Trudeau, the wise, and the unwise
This appeared in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald:
He may still be a young, fresh-faced politician, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sure does a good imitation of a wily, veteran politico. This sometimes feels wise, and sometimes feels cynical.
We would file Trudeau’s approach to the United States under “wise.” He and President Donald Trump can hardly be described as soulmates, but they have struck a good working relationship that is paying dividends for Canada.
For instance, Trump has already approved construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which should move stranded Canadians oilsands bitumen to the Gulf of Mexico. And while the president’s approach to Canadian-U. S. trade has ranged (rhetorically, at least) from protectionist to practical, he is veering over time toward the most sensible policy approach when it comes to one of the most successful trading relationships on the planet — leave well-enough alone.
History shows it is rare for Canadian prime ministers to poke the elephant to the south.
Trudeau’s instinct for politics-as-usual is more problematic with regard to other issues, however.
Last Tuesday, his government introduced a budget bill that deals with several important nonbudgetary matters.
This omnibus bill — the kind Trudeau campaigned against in 2015 — would curb the watchdog powers of the parliamentary budget officer. It would also allow more judges to be appointed to an Alberta Court; toughen up the Canada Labour Code; change immigration rules, and create a brand-new institution called the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
The bill may also be a legislative provision that throws in a reference to the kitchen sink, but who has the patience to go through this 294-page doorstopper to find out?
Close scrutiny is not required, however, to conclude that the Trudeau government is using omnibus legislation in the traditional and cynical way — to bypass effective parliamentary scrutiny of important legislative changes.
Justin Trudeau knows better, and he should do better, too.