EDITORIAL: Carney another page in the same old story

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By any measurement you use, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was the resounding winner of the English election debate.

He made the most sense — from immigration to pipelines to the criminal justice system.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney at times didn’t seem to have a handle on the important issues that matter to Canadians. His response to Poilievre’s pledge to use the notwithstanding clause, to overrule judges who refuse to impose consecutive prison sentences for mass murderers, simply didn’t ring true.

“I think it’s a very dangerous slope to override judgments of the Supreme Court of Canada,” he said. “In fact, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms exists to protect people like us on the stage; politicians who may use their powers to override fundamental rights.”

Well, no. In this country, politicians make the laws. Judges enforce them. When activist judges overrule the will of politicians — and thereby the will of Canadians — they’re overreaching their power.

Carney also looked weak on energy. He’s been promoting a vague energy corridor but, as Poilievre pointed out, Carney won’t repeal Bill C-69, the so-called “no pipelines” legislation. He also showed a lack of understanding by confusing the Trans Mountain Pipeline with the Keystone XL pipelines.

Right now, we have one client for our energy — the U.S. Unless we diversify our markets, we’re beholden to them.

We can pay lip service to “Canada Strong” and “Elbows up.” If we don’t get our economy out of the dismal cellar it’s been in for the past 10 years, we’ll be crushed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff juggernaut.

Poilievre was also strong on immigration, a file Justin Trudeau’s Liberals bungled, leaving us with a housing crisis and newcomers sleeping on the streets.

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Carney tried to distance himself from Trudeau. He spoke about antisemitism and the need to keep people safe in their schools and synagogues — as if he were running for a completely different party than the one that’s allowed Jewish schools to be shot up, businesses targeted and worshippers intimidated.

Poilievre landed his best shot when he pointed out Carney is supported by the very people who surrounded Trudeau.

Canadians must ask themselves if they want another four years of scandals, boondoggles and mismanagement on an industrial scale.