It’s all well and good to let people know you feel their pain, but how about ceasing to support the policies that are causing much of that pain?
Jagmeet Singh’s NDP may not lead in any public opinion polls. However, they do lead in the area of empty performative gestures. For example, the NDP Leader made a big deal of hauling Loblaws CEO Galen Weston into a Parliamentary hearing to answer for high grocery prices.
Unfortunately for Singh, Weston possessed a much better command of the facts, and was much more knowledgeable about both the grocery business and the broader economy. Singh seemed completely ignorant of how Loblaws profit margins include things like clothing and sales of cosmetics. Singh was thus reduced to trying to manufacture some ‘viral’ moments in attempts that were cringe-inducing and politically ineffective.
Singh thought that he could build Weston up into a villain, and then perform a practiced rhetorical attack on Weston in order to gain votes. The problem with that kind of thinking is that it is completely devoid of substance. And while performative gestures can distract from real issues, they can’t solve them. The fact remains that Jagmeet Singh – along with the Trudeau government – have supported policies that are making life more and more expensive.
The carbon tax drives up prices, and has an impact on the food supply chain by hitting farmers with higher costs and making transportation more expensive. Opposing energy sector development robs our country of billions of dollars and drives up the cost of energy. Instead of trying to blame Galen Weston, Singh could have ended his support for those policies and sought to provide Canadians with actual relief from higher prices.
Sadly, Singh doesn’t seem to have learned anything from his failed confrontation with Weston. He’s now on to the next performative gesture, offering empty platitudes about ‘fighting’ for Canadians:
“Good morning,
If you’re reading this, I know things feel difficult and tough for so many of you right now.
I just want you to know I’m in your corner, fighting for you, and I’ll never back down.
Love,
Jagmeet.”
Good morning,
If you're reading this, I know things feel difficult and tough for so many of you right now.
I just want you to know I'm in your corner, fighting for you, and I'll never back down.
Love,
Jagmeet.
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) March 20, 2023
That would be a nice message to receive from a motivational speaker, but it comes off as strange from the leader of a political party who could wield actual power and influence to make a positive material difference in the lives of Canadians.
And on the issue of ‘fighting’ for Canadians, right now our country is in a fight for our democratic institutions as we seek to protect our nation from the influence of the Chinese Communist Party. Fighting for Canadians would entail supporting the Opposition motion to compel the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff to testify on what the government knew about CCP interference and when they knew it.
As noted by Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman, the NDP would be fighting for Justin Trudeau if they fail to support the motion:
“Good morning, If you’re reading this, the NDP have a choice to make today. Will they vote for transparency and answers on Beijing’s interference in our elections, or will they vote for the Prime Minister’s cover up? Canadians want to know what the Prime Minister knew, when he knew it and what he did or didn’t do about it. Otherwise, the NDP is fighting for Justin Trudeau.”
Good morning,
If you're reading this, the NDP have a choice to make today.
Will they vote for transparency and answers on Beijing’s interference in our elections, or will they vote for the Prime Minister’s cover up?
Canadians want to know what the Prime Minister knew, when… https://t.co/Wmu5aAwf0M
— Melissa Lantsman (@MelissaLantsman) March 20, 2023
At a certain point, empty gestures are revealed as exactly that: Empty.
Our country is facing real and serious issues, including a cost-of-living crisis, a moribund national defence, and significant potential infiltration of our democratic institutions by a ruthless authoritarian state. Now is a time for real opposition to the government, and real action to protect our national interests. Nice words and empty platitudes won’t suffice.
Spencer Fernando
