When your election platform is just a rough draft

I was trying to think of a more abject, bold-faced repudiation by a political leader of his own party’s platform on an issue of significance. I couldn’t think of one.

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is now ‘offering a more convoluted stance that sounds good to the general public but which can clearly be construed as a dog whistle to sports shooters and collectors of assault weapons,’ according to gun control advocate Nathalie Provost.The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Opinion

BY LES WHITTINGTON

September 8, 2021

OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is trying to redefine the concept of integrity in an election campaign. Is it possible to reverse your party’s position on a major issue and contradict the commitments in the written campaign platform that is supposed to be the locked-in expression of y...

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