting a lot on his own shoulders by making his personal brand as crisis-manager central to his election bid. But, to your point, there are others who can speak to Quebec's uniqueness *and* our current threats. Odd that they're sidelined.
I guess what I would respond to that is that the more Carney can make this a battle between him and Poilievre (as opposed to Liberals vs Conservatives), the more it improves his party's chances of victory. So far that seems to be working, if the polls are anything to go by.
I agree with you about Champagne (and others like Joly), but Trudeau did much to hurt the Liberal brand and Carney himself is the "new and improved" version. If Carney starts bringing in too many members of the old guard, even in Quebec, maybe Poilievre exploits that (and the voters decide that it's just Tide after all, rather than an exciting new product). Thoughts?
Justin, not being a TLMEP watcher (or viewer of any television for that matter), I much appreciate this truly superb narrative about the appearances of PP and MC. Fine political insight too. Thank you!
Do change "playing" to "paying" in the 4th para. after the verbatim quote...
“Carney may have exceeded expectations, but he by no means put to bed the idea that while he may be well-suited to the current crisis, he remains ill-prepared to handle the uniqueness of Quebec.”
One TV program determines that? Really? Quebec seems okay with Carney not being up to snuff with his French etc because….. they trust him far more than the other guy to do the right things. The polls and this TV show kinda indicate that.
So reading between the lines, it sounds like the frontrunner, Mark Carney, was not harmed by his appearance on the show. Poilievre didn't manage to change many minds and Singh remains somewhat irrelevant.
I guess the other thing I would say on the language issue and the unique qualities of Quebec is that there are (and likely will continue to be) an ample number of Quebecois MPs in the new Liberal Party led government. Surely, Mr. Carney is smart enough to be able to draw on that talented pool to help him to mitigate any deficiencies in his understanding of Quebec. Cultural and linguistic issues aside (and I agree they are important), the problems that Quebec is likely to face in the next few years are not that different from those likely to be experienced by other parts of Canada, indeed the rest of the world. At this point, the country can't afford the luxury of a superficial slick faux populist like Poilievre. It does need someone who is well versed in crisis management, especially one that constitutes an existential threat to all of Canada. I guarantee that Bill 21 would be a sideshow if Quebec were ever to become part of a 51st American state.
I'll pick up on the bit about Carney's talent pool: It is *bizarre* how little we've seen from the broader Liberal team. Carney was joined this morning by François-Phillippe Champagne, who is pretty well-liked in Quebec. And we didn't hear a word from the guy (apart from him glad-handing every journalist who walked in the Bombardier factory.)
Carney is putting a lot on his own shoulders by making his personal brand as crisis-manager central to his election bid. But, to your point, there are others who can speak to Quebec's uniqueness *and* our current threats. Odd that they're sidelined.
I guess what I would respond to that is that the more Carney can make this a battle between him and Poilievre (as opposed to Liberals vs Conservatives), the more it improves his party's chances of victory. So far that seems to be working, if the polls are anything to go by.
I agree with you about Champagne (and others like Joly), but Trudeau did much to hurt the Liberal brand and Carney himself is the "new and improved" version. If Carney starts bringing in too many members of the old guard, even in Quebec, maybe Poilievre exploits that (and the voters decide that it's just Tide after all, rather than an exciting new product). Thoughts?
Justin, not being a TLMEP watcher (or viewer of any television for that matter), I much appreciate this truly superb narrative about the appearances of PP and MC. Fine political insight too. Thank you!
Do change "playing" to "paying" in the 4th para. after the verbatim quote...
I think your subheading needs correcting. Carney not Trudeau.
Indeed! I am invoking campaign brain as my excuse.
Completely justified! There’s a lot happening to respond to.
“Carney may have exceeded expectations, but he by no means put to bed the idea that while he may be well-suited to the current crisis, he remains ill-prepared to handle the uniqueness of Quebec.”
One TV program determines that? Really? Quebec seems okay with Carney not being up to snuff with his French etc because….. they trust him far more than the other guy to do the right things. The polls and this TV show kinda indicate that.
Tremendous article, much appreciated.