The ‘woke minefield’ ahead of O’toole

The mainstream media are predictably putting newly minted Conservative Leader Erin O’toole through its mandatory tests for adherence to centre- left orthodox precepts. Failure to conform means being labelled as outof- step with Canadian values, intolerant and perhaps even as a knuckle- dragging Neanderthal ( unless this subspecies of archaic humans becomes a protected historical class).

So far, so good. Right to choose — check. LGBTQ rights — check. Paris Accord — check. Anti- racism, tolerance and inclusiveness in general — somewhat problematic on statues, history and whether Canada is systematically racist. Fortunately, his views reflect the great unwashed — i. e., most people — who disagree with elitist revisionism.

Even with a passing grade, however, there will be a relentless search for Conservative MPS and candidates who do not buy into these sacrosanct principles. ( That they can be found in the Liberal party is of no account.) Then O’toole will be asked to disavow those people, so he doesn’t get accused of having a secret agenda.

In that regard, we recently witnessed a progressive gang- up on Kerry- Lynne Findlay, the MP for South Surrey—white Rock and former minister of national revenue. Her unforgivable sin was tweeting a video of an interview that Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, then a journalist, conducted with George Soros in 2009, and stating that Freeland listened to Soros “like student to teacher.” The result was overwrought outrage followed by an apology from Findlay for being insensitive to the fact that the abbreviated, but not doctored, video was taken from a source that, unbeknownst to her, apparently traffics in conspiracy theories.

Soros has been stigmatized for his Jewish faith, especially in Europe. However, one does not have to be an anti- Semite to have problems with George Soros, as I can personally attest. He lavishly supports a wide range of dubious causes and has been a persistent foe of Canadian natural resources, especially oilsands development and pipeline construction.

Nevertheless, in February 2019, based on Conservative criticism of Soros, Vice published a particularly absurd and disgusting article titled, The Anti- Semitic Roots of Canadian Conservatives’ ‘ Foreign Funded Radicals’ Attacks. The first exemplar of this ancient prejudice was yours truly. When my religious heritage was pointed out, the article was amended to include that inconvenient fact and then it disappeared into the dustbin of history. The Conservative party’s principled support of Israel and vigorous battle against anti-semitism was of no relevance to the author, or to Vice.

Subsequent to the Twitter kerfuffle, Kerry-lynne Findlay was passed over for the Conservative shadow cabinet, to the approval of the commentariat. It would be terribly unfair if the scurrilous vilification of a decent and highly capable woman, who was devastated by the grossly unjust attacks, permanently derails her political career. Her critics are hypocrites, pretending to be outraged in order to damage Conservative electoral prospects.

Now back to another issue about which there can be no deviation from received wisdom — climate alarmism. The media has repeatedly opined, with serene certainty, that the Conservative party has no chance of winning an election unless it is socially liberal and committed to dealing with the existential issue of climate change.

However, there is a distinction. Social issues reflect our values and are fundamentally different from climate concerns, which should be based on science, economics and an analysis of which policies best balance environmental protection and the economy. I said “should,” but that is not the reality.

Erin O’toole’s support for the Paris Accord is consistent with his two predecessors’ commitments. It is also accepted by many Canadians who, it must be said, do not realize it is unachievable even if entire industries, like oil and gas or transportation, were closed down. Assuming the impossible, Canada would still have an unmeasurably minuscule impact on global temperatures. Nor will the target be reached globally, including by the biggest emitters, namely China, the United States, India and Russia.

O’toole has taken the politically safer route, with policies that will be more effective and cause less economic damage than the Liberals. His focus should be on science and technology rather than a failed and costly carbon tax and subsidies to uneconomic alternative sources of energy, like the calamitous Green Energy Act of the previous Ontario Liberal government.

O’toole promised his policies will reverse the prime minister’s hostility toward the oil and gas industry, with its grievous harm to the economy and national unity. That is crucial politically, since perceived abandonment of Western resource development would cause some diehard supporters to sit out the next election and provide fodder to the Wexit movement.

As he navigates woke minefields, Erin O’toole must stay true to Conservative principles and common sense policies. It can be done, with care and courage.

SO FAR S0 GOOD. RIGHT TO CHOOSE — CHECK. LGB TQ RIGHTS — CHECK.