Erin O’toole and a more confident conservatism.

With an election on the horizon, Erin O’toole and the Conservative party have every reason to offer voters a confident, unapologetic vision for Canada. Canadians deserve a real alternative this election to the scandal plagued, fiscally reckless Trudeau Liberals, and the Conservatives are the only party that can provide that. They should run a campaign that is unabashed in its commitment to individual liberty, free markets, fiscal sanity and respect for this country’s proud, if imperfect, past.

O’toole has been more visible in recent days, including pictures of him jogging, sending a clear message he is ready for the rigours of the campaign. The Tories’ recently unveiled innovation plan that emphasizes tax cuts over subsidies is exactly the kind of proposal that sets the party apart from the Liberals, while staying true to Conservative principles.

O’toole has been sharply drawing distinctions between himself as the leader focused on economic recovery and Justin Trudeau who is foolishly calling an early election in the middle of a pandemic. Focusing on jobs and growth is a smart approach for O’toole, one that he should continue.

On federal finances, while the pandemic necessitated enormous amounts of public spending, the Liberals took this as an opportunity to irresponsibly firehose money everywhere without regard for actual need or future costs. Pandemic aid programs were so poorly designed that, in March, the auditor general recommended an investigation into CERB fraud.

Balancing the budget in one term could prove challenging and disruptive, but the Conservatives should offer Canadians a credible plan to get the country on-track to have surpluses far before 2070, the absurd timeline the Liberals are currently on.

O’toole should embrace responsible budgeting and loudly champion it on the national stage. In the same spirit, he should communicate how conservative pro-growth policies can solve a national housing crisis that is extinguishing the economic hopes of many Canadians.

Resistance to residential development unless it is heavily subsidized by the government has become distressingly mainstream. A federal government committed to bringing housing costs down should recognize the best role for Ottawa is to get out of the way and work with provinces and municipalities to remove barriers to development such as overly stringent zoning requirements and onerous land usage policies. The overwhelming majority of residential development happens in the private sector and only by unleashing its full potential will Canada build enough homes to stop runaway price growth.

On environmentalism, being unapologetically conservative does not mean pretending climate change doesn’t exist. Rather, proud conservatism means pursuing environmental goals in a manner that does not turn Alberta and Saskatchewan into sacrificial lambs. While western Canadian voters have long been inclined to support conservative parties, O’toole shouldn’t take their support for granted. His party should offer a responsible alternative environmental policy, one that is rooted in market-friendly solutions that do not undermine economic development and national unity.

The Trudeau government likes to paint conservatives as socially regressive, but perhaps Liberals should look in the mirror.

What kind of government calls itself a feminist one, but then silences women who speak up about sex abuse in the military? The same kind that, while calling itself anti-racist, tokenized Celina Caesar-chavannes, a black MP, so insultingly that she left the party. The Liberals pride themselves on their commitments to First Nations, but they viciously sabotaged Jody Wilson-raybould’s career despite her being Indigenous, for purely political reasons. They have failed on their commitments to end on reserve boil-water advisories, and they oppose development that would improve the lives of those living on First Nations.

There is a real opportunity for the Conservatives to present themselves as the adults in the room and put forward a real plan to clean up the military and offer concrete First Nations policies that will heal our divisions rather than divide us through identity politics.

In the same vein, O’toole should unapologetically defend social conservative interests that are too often ignored. Pro-family policies matter to many Canadians, as does protecting Christian places of worship from arson.

Bold conservatism also includes mindful patriotism, something which is sorely lacking these days. When compared to the actual world, rather than imagined utopias, it is evident that Canada, though imperfect, is nonetheless an outstandingly tolerant and fair country. Canadians deserve to be proud of their home and to see this pride reflected in their political leaders. O’toole should reflect that pride.

On foreign policy, China has become a troubling adversary which has subjected Canada to hostage diplomacy, sentencing Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison on the ludicrous charge of espionage, a fate that likely awaits fellow Canadian hostage Michael Kovrig.

Trudeau’s cabinet refuses to meaningfully criticize China, even abstaining from a parliamentary vote to condemn China’s genocide of the Uyghurs. Meanwhile, Conservatives have taken a strong stance against Chinese aggression. As resentment to China’s odious regime grows, O’toole should articulate clearly how foreign policy would change under a Conservative government.

In the past election, the Conservative party won the popular vote and provincially, conservative-minded governments hold majorities in seven provinces — Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and P.E.I. — which collectively account for 82 per cent of Canada’s population. Conservative values are Canadian values.

O’toole should be commended for trying to broaden his party’s voter base, but his attempts to persuade centrist voters should not distract him from the fact that he is a conservative politician leading a conservative party — something which he should be proud of.