Accountability matters, but Conservatives should reconsider clumsy crusade

OTTAWA—Normally it is not my wont to quote leaders of the Bloc Québécois, but I must admit a bit of personal fondness for Yves-François Blanchet. He just comes across as likeable and can be funny. He nailed the sentiment of many of us this week when he described the days of negotiating over the return of Parliament as being a state of "silliness." The weight of his remark was focused on Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet, pictured addressing media on April 20. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade At any time, being the leader of the official opposition is an awful job. Scheer already auditioned for the role of prime minister and was turned down. Most of his own party didn't want him, so he announced he was leaving. One of the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the Conservative leadership race. It has been delayed indefinitely. So, Scheer stays on, and his efforts continue to make himself and the Conservative Party relevant in this time of crisis. He had some early success when Conservatives and other opposition party members were able to amend some of the government's emergency legislation, which had vested far too much fiscal authority in Liberal hands. That was good work. Accountability matters when a government is pumping billions of dollars out the door to try to help millions of Canadians in a time of need. Mistakes are going to get made and the more that can be fixed at the front end, the less potential there will be for mess at the back end. As an example, a media colleague in Newfoundland and Labrador shared a story with me of people he knows receiving what appeared to be repeated overpayments of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This is the sort of matter an opposition raises with government, not simply for partisan purposes but to address program errors and protect taxpayer dollars. In the not so distant future, we are all going to have readjust our financial practices again to pay for the emergency aid. Despite legitimate arguments and successes in advancing an accountability agenda, the Conservatives' efforts over the past week came across mostly as shallow. In a different time, that might not have been the case, but we are living in a time in which, whether for good or for bad, political posturing as usual is not appetizing to everyone. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured outside Rideau Cottage during his daily COVID-19 press conference on April 14. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade It must be exceedingly frustrating for Scheer and his team to watch Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hold a globally broadcast news conference every day; to position himself in a way that, according to different public opinion research, is lifting his support numbers. Having your political opponent set the agenda at any time is agonizing. Dealing with that though requires discipline, patience, and strategic awareness. Those characteristics weren't obviously on display in the debate about the return to Parliament. In pushing the Conservative argument for four in-person sessions of the House per week, the talking points that were most heard is that Parliament is an essential service, and that the PM talks to the media every day. For me, those rallying cries in our new normal seemed tone deaf and vain. International Trade Minister Mary Ng, Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez, and Families Minister Jean-Yves Duclos pictured in the House of Commons on April 20. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade In a world where technology is allowing legislatures in other parts of the world to function through distance, and when the public sees essential service as front-line medical workers, the opposition leader's language was off base. And, "he gets more TV time than me" screams bratty and self-interested. It is good Parliament will sit regularly now, even if it is only in-person once a week, augmented by virtual sittings. Maybe Scheer did provide a service in ensuring a parliamentary routine was set, but getting there was via a clumsy crusade. The Conservatives' best approach may be to worry less about the prime minister’s time in the spotlight now, and focus on the opportunities that will come the party's way when the crisis passes. Accountability’s time will be not far off. Tim Powers is vice-chairman of Summa Strategies and managing director of Abacus Data. He is a former adviser to Conservative political leaders. The Hill Times