“This is where we can play and help them get things right." The “we” is TransCanada Corporation, one of Canada’s largest pipeline companies. The “them” is the anticipated new government. That’s just one line from an email the co-chair of the Liberal campaign, Dan Gagnier, wrote to his client, TransCanada. He sent the email just a few days ago on October 12, while on the job advising Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.
When it comes to bad judgement, the email – sent days before the election -- at least matched the decision of Conservative Nigel Wright to write a personal check to Senator Mike Duffy. Gagnier may also have broken federal rules governing lobbyists.
The news of details of the three-page email broke as Liberal leader, Justin Trudeau, arrived in Quebec hoping to build on his rising poll numbers in the province. The problem is that one of TransCanada’s biggest projects is the Energy East pipeline. The proposed pipeline is very unpopular in Quebec. The conflict was an uncomfortable reminder of past Liberal abuses including the Sponsorship scandal in the Chretien era.
Throughout the campaign, the Conservatives, the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois have reminded voters again and again of the Liberal party record. The Conservatives are running a TV ad that features Trudeau and Chretien with the two shaking hands and campaigning together. Over a shot of Chretien, large text says, “Don’t forget about the money in the sponsorship scandal.”
Campaigning in Quebec this morning, Harper was asked about Gagnier. In French and then in English Harper repeated, “The culture of the Liberal party that gave us the sponsorship scandal has not changed and it will not change.”
NDP leader Tom Mulcair was also in Quebec today and he grabbed the Liberal scandal gift and ran with it too. Mulcair scoffed at suggestions Gagnier wasn’t advising Trudeau. He said he watched Gagnier brief Trudeau before the last French TV debate. Mulcair said, “It's an extraordinary opportunity for everyone in Canada, including those here in Quebec, that this is the same old Liberal Party of the sponsorship scandal," Mulcair was also careful to spin his lines on the Liberals in both French and English at one point adding, “You can’t put a coat of paint on a rusty car.”
When the news of the Gagnier email first became public, the Liberals tried to defend the party co-chair. As the news hit the airwaves, the Liberals tried to contain the damage when Gagnier resigned. That left Trudeau to admit that he is “well aware of the challenge of perceptions in politics and of the challenges the Liberal party has had to address in the past." He called Gagnier’s email “unacceptable” and said Gagnier accepted “full responsibility for his actions.” Last night Trudeau told the CTV’s Lisa Laflamme Gagnier broke no laws but that perception is important.
Trudeau also tried to change the channel. He jumped on a question about the Ford brothers support for Harper. “Stephen Harper should be embarrassed that he is having to count on the support of Rob Ford for his re-election," Then he went on, "There's a lot of people talking in the news these days about the hypocrisy of the Fords and their drug problems and Mr. Harper and his positions on that. But that's not really the issue, as serious as it is, that strikes me most. What bothers me most is the misogyny. The Ford brothers should have no place on a national campaign stage, much less hosting a prime minister at an event this weekend. That's just completely irresponsible of the prime minister."
Harper was asked about the Fords again today. Again he refused to say the name “Ford” but he did insist that the rally on Saturday is a Conservative Party event.
I hear you asking what about the policies the leaders focused on today? What about the real issues facing Canada. At this point in a close election campaign, voters have heard all that already. But let me assure you there were no new policies tabled by any of the leaders. One question undecided voters are now asking themselves is who will be the best person to be Prime Minister? Today Trudeau, the leader promising real change, looked like he’s just another in a long line of Canadian leaders in charge of a party of political opportunists.
Tomorrow Trudeau will take his campaign back to the GTA with a stop in Mississauga. Harper keeps looking for votes in Quebec with a morning stop in Quebec City. Mulcair has an early morning media event in Lac Megantic and then he flies to Edmonton. That sets up a final weekend frequent flyer bonanza for the leaders before landing in their home towns for the election results.
