Thread by @JPTasker

Good morning from the @AndrewScheer campaign plane. I’ll be travelling with @CPC_HQ for the week. First stop today - Charlottetown, PEI. #cdnpoli

The @CPC_HQ campaign has picked a gorgeous spot, Canoe Cove, PEI, for this announcement today from @AndrewScheer. #cdnpoli

Andrew Scheer is announcing new support for veterans, including a promise to clear the benefits backlog in 24 months. He’s also promising to restore lifelong pension for veterans. All of this at a cost of roughly $75 million a year, according to PBO estimates. #cdnpoli

Scheer says there’s 40,000 people on a benefits backlog. He says Trudeau had the gall to say there isn’t enough money for Canada’s military heroes. His veterans minister is facing a defamation lawsuit, he adds.

Scheer is also promising a military covenant to enshrine into law the sacred relationship between government and veterans. He says he’ll stop shortchanging severely disabled veterans. #cdnpoli

Scheer says he’ll jumpstart the stalled Afghan veterans memorial and make it easier for veterans to have service dogs, among other measures.

Asked about convenant, he says it will change attitudes in government. He says Liberals used veterans as props in the last election. #cdnpoli

I asked Scheer about safe injection sites. They’ve increased substantially under the Liberals from 1 to 49. He said the party’s platform on this issue is coming. He said Libs have had the wrong approach. He said he’s against legalizing all drugs as the Greens have proposed.

I asked him about the Liberal government’s cannabis legislation and if he’d make any changes. He said he is against criminalizing the drug again but they’d make tweaks on the public health front to make sure more people are aware of the consequences.

Asked if he’d get rid of the Confederation Bridge toll, Scheer is non-committal. He says they will have other affordability measures to announce over the course of the campaign.

Speaking to veterans after the announcement, they say they feel like they don’t get enough recognition beyond Remembrance Day. One veteran says he feels like all political parties just use them as props - don’t really care about their issues beyond election campaigns.

He says not enough MPs or senators have military experience and thus they’re simply not well-equipped to deal with veterans issues.

Veterans are particularly perturbed by the PM’s remark at a town hall sometime ago when he said some vets are asking for more than what Ottawa can afford. The group has made this license plate with that quote on it for the CPC campaign bus.

On the veterans file, Liberal war room notes that the previous Conservative government had a rocky relationship with veterans (See: Fantino). The Libs re-opened shuttered veterans affairs offices, brought back lifetime payments as compensation for injured vets.

All the vets I personally spoke to at this event were noncommittal on whether they'd vote for Scheer. They said for so long they've been treated as props by all parties. A big concern? Mefloquine, the anti-malarial drug that has left people with many side effects.

Scheer has promised appoint a taskforce to study mefloquine. Other countries have provided compensation for vets treated with the drug that has wreaked havoc on some people, including things like wild dreams, psychotic breaks, and major stomach problems.

A short but sweet visit to PEI. We’re destined for Newfoundland now - with a stop in the St. John’s East riding currently held by Liberal @NickWhalenMP #cdnpoli

A decent turnout here in St. John’s East. The Tory faithful are waiting for Scheer to make some remarks before he heads out to door knock with local candidate Joedy Wall. #nlpoli

Scheer has arrived to applause from the crowd. About 100 partisans gathered here on this chilly afternoon. Candidate Wall says they’re hoping for a blue wave across Newfoundland in this election. #nlpoli

Scheer welcomes Ches Crosbie, PC opposition leader here. “We have a lot of work to do. We’ve got a big mess to clean up.”

Scheer targets Trudeau on honesty, massive deficits, more and more interests payments to cover the federal debt. He says Tories will balance budget responsibly over five years.

Scheer touts his environmental plan - technology not taxes - and his plan to take HST off hydro. He reiterates his promise to cut taxes by $850 for a couple. Talks up his veterans announcement from this a.m.

Scheer says last time the Conservatives didn’t do so well. He says people in Atlantic Canada are ready for a change. Lots of “shame” calls when he talks about @NavdeepSBains as the minister of ACOA. He promises an Atlantic Canadian for the role.

Scheer asks everyone to give everything they’ve got to get Tories elected here in Nfld.